My chest warmed, my fingers twitching as I took a step closer. “Leave us alone.”
Blue sparks rattled off the woman’s fingertips as she pointed her black nails at me. “I don’t answer to you, Bellata.” Her lips curled in disgust as she flung her bolt at me.
I ducked out of the way, and the bolt impaled the ground, leaving a gaping hole. I didn’t have a chance to get far before another bolt stung my foot, melting my boot's side.
Burnt rubber pierced my nose. Through the hole, I could see that my foot hadn’t been too badly injured. My hands heated, and my fingers gleamed with the same orange glow as before. I thrust them at the woman before running toward the river.
The jewel from Dunsque must have had a time limit because the waters of the Flum were no longer serene, but fierce and wild.
A high-pitched screech erupted from the woman before more bolts crackled, their heat radiating against my back. I prayed Lyle’s sweater hadn’t been burned. Lunging, I landed on the first stone of the bridge, but it started to sink.
Scrambling, I raced across the other stones that swayed in the raging waters. Another blue bolt hit the waves next to me, and the river reacted—a large wave filled with the crackling electric power. A whirlpool spiraled before rising up, hovering over the blonde woman.
I leapt off the final stone and crashed face-first into the gravelly shore. Spitting out sand and pebbles, I turned and watched the wave rise higher and higher, before crashing into the woman. Her screams became garbled by the suffocating water, and the current washed her down the river, away from us.
My muscles melted in relief, and I rolled on my back, thanking the Heavens I was still alive.
“Addie, come quick!”
Claire and James tended to Silas’s motionless body while Lord Farmount stood close by. I jumped up, ignoring the stabbing pain in my chest and rushed over. There were no longer blue sparks radiating off the scar on Silas’s arm, but his skin had started to turn a deathly white, like the victims of the morb.
“He just stopped shaking,” Claire said. “His pulse is slowing. I don’t know …” The wrinkle between her brows deepened as she examined the woman’s brand on Silas’s arm. “I can probably relieve the burning, but I’m not sure what else to do.”
I grabbed my satchel and rummaged through it, remembering the additional supplies Eman had packed. I shoved various jars around. I had no idea what any of these were or how to use them.
James bent down and pressed two fingers on the white scar. Silas’s arm jerked as he wailed.
I furiously dumped everything out of my satchel. Tinctures and herbs scattered along the ground, rolling as I spread them out.
“What do these do?” I asked, holding out one jar filled with small orange berries and another filled with dried pink petals. “Will they help?”
“He needs salebra,” James said, standing. “It’s red and looks like crushed leaves.”
I threw jars out of the way, trying to find the right one.
“Silas’s pulse has slowed,” James continued calmly. “If it doesn’t return to normal soon, his heart will stop altogether.”
“What?” Claire and I gasped. James nodded quickly and motioned to Claire’s satchel before he rolled up his sleeves. “It’s probably with Claire’s things. She’s our healer.”
I buried my nails in my palms as I watched Claire rummage through her bag. I prayed to the Heavens Eman had packed us what we needed, until she held out a clear bottle filled with red flakes.
“What are you going to do with it?” Claire questioned as she handed it to James, appearing more fascinated by the medicinal practice than the fact that Silas’s heart wasn’t beating.
“He needs to save Silas with it,” I snapped.
“Calm down, Addie,” Claire bit back.
James closed Claire’s hands around the bottle. “I’m not going to do anything. You are.”
“What?” Claire and I shrieked.
James nodded. “Claire, Eman made you the healer, not me.” He turned to me. “Silas will be fine, Addie. His story doesn’t end here.”
I jerked back, surprised at his words.
“Get water from the river. Quickly,” he instructed Claire, holding out a metal cup.
Claire jumped up and sprinted to the river's edge before returning with a full cup of water.
“Now, open the bottle and place three leaves in your palm.” Claire obeyed. “Crush them until they are a fine powder,” James instructed.
When the salebra was a fine dust, Claire lifted her head, her brows rising.
“Wait, I remember this. Sana taught me about this herb back in Ramni.” She angled her head toward James. “Thanks for the help, ‘Grandpa.’”
James grunted, then grinned as he stepped out of the way.
Claire dipped two of her fingers in the water, carefully dripping three drops onto the powder in her palm. A purple smoke rose from the red powder with a hiss.
“Addie, take the rest of his shirt off,” Claire said.
I quickly peeled the remnants of Silas’s scorched sweater over his head, exposing his translucent skin. Dark veins pulsed beneath the surface. His brows were bunched tight, as if he was still being struck by the bolts that branded his body. Claire cleared her throat, and I scurried out of the way, backing into Lord Farmount’s chest. His hand came down on my shoulder, and I turned to see his lips downturned as he watched Claire work.
In one fluid motion, Claire rubbed the paste between her hands, then slammed them onto Silas’s chest. Silas’s body jolted as a red light glowed under his skin.
“What’s happening?” I cried, clutching Lord Farmount’s arm. The lord winced but gently placed his gloved hand over mine.
