“Is she immortal?” I asked, flicking my eyes to Luna.
“No. She’s part human, so she will die, but her life will be long unless someone snuffs it out prematurely.”
“And that’ll only happen if she severs the bond with Aura.”
“Yes,” he answered simply.
I suddenly wanted him to leave. He was obviously playing some sort of game with Luna, and I wondered if he was as friendly with Aura as he pretended to be with Luna. Maybe he was like my brother, choosing to pit the sisters against each other in order to take their kingdom.
Instead, he took his fine, pale green coat off, laid it across a kitchen chair, and rolled up his sleeves.
“Staying?”
He smiled. “I think I will. Thank you.”
LUNA
I remembered falling asleep with Phillip near the hearth, but I distinctly did not remember Malex being in my cottage. He smiled as I stood up, greeting me with a, “Good morning, Princess.”
Phillip was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. He looked healthy and strong. Was he okay? How would I know if Aura grew a heart and healed him? We stared at each other for a long moment. Did he know what was happening to him? Did Malex tell him while I slept?
I shot Malex a questioning look and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Unfortunately, Phillip noticed. “What was that exchange about?”
Swallowing thickly, I straightened my skirts and walked toward him. “There’s something you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ve been poisoned.”
“Did you poison me? Or was it him?” he yelled, dropping the apple he was holding. It fell to the floor and rolled to my feet.
“It was Aura,” I said exasperatedly. “She must have asked you to smell her roses while you were at the palace. They contain a toxin. She controls when it’s released and in what dose, but every dose...” I trailed off, not wanting to continue.
“Every dose is what?” he asked.
I pinched my eyes closed. “Every dose is lethal.”
He looked like I’d punched him in the stomach. His mouth dropped open and he blinked rapidly. “How long have you known?”
“Just since last night.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that? What about you?” he aimed at Malex.
Malex’s jaw ticked in irritation. “I’m the one who told her last night. We knew you smelled like Virosa, but didn’t realize what she’d done until you got sick. The cold sweat on your forehead and the wracking cough are the first signs that the poison has taken hold.”
“How long do I have?” Phillip asked shakily.
I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. A knot, large enough to choke me, formed in my throat. “I don’t know. Only Aura does, and only she can stop it.”
“Why can’t you?” he shouted in frustration. “You’re her opposite.”
“I’ll try, Phillip, but I don’t know how.” I turned to Malex. “If I kill Aura, will it save him?”
He folded his arms in front of him. “It certainly couldn’t hurt.”
Phillip gave Malex a hate-filled glare and pointed out the window. “Isn’t it time to crawl back to your cave now?”
Malex stood up, brushing imaginary lint off his impeccably pressed shirt. “Apparently, I’ve worn out my welcome.” Malex smiled slightly and nodded toward Phillip. “He gets braver when you’re awake.”
“What does that mean?” I asked the two of them. They stared at each other from across the room until Malex finally yielded, taking his jacket and folding it over his arm. Malex walked to me and placed a cool kiss on my cheek. My skin didn’t tingle so I knew he hadn’t left his mark, but I could feel the anger radiating off Phillip just a few feet away.
When Malex closed the door behind him, Ember jumped onto the counter beside Phillip. He picked her up and stroked her fur, and she pinched her eyes closed and purred contentedly.
“I’ll stop this,” I vowed.
“You can’t promise me that, Luna. You don’t know how, and there might not be time for you to figure it out.” His voice was hollow.
A tear fell from my eye. Then another. Then another, until I was shaking with rage and sadness and helplessness. There wasn’t a worse feeling in the world than being helpless.
Phillip sat Ember down and took a few steps toward me. “You don’t have to go after Terigon until tomorrow, right?”
I brushed the tears away. “Right.”
“Then, let’s enjoy each other tonight.” He took my hand in his. “Let’s have dinner – breakfast, I mean – and then let’s talk. And if you want to kiss, I’d love that, too.”
My heart was being cleaved in two. “You’re giving up.”
“No, I’m enjoying each minute of my life. Whether it ends tomorrow, the next day, next week, or when I’m seventy, I want to remember this night with you.”
chapter seventeen
PHILLIP
Luna gave me a watery smile and squeezed my hand. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Surprise me.”
She nodded, swallowed thickly, and grabbed her broom. “I’ll be back soon. Stay—”
“Inside. I know.” I watched as she pulled the door closed behind her, the night taking his mistress.
I knew Aura’s toxin couldn’t hurt Luna while they were bound. Maybe it wouldn’t even affect her after their bond was severed. But what would hurt her, would be the sight of me growing weak, and then sick, and then dying.
That fear was already shining in her eyes.
She cried. Luna actually cried. I never imagined someone so strong could crumble like that. If I was going to die, it wasn’t going to be here, in her house or in her arms. I couldn’t do that to her. I knew Luna. She’d say to hell with the spell and she’d take care of me until I was gone. And then she’d spend the rest of her life in pain, filled with regret.
She would be bound to Aura forever. Miserable.
I couldn’t let that happen.
She had to stay focused.
At first, I thought she was being overdramatic about seeking revenge for my brother. Personally, I thought he deserved the punishment he got—maybe not the nature of his death, but he angered two half-fae witches. What did he expect?
