by Amy Patrick
He kissed me again, until I pushed at his chest and smiled against his lips. “You’d better get on that plane then—instead of kissing me senseless all night long.” I took a step backward, wiping a tear from my cheek.
He backed up the steps, smiling. “I love you, piccola.”
Though the airfield was brightly lit, his figure blurred before my eyes. “I love you, too. Come back to me.”
“Always.”
21
Nic
Macy was right about the sleep thing. I did doze almost the entire eight-hour flight from Mississippi to Bristol.
She was wrong about me not missing her. Even in my sleep, I longed for her. My dreams were all her—the sound of her laugh, the way her eyes lit up when I walked into the room, the way she’d pouted on the plane ride to Mississippi from Las Vegas when she thought I wasn’t looking… the way her body had looked in that towel.
I woke frustrated and filled with pent-up energy with zero outlet for it. Hopefully this trip would speed things along. The reason I’d agreed so readily to be the sample-delivery-boy was to ensure that Olly’s infected blood made it to the right people in as short a time as possible.
Though… maybe my being half a world away from Macy was for the best. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep from ruining the host of the miracle cure if I stayed in close proximity to her. Who knew how long it would take the healers to complete their work. I was praying for “weeks” rather than “years.” The human race might not even have years, and I was at serious risk of spontaneous combustion.
When the plane landed in Bristol, I saw I’d missed a call from Estelle. At first I was hopeful—was she calling to say Nox’s healer had made a breakthrough? My heart sank, though, when I heard the message she’d left.
“Nic. Call me as soon as you can. I’ve gotten some new intel—and it’s not good.”
She answered immediately when I dialed her back, though it was very late at night for her in California. “Nic—hi. Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m good. I’m in England, actually. Just landed. What’s happening?”
“Bad news, I’m afraid. Or, it might be bad, I’m not sure. I spoke to my source in Italy tonight. Alessia is on the move. She’s left the palace in Rome. According to several people who were around at the time, she said, ‘It’s time,’ before she left.”
“Merda. You’re right—that doesn’t sound good.”
“No, not at all. And no one is quite sure where she went. She didn’t use her usual driver or pilot. She must be onto the fact there’s a leak. She could be anywhere, Nic.”
She could be in America. The short hairs at the base of my scalp lifted. Had Alessia given up on her henchmen and come to hunt Macy personally? Or equally as frightening, had she set out to “visit” the fan pod girls, activating the Plague virus they carried with her glamour—her own personal poison touch?
Either way it wasn’t good. Either way, I was more determined than ever to do my job well here and do it quickly. I needed to get to Olly and bring the blood samples right back here to the airport as soon as possible and then fly back to make sure Macy stayed safe.
“Well, keep working your sources to see if you can find out where she’s gone. Macy and I are doing what we can on our end.”
“How’s it going with your reunion?” she asked. “Are things… okay between you?”
I smiled. “No. They’re better than okay. She still loves me.”
“Oh, I’m so glad for you, Nic.”
“Estelle?” I hesitated before asking the question. “Have you ever thought about… marriage proposals?”
“What do you mean? I’ve gotten lots of them.”
“I know, but I mean… have you ever thought about how you’d want someone to propose? You know… the ideal.”
When I wasn’t sleeping on the flight, I’d thought about what Macy had said. I hadn’t actually proposed marriage to her. I’d declared my love and been overjoyed to hear that she still loved me, too. And she’d seemed happy when I’d admitted I was bonded to her for life. But there should be a wedding proposal. It was much more a human thing than an Elven one, as our marriages were typically arranged by our parents—especially in the Ancient Court. But now that I thought about it, I was actually starting to get a bit excited. A proposal. This could be fun.
“I haven’t really thought about it. You know I’m going to be stuck with whichever toady little prince Papà picks for me. Although you’ve gotten out of it well enough.” She laughed. “Maybe I should have someone put me in a coma for a year so our parents will let me do whatever I want, too.”