Claire slammed her hands into Silas’s chest again. Another red light illuminated his veins. Claire waited a few moments, analyzing Silas’s body through narrowed lids. Nothing happened. Dread crept under my skin as we waited. Lord Farmount grunted but cleared his throat to cover it as he peeled my fingers from his arm. He threaded his gloved fingers through mine and held my hand.
Silas let out a deep gasp, his back arching off the ground. Then he relaxed, his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm.
Claire waited a few moments before she lifted her arms in the air. “He’s alive!” After brushing her hands together, she returned the salebra to her bag. “I guess all those months with those annoying plants paid off after all.” She pulled out a roll of bandages and secured them around Silas’s arm.
“Great work,” James said, clapping her on the back.
I quickly threw myself on top of Silas, not caring that he was still injured. I couldn’t imagine him not being in my life. He groaned but managed to wrap his warm arm around my back.
“What happened?” he asked warily.
Tears streamed down my face as I breathed in his earthy scent. Resting my head on his chest, I watched the rosy color return to his skin while listening to the steady beat of his half-heart.
“I thought I lost you.”
“It’s a good thing Grandpa helped me remember what to do, or you would’ve been a goner,” Claire said from behind us.
James chuckled from where he was washing his hands in the river. I sat up and placed an arm under Silas’s back, easing him into a sitting position.
“Thank you, Claire and James,” Silas said, glancing up at them. He placed his hand on his adjacent bicep, squeezing it as he winced. “I owe you two my life,”
“Claire did it all.” James gestured to our healer before scanning the river. He studied the rippling waves. I followed his line of sight, expecting to find the blonde woman waiting for us. But only the sparkling water winked back.
“Who was she?” I asked.
With a huff, James sat down next to Silas. He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a second one underneath, before holding out the green and black plaid.
“Thank you,” Silas said and took it, taking care to mind his injured arm.
Not w
illing to meet my gaze, James said, “Her name is Dacenda. She’s been with Ophidian for many years.” He cast a glance at me, opening his mouth to say more, but clamped his lips shut.
He’s hiding something.
I studied the concern in his ice-blue eyes. “James, what’s wrong?” Was he hiding something about Silas and Dacenda? Did they really have a relationship?
Rubbing his hand over his scruffy chin, James stood abruptly. “Farmount was right. We were being followed.” He glanced over to where the lord was standing at the edge of the river, filling up a leather sack with water. “We can’t stay out here tonight. We’re completely exposed. And now that Dacenda knows where you are, we’ll have the malum tracking us wherever we go.” James motioned to Silas. “You need to rest and not put any additional stress on your heart.”
Standing, I laid the pages of the book flat and waited. The invisible quill returned, sketching the Flum River on the outer edge of the page before drawing trees.
“It looks like there’s a small forest not far from here,” I said, turning to Silas. Though he was upright, his skin was still incredibly pale, and dark rings layered his eyes. My heart wrenched as I stretched out my hand. “Do you think you can make it?”
Silas gave me a weak smile in response. He grabbed my hand and stood slowly, trying not to let out a painful groan, but failed. I kept my hold on him until James gently separated our palms.
“Addie, you need to lead the way,” James said, walking next to Silas. “I’ll make sure Silas is fine.”
I bit my lip, glancing between the two of them.
“I’ll be fine, Addie,” Silas said, trying to cover his weary face with a grin. “We’ll only be a few feet behind.”
“Okay.” I hesitated before brushing a strand of his hair out of his eyes. “But if you’re tired or need to rest, you better tell me.”
“Come on,” Claire groaned, taking me by the arm. “I don’t want to be here when Blondie comes back.”
Chapter 20
As Claire and I led the group, Silas and James followed, softly murmuring behind us. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to slow down to listen. First Divad, now James? What were they all talking about? Wasn’t I the Bellata?
More secrets.
Trying to tame my curiosity, I attempted to start a conversation with Claire and Lord Farmount.
“So, how are you guys doing?”
Claire knotted her fingers in her hair as she twisted the snowy strands into a perfect braid. She flicked it behind her back. “I’m too tired to talk.” Giving me a half-apologetic shrug, she purposefully lagged behind.
Lord Farmount kept his face forward and said nothing.
Taking my chances, I turned to the lord. “I haven’t said thank you yet, Lord Farmount.”
He gave me a sidelong glance, then turned his face up front once more. “For what?”
“For trying to warn us about Dacenda and for helping me with Silas.” I couldn’t help being excited to have someone to distract me from my own thoughts. “And for helping save all those people in Barracks. You didn’t have to do that.”
And for holding my hand when I was terrified for Silas, I wanted to add.
He kept his face forward as he fiddled with the ends of the knives on his belt. “No, I didn’t. I got trampled in Wintertide, remember?” He snorted. “But you also didn’t have to risk your life to save everyone in Barracks and Dunsque, did you?”
I hesitated. “No, I guess not.”
“So, why did you?”
I started. No one had asked me that. “Because I was supposed to.” I reached down and trailed my fingers along the map. “Because they needed me.”
Lord Farmount said nothing before grabbing one of his knives and twirling it between his fingers as we walked. He was silent for a few moments longer before asking, “What if they don’t need you? What if they don’t want you?”
Good questions.
