A Thief of Nightshade(14)

Aislinn’s body felt bulbous and awkward —not that there hadn’t been a time in the last decade when it hadn’t felt so, but just this once, he allowed himself the quarter to wish for his old form—his human form.

The Wraith laughed, spinning the sword between both hands.

“Who sent you?” Aislinn demanded.

“You know by whose authority my work is done, betrayer!”

Aislinn circled the creature. “I betrayed no one and you can tell Her Majesty I said so.” He smiled. “Wait, forget I said that. You won’t be telling anyone anything after I’m through with you.”

The Wraith started to lunge at him again, but screamed out in pain as Lipsey latched onto its shoulder and bit down.

This provided just enough of a distraction for Aislinn to steal the sword and drive it cleanly across the Wraith’s neck.

“Hey, little one, let go.” Aislinn pried Lipsey off the Wraith as its body

turned to sand.

“Oh no,” Lipsey cried, looking in Aubrey’s direction. “No, no, no!”

Aislinn’s voice was the first thing she heard. “Aubrey? Aubrey, speak to me!”

Aislinn had picked her up and held her in his arms. “You’ve got to wake up now.

We can’t stay here.”

Time had elapsed, it seemed, because the sun was rising and she was certain it had just been setting or ... had it been rising? The dragonfly was no longer there and she could hear Lipsey sobbing.

A burning pain tore through her muscles.

Aislinn lowered her to the ground; the gravity of his gaze was unwavering.

Lipsey padded around to her and looked up at the bear.

“She’ll be all right, right? Aislinn?”

Lipsey asked. Aislinn didn’t respond. A breath hitched in Aubrey’s throat as another spasm gripped her and she gasped.

“Keep still,” Aislinn said.

“That thing, where did it...?” She noticed the cloth wrapped around his shoulder and a cut on his arm that was still bleeding. “You’re hurt.”

“It’s gone. Don’t worry about me.

We’ve got to get you somewhere safe.”

Lipsey scrambled up Aislinn’s arm, “The King, he can help her, I know he can.

He can do—”

Aislinn looked into Aubrey’s eyes, sorrow brimming from his own as he interrupted Lipsey,

“You’ve

been

poisoned by a Time Wraith. The same magic that has stolen Jullian’s memories from him will slowly steal yours and without the Queen’s hand to stay your life, you will lose it as well. You’re dying, Aubrey, and not even Tabor can save you.”





Chapter Seven


Once ...

AUBREY STOOD AND BRUSHED HER HAIR

FOR the hundredth time, then laid the sterling silver brush back on the dressing table with shaky fingers. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself enough to face her parents and Grant at dinner. She smiled when warm hands swept the hair from her neck and soft lips kissed her skin.

“How do you do that?” she asked, her eyes still closed.

“Do what?” he murmured, still kissing her.

“Take away my worries like that, with just a kiss.”

He laughed, “I would take them all if I could.”

She opened her eyes as he laid something around her neck: A silver dragonfly with iridescent wings. “Jullian, it’s beautiful. What did I do to deserve this?”

He turned her around in his arms and held her to him. Over the past few months, Aubrey had grown used to his strength of presence. He could command a room and those in it like he’d been raised royalty, yet it was a quiet strength. All who knew him loved him, especially her younger brother Harrington.

He let his thumb slide playfully over her mouth, stealing her breath and making her that much more grateful that he was holding her up. “I ask that very question of myself every time I see that look in your eyes. This,” he placed his palm over the necklace, “is because I love you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss her, but paused before his lips touched hers. “Do we have to go?” she asked He laughed,

kissed

her

more

passionately than she anticipated and said, “Yes, but I can certainly think of a few things that would be a much more pleasant use of our time.”

“Oh, a few?” she teased.

“Well, more than a few.” He kissed her one more time, wrenching frustrated laughter from her as he pulled away.

“Dinner will be over soon enough and we have nothing at all to do in the morning.”

She gave him a blank look and he said, “Which means we can stay up until dawn.”

“Then I suppose we should go.”

“Are you going to tell them or show them first?” He took her hand, toying with the ring on her finger. They had been engaged for almost a month. Harrington was the only family member who knew. In fact, Harrington was the only family member who had met Jullian.

She slipped the ring off and handed it to Jullian to put back into the box in his pocket. He had already made his feelings clear on wanting to ask her father for her hand in marriage. “He won’t give you his blessing. I appreciate the gesture, but trust me when I tell you it isn’t going to go over