“Don’t even joke about it, Estelle,” I warned. “I nearly lost everything. Macy was close to deciding to move on.”
“I know. I was only kidding—I was as scared as they were of losing you.”
Now that we were on the subject of guys who were interested in Estelle, I had to ask. “How is Anders? Does he… talk about her?”
“About Macy? Sure. They’re good friends. But if you mean ‘is he in love with my bond-mate?’ the answer is no.”
“You sound very certain of that.”
“I am,” she said with cheery frankness. “I asked him.”
Bearing in mind her glamour gift, his answer to her would have to have been the truth. “And he said…” I prompted.
“He said, ‘no,’ silly. He’s never been in love… before,” she added the last word belatedly.
It took a moment to register. “Hey—what’s going on between you two?”
“I’ve got to go, mio fratello caro,” she chirped, sounding younger than she had in years. “Ciao. Keep me updated.” And she hung up.
* * *
Bristol, England was known for its bustling historic harborside, its plentiful artists and activists, and the Clifton suspension bridge spanning the Avon river gorge. It was a popular spot for conferences and weekend holidays.
The area near Olly’s house was quieter. Well-kept and charming, it was clearly targeted more toward locals than tourists, with a bakery and several brick-fronted shops lining the intersecting streets of the city center. The sidewalks weren’t crowded, but there were people about, walking, chatting together, shopping.
Though Bristol was one of the sunniest and warmest cities in the UK, it was February and not exactly warm out today— probably only about eight degrees Celsius, or around forty-seven degrees Fahrenheit, as Macy would think of it.
I shivered and buttoned the top button of my coat as I walked toward the address Asher has supplied for the clinic. Spotting the small, blonde girl leaning against the outside wall, I felt a wave of relief that nearly lifted my feet from the pavement.
When Estelle had said Alessia was on the move, my first fear had been for Macy. My second was that Alessia had decided to follow Macy’s digital trail and come after Olly.
She looked up as I got close, recognition warming her eyes. “Nicolo!” she said, popping to attention and moving toward me, but stopping short of hugging me. We hadn’t really known each other, except through Macy.
“Hello Olly. It's good to see you. I think you’re actually taller than Macy now and much more grown-up than the last time I saw you.”
Her cheeks reddened to match the tip of her nose, which was pink from the cold.
“You look a lot better than the last time I saw you. I thought you were dead, you know.” Her little face scrunched. “I’m sorry I told Macy you were dead. I hope you’re not mad at me.”
I reached out to ruffle the top of her hair. “Of course not. You saw me in pretty rough shape, and you were trying to be a good friend. All’s well that ends well.” Tipping my head toward the clinic doors, I asked, “Have you been in yet?”
“Yes. I did it already.” Obviously used to the chilly temperatures, she wore no coat, only a sweater. She pushed up one long sleeve to show me the small bandage. “I just wanted to wait and see you. So… you can’t tell me what’s happening? Macy said millions of lives could
be in danger.”
“I’m afraid not. It’s better for you if you don’t know everything. But I will tell you this—you might very well be saving every person you know—and lots of them you don’t. Thank you for what you’re doing.”
She shrugged her narrow shoulders, causing the scarf around her neck to hide her chin. “I didn’t do much. Just stuck out my arm. Nic—” She peered up at me, searching my face. “Is there something wrong with me?”
Heat crept up my neck. How did I answer that question? “No. You’re perfectly healthy.” For now. As long as we can keep the time bomb inside your body from going off. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, Macy and me were the only girls who didn’t get hypnotized in your fan pod. And my family were really, really angry when I told them where I’d been and told them about your guards and your palace and your family—sorry, I had to tell them—if you ever met my nanna you’d understand. She told me I was lucky to ‘be who I am.’ And now… you say my blood might help save people’s lives.”