I watched him flip the knife in the air and catch it. There was no way this was the same man who had invited me to join his harem over a year ago. “What do you mean?”
He pointed the blade ahead. “Let’s say this next Land is like Dunsque and Trefair, where something terrible has happened.” He waved the knife around before pointing it at me. “What if they don’t want your help? What will you do then?”
I stopped, taking in the tops of a cluster of oak trees rustling in the evening breeze. What would I do? I had never considered that the Magisters wouldn’t want my help.
The lord turned and quirked a brow.
Lowering the map, I stared down at my melted boot. “I don’t know.”
Lord Farmount’s laugh startled me, and I jerked my head up.
“At least you’re honest.” He waved his hand with another chuckle. “Come on.”
He has a great smile, doesn’t he?
I hurried beside him. “What would you do?” The question sprang from my lips, surprising me. I didn’t want my conversation with Lord Farmount to end.
He pointed the tip of his knife to his chest, his emerald eyes wide in mock surprise. “Me? Adelaide, you have me all wrong if you think I would help all those people. I would leave the first chance I got.”
“You helped all the people of Barracks, and you warned us about being followed, and you helped Silas.” I leaned over and nudged his shoulder. “That sounds like helping to me.”
Lord Farmount grunted as he secured his knife back on his belt. “I’ll make sure not to next time.”
We strode side by side in silence until a new question tumbled from my mouth: “Lord Farmount, what did you trade your heart for?”
The lord kicked a rock, sending it rolling to the right. “Why do you want to know?”
“You still have all of your emotions, but no heart.”
He growled, toeing another stone. “Can a man not feel when he wants?”
“You know what I mean, Lord Farmount.”
“You don’t have to keep calling me that.”
I pushed a stone toward him with the side of my foot, noting he had ignored another one of my comments. “What?”
His lips quirked at the offered pebble. “Lord Farmount.”
“Isn’t that your name?” I asked drily.
“I think we’re past formalities by now,” he said flatly. He held out his hand. “Damien.”
As we approached the edge of the trees, we slowed down, allowing Claire, James, and Silas to catch up. I grasped his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Damien.”
Damien shook my hand before crossing his arms over his chest. “You as well, Adelaide.”
The sun started to set, painting an array of pinks, purples, and oranges across the sky. If we weren’t trying to hide from a madwoman with malum, I might have enjoyed it.
As Silas and James shuffled near, Silas eyed Damien with suspicion, noting how close the lord and I were standing. Guilt spun inside me.
“We need to find shelter,” I said, avoiding Silas. “We don’t have much daylight left.”
“I’ll collect branches for a fire,” Damien offered. A softened expression rolled over his face before he disappeared into the trees.
“Claire and I will join you,” James called after him. Not allowing any opposition, James motioned to Claire, then stalked through the trees.
Claire let out an exaggerated sigh. “My feet are screaming at me to stop. I just want to lay down.”
“The sooner you get firewood, the sooner you’ll rest,” James called from the forest, causing me to snicker as Claire stomped through the trees.
As soon as they were out of sight, Silas’s hand gripped my own and spun me around. Before I could react, his lips landed on mine. A cool sensation passed through my body before it ignited every cell. His strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me close. My chest warmed, my desire for him growing as I draped my arms around his neck and ran my fingers through his thick hair.
After a few moments, we broke apart, and Silas pressed his for
ehead against mine.
“I thought you were injured,” I said, between breaths, trying to rein in my excitement. “What was that for?”
“Just clarifying,” he said.
I brushed my lips against his cheek. “Clarifying what?”
Silas shuddered under the kiss before stepping away. He grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. “We should probably start looking for shelter. Claire will punish us both if she doesn’t have somewhere to sleep.”
Laughing, I followed him into the trees.
Fallen branches and foliage crackled beneath our feet as we searched through the forest. Eman's book had led us here, so there had to be shelter somewhere.
Craning our necks, we discovered a cleaned-out area surrounded by thick trees. It was as if someone had molded the trees into a dome-like shape specifically for us.
Silas and I removed the remaining brush before we heard the others.
Throwing her branches to the ground, Claire flopped to the dirt. “It feels like we’ve been walking for years. My blisters have blisters.” She took off her boots and rubbed her feet.
“Stop complaining,” Damien said, placing his branches next to hers before he began tenting them for a fire. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Says the guy who complains about everything,” Claire scoffed. She took out the metal cup, herbs, and a flask of water.
Damien finished tenting the sticks with a growl.
“Addie”—Claire turned to ignore him—“make sure Silas drinks his tea.” She took a small, yellow sack out of her satchel. Opening the pleats, Claire swallowed the whole bag of nuts and berries before laying down and lacing her fingers behind her head. She then stretched out her long legs, crossed her ankles, and closed her eyes. Her breaths soon deepened into a sweet slumber.
In a huff, Damien relocated to the opposite side of the shelter, analyzing the trees first before finally settling on the ground.
“They’re perfect company,” James grumbled, following behind them as he rubbed his palms together. White light soon emerged, igniting the wood. “When one’s not complaining, the other is. If you’re real lucky, they’ll both start complaining at the same time.”
Heartbreaker Page 15
