Savage Beauty(41)

“That would be good,” he said, resting his head on the chair back. “So sorry,” he muttered, closing his eyes. His head lolled to the side.

I walked calmly outside to the well, every muscle in my body on fire and ready to beat the fuck out of my bitch of a sister. Tear her to ribbons. Gut her and hang her from the highest window in the palace. And that was just for starters.

Malex suddenly emerged from the darkness. “What’s wrong? You went from...err, happy, to distraught in an instant.”

“It’s Phillip,” I said flatly. He tilted his head in question, and I wrung my hands as I explained what she’d done. “Aura used her toxin on him. He’s going to die, and it’s all my fault.”

Malex muttered a curse. “It’s not your fault, Luna. What she does isn’t your doing. When are you going to realize that?”

“Not tonight, apparently, because Phillip is in there. He could barely breathe, barely stop coughing, and then he got the cold sweats. They’re the first signs.”

He gave me a sympathetic look, even though I knew he didn’t care for Phillip at all. But in his own twisted way, he did care about me. Malex was strange. He didn’t love me, but he did seem to like me. He also liked my power and thought that if we were together, he could use it. I knew the game he was playing.

Malex was keeping an eye on me for no other reason than that he didn’t want anyone to gain more power than he had. No fae liked to be weak, especially fae princes. And he hated that two Halflings were very close to surpassing his own abilities. Close, but not quite, he would remind me if I brought it up. He was nervous about us reaching maturity, though. It could tip the scales in our favor.

“I can try to find a way to remove it,” he offered.

“At what cost?” I gritted.

“No cost. I’d do it for you.”

“I’d appreciate that, Malex.” He offered a small half-smile. “I have some information about our friend Prince Terigon as well.”

“What’s that?”

“He’s going on a hunt two nights from now. He’ll be in the forest west of his palace.”

I didn’t ask how he knew, but Malex was never wrong. He had eyes and ears everywhere. If he said Terigon would be in the forest west of the palace of Ringsted, Terigon would be there. It would be easier to corner him in the forest than in his castle, anyway.

Suddenly, my limbs felt too heavy to move, letting me know dawn was coming. “Thank you. I’ll be there,” I promised. I still hadn’t figured out how to get a rose during the daylight, but I supposed I could always find a human and make them do the chore for me.

“Would you like me to look at him?” he asked.

“Not yet. It’s still early. But when the pain hits...” I couldn’t finish, the words choking me.

“I’ll help when you need me,” he promised.

“Thank you.”

The sky was no longer sapphire. It had turned to pale periwinkle, puffy clouds with gilded bottoms staring back at us. The sun would be up far too soon.

“Go back to him.”

Ember would watch Phillip during the day. If his condition worsened...

“I’ll check in on him midday,” Malex offered. “I’ll bring something to make it look like I have a reason to visit. He doesn’t have to know yet. And I’ll try to find a way to draw the toxin from him, an antidote. Maybe we can heal him before he gets any worse.”

I swallowed and nodded once. Malex turned on his heel and strode back into the forest on bare feet, the lapels of his bright white coat flapping as he went. When he was out of sight, I drew water and filled my pail, taking it in to Phillip.

He was asleep in the chair, his chest rising and falling, mouth slightly gaped open. I wanted to touch his hair but was afraid to wake him. So I sat at his feet and waited while the first rays of sun struck the stained glass window panes, casting color throughout the room.

“Goodnight,” I whispered before sleep claimed me.





chapter sixteen




AURA

My moony sister was finally asleep, which meant it was time for us to have a heart to heart. I stood over her. “This fae, Malex, is becoming a real thorn in my side.”

As soon as Luna opened her eyes, they clamped on me. Then she bared her teeth and launched herself at my throat. Her claws slashed through the air and I jumped back just in time to miss her swipe. I conjured and threw a ball of warm water, soaking her from head to toe. She stilled for a moment, but re-doubled her attack, striking out again and again, tearing toward me in a feral rage. She wasn’t bothering with her elemental power. Luna was out for blood.

“You can’t kill me, sister. It won’t work!” I yelled, evading another slash.

“I don’t care! I hate you, and I’ll spend eternity making sure your life is hell!”

Her claws grazed my elbow as I swiveled to protect my face from her. How did she have this much energy in a dream? Luna’s energy was increasing, if anything, while I felt myself weakening, which shouldn’t be the case unless...

Unbelievable. “You bitch! You’re drawing energy from me!” I stopped playing defense and covered my skin with thorns, slashing out at her this time.

“You poisoned him!” she screamed, ducking to avoid my skin as I swiped toward her head.