But I didn’t play the twins against each other. I didn’t do anything more than go looking for my missing brother. And I couldn’t even remember how I even knew he’d ended up in Virosa. My memories were a jumbled mess thanks to Aura, but in the end, I was innocent in all this and Aura poisoned me anyway.
I wasn’t her first victim, nor would I be her last.
When I saw the vision in the sleep walk of all the people she’d killed, when Luna led them from their graves, I was sickened.
So, I would do as I said. I’d enjoy one night with her and then I’d leave.
I had to. I had to protect her.
It was selfish of me to even want tonight, but if I was dying, I wanted to live a few extra moments with her. Even if only for a few short hours, until the sun rose and she slept.
My sleeping beauty.
Luna returned with a chicken, carrying it by its feet. She’d wrung its neck, and the head flopped to and fro with each of her steps.
Ember meowed, clawing at the dead bird. “Don’t you dare, or I’ll boil and pluck you next,” Luna warned.
Ember sat, pouting as Luna slung the chicken onto the cutting board. “Be back with some water.”
She was trying to act as if nothing was bothering her, but I could see the creases around her mouth, the tension in her shoulders.
I felt it, too.
LUNA
A few hours later, we were eating chicken and a mixture of cooked vegetables, staring awkwardly at each other across the candlelit table. “What was your childhood like?” I finally asked him.
He finished chewing and wiped his mouth. “Typical, I suppose. William and I were always in trouble when we were kids. As princes, we could ge
t away with more than most children could. As we got older, the competition between us got more intense. I loved my brother, but he had his faults. Not that I didn’t.” He took a drink of water. “I’m still angry with him for going to Virosa without telling me. Not that it does any good to be angry.”
“I wish I could reverse time,” I mused.
“You should work on that power,” he smirked.
How could he possibly joke at a time like this? Death was looming over him, his scythe sharpened and ready.
“What about yours? What was your childhood like?” he asked.
“Awful at times. Magnificent at others. We didn’t have a parent to guide us into our powers, so I set quite a few things on fire when my temper got the best of me. But people knew I’d set it. Most people at the palace avoided me if they could. They were scared of the fire I held. Not that I blamed them. I didn’t know what I was doing, and had no control when my magic began to manifest.”
“They should’ve been scared of Aura.”
“At the time, their fear of me was well placed. My power over fire and wind were difficult to hide. For a long time, people didn’t fear Aura because she only manipulated water and earth. She couldn’t burn them to death. But things have changed. People must know what she’s capable of now. That midwife the other night knew about her garden and the toxin contained in the roses.”
“Did you ever try to stop her?”
I blew out a breath, contemplating his question. “You must understand, Phillip, that for a long time, she hid her deeds well. She always loved roses. Probably because our mother did. When we were small, the woman who raised us took us outside and told us about our mother’s garden. She told us Mother spent more time outside than in, when she could afford the luxury. I merely thought Aura had inherited her joy of gardening from her.”
My expression darkened as I remembered the moment I first realized how sinister her gardening hobby really was. “It wasn’t until William died that I saw what she was doing. That day, I looked at all the bushes, arranged in perfect rows, pristine and thriving, and I knew she’d killed more than just him.”
I paused to think about my answer to his original question. In all honesty, I was a coward when I realized the truth, and decided to flee instead of fight. Putting distance between myself and her was the only thing I could think of after William was torn apart. “No, I didn’t try to stop her, Phillip. I should have; but instead, I left the people of Virosa to suffer at her hands.” I chose self-preservation, and in doing so, was no better than my sister.
“We want to see the best in the ones we love,” he said quietly.
“I guess we do, but I never imagined that she could be capable of so much horror. She was the beautiful one; the one who was always happy, who could sing like a songbird and dressed in bright, lovely colors. She was the one everyone would stop and smile at as she passed. Their eyes didn’t dart away from her. I guess when the outside appearance doesn’t match what’s inside, it’s difficult for people to imagine someone can be capable of evil.”
“She and William weren’t so different, after all,” Phillip added. “He was the golden son. Nothing he did was wrong, even if it was. And I was just a shadow, heir to nothing, until the fateful day he failed to come home. Only then did people take notice of me. Unfortunately, I had hardened myself against their games by then, much to their chagrin,” he said ruefully. After a moment of contemplative silence, he asked, “If the spell works, do you plan on killing her?” His deep brown eyes clashed with mine.
“Now, more than ever. Yes.” If I killed Aura, her roses would wither. Maybe their toxin would dissipate as well.
He filled my almost-empty glass with more wine. “Why do you float when you sleep?”
I laughed. “Aura doesn’t, in case you were wondering. I think it’s due to my power to control the air, and maybe unconsciously, I make myself as comfortable as I can.”
“What about the moon? How does the moon make you feel?” he asked.
I smiled. “Whole? It’s a strange feeling, really. The sun makes me feel empty and weak, but the moon fills me with strength and makes me feel complete. I’m sure the opposite is true for Aura.”
“Your father must have been very powerful. I mean, since you only inherited a small part of his abilities. He must be terrifying.”