Perplexed, I shook my head. “You’ll have to ask your mum about what she said. I don't know what that means. But there is something in your blood that’s like… a puzzle piece. When we put it together with Macy’s, we’ll be able to unlock a weapon that we can use to protect the world. That’s really all I can say. And Olly—if you can help it—don’t tell your mum what I said, okay? I don't want her worrying about you unnecessarily.”
“Okay. I’ll try. Are you getting married soon?”
“What?” Her lightning-fast changes of subject were giving me whiplash. “Oh, maybe. Hopefully.”
“Macy said maybe you could both come and see me on your honeymoon. I miss her so much.”
An upsurge of guilt soured my stomach. This sweet child had been lured into my fan pod for use in Dr. Schmitt’s plan. How many more like her had been victimized by my people worldwide? Brimming with determination to protect her and those like her, I made her a promise.
“I know she feels the same way. We’ll come back together as soon as we can. You can count on it.”
Her face gleamed. “Okay good. Well, I’ve gotta get home or I will have to come up with some sort of story for where I’ve been.”
“Be safe, little one.” As she skipped away, something occurred to me, and it caused a wintry chill to slither down my back. “Olly.”
She turned back around. “Yes?”
“If an Italian woman calls on you—a young, pretty one, tall like me—don’t let her in, okay? She’s not your friend.”
She rolled her eyes. “I feel like I’m in a James Bond film on the telly.”
“I’m serious.”
She bobbed her head in a repeated nodding motion. “Okay. Okay, I get it. No pretty Italians in our house—except for you,” she added with a giggle, then turned and ran away.
I stepped into the clinic and told the woman at the counter I was there to pick up a sample for delivery to the States.
“Your name, sir?”
“Nicolo Buonoccorsi.”
“Oh—there’s a football star with that same name. You even look a bit like him.”
I smiled. “I get that a lot.”
She looked at me straight-on then, studying my face. Thankfully, her strongest desire at the moment was to get out of work and to her daughter’s piano recital, so she turned and went to the back without quizzing me further. Returning with a package wrapped in ice packs, she handed it over. “Blood sample for patient…” Looking down she checked the name. “Rowan. Correct?”
I took it from her. “Yep. That’s the one. Thank you so much. Have a good evening.”
I signed a form then left the building, walking swiftly to where I’d left my car and driver. The sky had clouded over and a frigid raindrops were beginning to fall. Sliding into the backseat, I said, “Airport, please. Take the fastest route possible. I’m in a hurry to get home.”
Home. I wasn’t thinking of Altum as my home, was I? Upon further reflection, I decided no, it wasn’t the place. It was the person. Macy was my home, and wherever she was, that’s where I wanted to be.
22
Macy
I knew it the minute Nic returned to Altum. Don’t ask me how I knew, but I did.
It was nearly nine at night, and I was hanging out in my room, reading in bed. Suddenly, I had the strongest urge to go to the palace entrance. Throwing on a jacket and some shoes, I hurried through the halls. Just as I arrived, Nic shuffled through the doors, bleary-eyed, travel-rumpled, and completely beautiful.
His eyes lifted and connected with mine. His smile was so big it must have hurt his cheeks. I ran to him, leaping into his arms.
“You’re here,” I said in a joyful laugh-sob.
“I am. Oh, piccola, I’m so happy to see you. What did you do today?”
“Worry about you. Did everything go okay? Did you get it?”
Nic held up the package in his hand. “Right here. Come with me to the healer’s office. We’ll deliver this, and then we can catch up. Do you think they’re still working?”
“The last time I saw them they said they’d wait up all night for you. They’re that convinced that we need to work fast on this. You made great time.”
“The flights were smooth. Traffic wasn’t too bad in Bristol—about a half hour each way to and from the airport. I saw Olly—she’s adorable.”
“Isn’t she? How did she look?”
“Older. Healthy. She’s done some talking to her family about the castle and the fan pod situation, but I don’t think any harm will come of it. As long as no one in the Ancient Court realizes she was never swayed. She asked me about that.”
