Jade watches him, smiling ever so slightly. But her green eyes hold a hint of sorrow. I know there is more to the story than they're letting on, and yet I can't bring myself to care. I know everything I need to know—they can't help me. And I'm starting to think that nothing will.
So I just nod, absorbing the words silently.
The quiet lingers, wrapping around us until the only sound is the crackling fire. My mind wanders to Cole and the mountain and my father. Worry creeps out of the hole I pushed it into. Worry and fear.
"I'm sorry," Jade confesses suddenly. I turn to her, eager for any diversion, but her eyes are on the ground. Something about her seems awkward in a way it hasn't before. "About before, with the, uh, gun." She takes a deep breath and meets my eyes. "I was under Queen Deirdre's thrall for a long time, and it's sort of hard to shut that side off sometimes, especially when I'm in fight mode. I really thought he was hurting you, I didn't know…" She trails off and then releases a soft, breathy laugh. "Anyway, I don't usually lose in a fight. That vine thing was pretty impressive. I never even had a chance."
"Wow," Asher comments ruefully, "apologizing and admitting defeat in the same breath. I never thought I'd see the day."
Jade punches him in the arm.
Lightly…sort of.
But Asher is still grinning as he rubs the newly sore spot on his bicep, and Jade just rolls her eyes, tossing him an exasperated look. I get the feeling that this teasing sort of banter is pretty normal for them.
Will Cole and I ever be free like that?
To just sit and tease without a worry in the world? No more magic, no more curses, no more mysteries to solve? Nothing tugging at the back of our thoughts, shadowing every moment of light happiness?
"Omorose?" Asher asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
But as I turn to face him, a sound in the distance captures my attention.
Howling.
My head whips around as my eyes land on the open door Cole disappeared through a while ago. I'm on my feet before Asher and Jade even realize what's happening. And I'm running, sprinting from the living room, racing through the halls, not stopping to see if they follow. I go faster and faster until I slam against the front door of the castle, unable to stop my momentum, but the slight pain helps pull me back to reality.
The doors swing open.
The echo of roars fills the town and I search, scanning the streets.
I sense him before I see him.
Cole.
But this time he is back in the form of the wolf, and he's not alone. His pack, the wolves I now know are his uncles and cousins, follow on either side. And across all of their backs rests a man I feared I would never see again.
"Papa!" I shout.
The body doesn’t move. His limbs are limp and lifeless. My eyes widen in horror the closer the wolves approach. Each step brings my father's pallid color clearer and clearer into view. I've never seen his bronze skin look so pale and ashen. All I want is for those umber eyes that I inherited to open wide, to glance at me with reassurance, but they remain locked behind sealed lids.
Cole barks twice and slips ahead of the pack as another wolf glides in to take his spot beneath my father's body. A few steps later and he transforms midstride into the man who's come to mean so much to me. A few more steps and his palms grasp my shoulders, tugging me closer gently. Then he grins.
"He's alive."
I shut my eyes tight, fighting the sudden urge to cry or scream or do something in between. Pure relief shoots through me, bringing my entire system back to life. "He's alive?"
"Yes," Cole murmurs. The rumble in his chest comforts me. "He's alive. Barely. But I think I found him in time to save him."
And then the wolves are there.
They pause beside me, giving me the time to reach down and press my fingers against my father's impossibly cold cheek.
"Papa," I whisper.
He doesn't move. There's no response.
So I lean down and place a soft kiss to his wrinkled brow, unaware that I've begun crying until I see the sheen of teardrops glistening on his face.
"I love you," I whisper into his ear. "I'll save you."
And then I stand, stepping back. Cole takes my place, scooping my father into his arms as though he is a doll and not a full-grown man.
"I'll bring him to a guest room," he says, voice barely strained.
I nod, ready to follow. But then I glance over at the wolves. They're watching me like they already know what I'm about to say. "You remember what I need?"
They nod, more human than animal.
And then they're gone, off to fetch my water and bowl and herbs. Everything I once used to heal the wounds I put on Cole's body. Everything I hope will save my father now.