I smiled. “I’ve often wondered who he is. According to the woman who raised us, he was a very bad man. Evil to the core. She was terrified of even speaking about him, and refused to give us his name in case it somehow called him to us. But if we only hold a sliver of his power and he’s as evil as she said, maybe that’s what’s wrong with us. And maybe we’re better off not knowing who he is.”
“Luna,” he said, drawing my attention. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
I took a sip from my glass. “You’re biased because you like me. But there are a thousand people in Virosa whose opinions differ.”
“Did you ever think that if you sever the bond, you’ll be putting yourself at risk? If people are as afraid of you and Aura as you say, you might be putting yourself in danger.”
I shrugged. I didn’t care. Much.
“I don’t want to see you hurt…” He gritted the last word. His hand stiffened and he dropped his fork, clutching his stomach and bending at the waist as he shoved his chair backward. He let out a cry, his face contorted in pain.
I was at his side in an instant. “What’s wrong? Your stomach?”
His cheeks puffed with every strained breath. He paled and as the spell passed, I could see it took a lot of his strength with it. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“I don’t want to go—”
“You need to lie down,” I insisted.
I slung his arm over my shoulder and hefted his weight, walking him to my bedroom. He sat on the bed with his head hung low.
“I’m not ready to go yet,” he mumbled. “I don’t want to die. We haven’t had enough time.”
“What’s enough time, Phillip?” I asked. “I’ve felt more alive in the few days you’ve been with me than I ever have in my life.”
“Me too,” he said, falling back onto the pillow, exhausted. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said.
His breaths became slow and I panicked. Not now. Please, not now. Not yet. He let out a low snore and I released a breath, squeezing my eyes closed with a silent prayer. He’s okay. He’s just sleeping.
I combed his auburn hair with my fingers and held his hand all night. When the sun rose and my body weakened, I asked Ember to watch him while I slept.
Before I fell asleep beside him, Malex showed up. He settled on the stool in front of my writing desk, offering, “Relax, Princess. I’ll guard you both.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled, as sleep took me away from Phillip.
chapter eighteen
LUNA
When I woke, I went outside and quickly bathed in the stream, putting on britches and a black tunic, and tucking my knives into their sheaths on my belt. While lacing my boots on the porch, Malex sat down beside me.
“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked.
“No, but will you stay here with him?”
“Of course, but at dawn, I do need to go prepare a few things. We’ll try to make the spell tomorrow night. Bring Ember and Phillip. You can all stay with me during the day. I’ll have a bed ready for him.”
“Thank you,” I croaked, tears threatening to well in my eyes.
He pursed his lips and nodded. “Terigon will have men with him, and they will be heavily armed.”
“They can’t kill me, Malex,” I scoffed.
“No, but they can hurt you and take you back to the castle.”
I didn’t want to think about that. The castle of Ringsted wasn’t like other palaces with their gilded decorations, marble floors, and proud columns. It was built to keep enemies out. Terigon’s castle was a fortress, equipped with every torture device imaginable. Even as far away as it wa
s, sometimes when I flew at night, I could hear the screams radiating from their dungeons.
No, they wouldn’t kill me. But they would have fun trying, and I shuddered at the thought. Steeling my shoulders, I looked Malex in the eye. I wasn’t going to let them have the upper hand. “They won’t have the chance,” I said defiantly. “I’m going to do this quickly.”
He nodded and stood when I did. “Once, a century or so ago, a human bit me,” he said off-handedly. “When he ingested my blood, it changed him. He became fae.”
My heart stopped before it began to thunder. Does that mean Phillip could be turned into a fae? Would he even want that?
I didn’t know how much of Phillip’s current personality Aura had influenced. Did she give him new memories to make him hate us, and me, less so he could get close to me? Or was he just not as prejudiced as his brother was? William had told me about the superstitions of Grithim and how his father loathed the fae and forbid anyone from entering the dark forest.
“He grew up hating the fae. I don’t know if he’d want to become one, even if it would save his life.”
“The toxin seems to be taking him down and then letting him up for air. He isn’t drowning, so maybe you should let him decide. But know that if he takes a sudden turn for the worse, you or I will have to make the decision for him.”
“Are you sure he’ll be okay for tonight?”
“With Aura one can never be sure, but if he gets sick again tonight, I can tell him and let him decide for himself. My blood would likely work better than yours, anyway. No offense.”
“None taken.” Would it work? Was Malex lying? I was skeptical since I’d never heard any rumors of a fae turning a human into their kind, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t hopeful. This would be a pivotal decision in Phillip’s life. Choosing to become the thing his parents and countrymen hated was no easy choice. If Phillip became fae, he could never return home. The prejudice in Grithim would be too much to overcome.
I took my broom, swung my leg over the handle, and flew up and into the night air. The sky was clear, save for the smiling crescent moon. I flew fast to the forest west of Ringsted. It took longer than I expected, but I finally found Terigon’s hunting party. And to my luck, they were in pursuit of a wild boar. Their horses whinnied, galloping after the crazed, squealing animal. Their torches dripped fire onto the forest floor, igniting small clumps of leaves in their wake.
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