“About Sway? I never told her anything about the—”
He held up a hand. “I know. She didn’t call it by name. She was curious about why you two were the only ones unaffected.”
I lifted my shoulders and let them fall. “I understand now why I wasn't, but I have no idea about her.”
“You don’t think—nah,” he shook his head.
“Think what? What were you going to say?”
“You don’t think she’s like you, do you? A nymph?”
“I really don’t think so, Nic. You said nymphs were all supposedly very small—in the history books? She was only thirteen and already almost my height last time I saw her. And like I said, she lives with her birth family. She even mentioned a grandmother. If she was a nymph, wouldn’t she know it?”
“I guess so. And you’re right. She’s grown even more in the past year. I’d say she’s several inches taller than you now.”
“Is it possible she’s part-Elven, and that’s why she was immune? Asher said his Elven heritage made him resistant to glamour.”
“Maybe. Who knows? But she’s not that tall, and she said she described us—my family and my guards—to her mum, and her family didn’t say anything about Elves to her. If they had, she wouldn’t have been asking me about herself, still wondering why she was different from the other fan pod girls.”
“Well, anyway, the main thing is she’s safe and still healthy.”
“Right. She looked great. And she was very eager to see you again. We’ll have to go back as soon as we get the chance.”
Hands clenched together, we walked through the passageways of the palace, which glowed with colored stones. By now I’d gotten used to the dusky half-light of this underground kingdom. It still amazed me that the Elves who lived here could tell the difference between day and night. Nic and I entered the medical office to find Wickthorne and Asher hard at work.
“Ah—Nic.” The younger healer strode forward and shook Nic’s hand, accepting the wrapped package with care. “Fantastic. We’re at the point where we’re ready to test the formula we made with Macy’s blood on an infected sample. Without it, we were stalled out. Any trouble? It stayed in ice the whole trip?”
Nic nodded. “Yes. I was careful with it. They drew a half-pint. I hope that will be enough.”
“More than enough.
Thank you so much. I can’t wait to get to work on this.”
“So what now?” I asked the young healer.
He turned to me. “Now, we try everything in our power to kill the virus in these samples. You might want to say a prayer or two if you’re into that kind of thing. Hopefully, the concoction we’ve already created will work to eradicate the virus. If it doesn’t, we’ll at least know how to start tweaking it. I’ll get a sample out to California as well so my dad can work on it.” He smiled and went back to hand the sample to Wickthorne.
Nic and I left the clinic together, walking through the halls of the palace.
“What do we do now?” I asked.
Sliding me a side glance, he waggled his eyebrows in a silly, suggestive way.
I laughed. “I don’t think that’s on the menu for tonight. I’ve been thoroughly warned today by pretty much everyone who speaks English that I cannot compromise the ‘cure.’”
He took my hand. “I know. Wishful thinking. Actually, I’m about to fall asleep on my feet. But I was thinking tomorrow we might take a walk in the woods. The people here say there’s a double waterfall not too far from Altum. Would you like to see it—if it’s still warm enough, that is?”
“I didn't realize you were a hiker.”
“Not usually, but without my regular football practice, I’ve got to do something for exercise. And it’s best if we stay busy. Too much time alone in a room with you, and the human race can kiss its collective behind good-bye.”
I laughed. “Good call. A hike it is. And maybe we could go into town for some lunch—or shopping in Oxford or something. I could use a few new things, and I’m told it’s a great town.”
Nic’s gaze came back to mine. It wasn’t encouraging. “I think we’d better stick to the woods. I heard from Estelle, and… well, we should keep a low profile. Alessia has left the palace in Italy for parts unknown. She could be anywhere. It’s unlikely anyone in a small Mississippi town would recognize me from my European sports career, but I suppose it is possible there are some soccer fans here. If Alessia were to get a report on where I am, she’d know where to find you.”
