Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms, #1)(68)

“You have a good heart, Cleo.” Eirene smiled. “And I can see that you love your older sister with every piece of that heart. I hope that you find the answers you seek to save her.”

So did Cleo. “Tell me the best way I can contact you. Does this village have a central place where messages can be sent—perhaps to the inn? I want to send you something when I return home to repay you for your kindness.” She would make sure that the old woman would be sent money and gifts for coming to their aid last night. Eirene and Sera would live very comfortably for years to come.

“That’s not necessary.”

“I insist!”

Eirene’s brows drew together. “Very well. I am good friends with the owner of the tavern. I suppose he could accept a message for me. I’ll write down his name for you.”

She went into her cottage and returned a few moments later with a small ragged envelope that she pressed into Cleo’s hand.

“Thank you.” Cleo smiled as she tucked it into the pocket of her skirt.

“Magic will find those with pure hearts, even when all seems lost. And love is the greatest magic of all. I know this to be true.” She kissed Cleo’s cheeks and then did the same with Nic. After a last farewell, Cleo and Nic began walking away from the cottage. The sun had still not risen.

Eirene’s story last night about the goddesses and the Watchers didn’t work as a deterrent to Cleo’s quest. It only solidified her growing belief that the magic she sought did exist. Emilia’s life would be saved. Cleo focused on nothing else but that. And when she set her mind to something, it happened. No matter how she had to go about achieving it.

Unfortunately, she seemed to be in the minority this morning.

“You’re going home,” Nic told her firmly.

“Excuse me?” She stopped walking to face him. They were only a few cottages away from Eirene’s.

“You heard me,” Nic said. “Home. You going there. Without delay.”

“I can’t go! Not yet.”

“I thought we already agreed on this.” He sighed and raked a hand through his messy red hair. “It’s been a week and we’ve found nothing but stories. I don’t think it’s safe for you to remain here traipsing about with me. Perhaps it was wrong for me to allow you to come here in the first place.”

“You allowed me?” She raised her voice. “I do what I want when I want.”

“Which might be part of the problem. You’re so used to getting your own way that you fail to be cautious when the situation calls for it.”

She just glared at him.

“No argument?” he said, nodding. “Excellent. So you agree it’s time for you to go back to Auranos.”

“I’m not finished with my search. There are still villages to visit.”

“I’ll stay for a while. And I’ll do whatever I can to find information on this Watcher you’re convinced is hiding out somewhere in this land. But first I’m going to see you onto a ship back to Auranos so I know you’re safe—and so, more importantly, the king knows you’re safe. We’ve been gone long enough.”

One side of her wanted to fight this with every fiber of her being. The other side couldn’t help but see Nic’s logic. Her heart swelled with gratitude toward him. “You’d really stay here for me?”

“Of course I would.”

She threw her arms around him and squeezed tightly. “You are truly my best friend in the entire world, do you know that?”

“I’m glad to hear it. Besides, I’m in no hurry to go back to the palace and face the wrath of the king for running off with his daughter.”

He was undoubtedly right, but she’d hoped not to think of that for a while longer. Both her father and Theon would be livid with her—and Nic. It was one thing if she returned victorious with the solution she’d sought in the palm of her hand and another if she scurried back defeated with her tail between her legs.

So they’d be angry. Fine. It wouldn’t be the first time, nor would it be the last. She’d deal with any repercussions when the time came.

“I want to stay and help you,” she said softly.

“Accept it, Cleo. You can’t always have everything you want.”

She snorted against the softness of his tunic. “Very well. Have it your way. You can be the hero.”

“It’s always been my dream.”

“Back to the harbor, then.”

“The harbor.” He nodded and presented his hand to her. She took it.

As they started walking, Cleo had the oddest sensation that they were being watched. She turned her head to look, but no one was there. A mile west of the village, they turned onto a dusty road and she felt it again. Like cold fingers trailing down her spine.

“Ouch. You do have quite a grip on you, Cleo.”

“Shh,” she whispered. “Somebody’s watching us.”

He frowned. “What?”

They turned to see in the gathering light a tall, dark-haired boy moving toward them along the road. Cleo froze in place as he swiftly caught up to them. Her breath caught as she realized it was the very same boy who haunted her dreams.

Jonas Agallon.

“What are you—” she began.

He gave her an unfriendly grin. “Morning, princess. Such an honor to see you again.”