Asher and Jade watch from the far side of the entry, staring at the wolves with wide eyes and somewhat shocked expressions. But they silently fall in behind me as I follow Cole and my father down the long corridors of the castle. We end up in a guest room across from mine. Immediately, we settle my father on the soft mattress. I tuck the covers around his body, bundling him in the way he used to do with me when I was a child. I fluff the pillows before placing them beneath his head and feel his cheeks for any sign of warmth. But the only heat I feel comes from the fire Cole has just lit.
"More blankets," I murmur.
Cole doesn’t need any other prompting. He vanishes, only to return a moment later with a stack of wools that we together place over my father's still form. By the time I'm done tucking the edges, the wolves have returned, carrying everything I need.
There's not an ounce of hesitation in me as I call my magic to the surface. I don't care if my father wouldn't approve. I don't care if he would say it wasn't worth losing some of my life to save his. To me, there is nothing more worthy of my power. There is no other sacrifice I could be more willing to make. So I bring various herbs to life, letting the plants stretch and grow just so I can yank the leaves free.
Cole watches over me silently while I work, lending his strength as he presses his fingers into my back, massaging out the strain. His presence is more comforting than I think he knows. Those little touches keep me grounded, keep me focused. Without him by my side, the fear of losing my father would be crippling. Instead, I'm calm and clear. I'm brave.
My father jerks when I pour the first poultice forcibly down his throat. But I hold my hand over his mouth, wincing as his body thrashes beneath me. I don’t release until he swallows. And then I pour the second. And the third. Each time, his reaction grows stronger. Cole has to hold him down while I work. But I don't stop. Even as he grunts in pain, I keep pushing forward. Because I know this is my only chance to save him.
An hour later, when it's done, my father has passed out from the exertion.
But his forehead is warmer.
The vibrant coffee-colored hue of his skin is returning.
His coal-black hair shines with a thin layer of sweat.
I collapse over him, utterly exhausted as I wrap my arms around his motionless body in a tight embrace. Beneath the covers, he still feels cold as ice.
"Please," I whisper.
A prayer.
To anyone who will listen.
Cole runs his coarse fingers through my hair. "Omorose."
I turn, looking up at him, unable to move.
But he glances to the floor, and I hear their gentle mewling without having to look. It takes all of my energy, but I sit up and then fall against the back of my chair. Without pause, the wolves take my place, jumping up onto the bed and nestling against my father.
"They'll keep him warm," Cole says quietly. "They'll stand watch and let us know if anything changes."
I nod, but I can’t look away.
My hand reaches out, holding on to the lump in the covers where I know my father's hand is. And even though I tell myself not to hope, I can’t fight the disappointment that surges through me when his fingers don’t tighten around my own. Shutting my eyes agains
t the despair, I let go.
Cole's hand latches on to mine before I even realize I was absently searching for his fingers. I pull, and he steps close enough that I can lean my head against his side. Cocooned by his warmth, I finally let myself breathe for a few quiet moments. Everyone is silent. And I know they're waiting for me to speak.
"It's my fault," I confess.
"No," Cole urges, tightening his fingers around mine.
But I shake my head. "Yes," I protest. My voice is scratchy and raw. "I told him I would get rid of my magic and come back. I told him I wouldn’t be gone for very long. He must have gotten worried. And I was here, with you, forgetting about him. While he was out there, dying to make sure I was safe."
My tone cracks in an ugly way.
"You can't think like that," Cole soothes. And I know he is speaking from experience, from years of blame and guilt over his own parents' deaths. But I don't believe him. Because I know the truth.
I was here, drunk on using my magic.
I was here, forgetting about the promises I made him.
I was here, falling in love for the first time in my life.
I was here, feeling like I might finally belong.
And he was there, alone in the cold, fighting with everything he had to be sure that I was safe and unharmed. He was killing himself. And I didn’t know. Didn’t even think about it. Didn’t care to check in on him and make sure he knew I was all right, that I was happy.
My father is dying.
And it is all my fault.
"Why?" I whisper, raspy. "Why did he try to cross over the mountains by himself? What was so urgent that he would risk so much to find me?"
"Um," Asher interrupts.
I spin. My eyes find his immediately. "What?"
Those indigo irises flash with revelation. "I know why your father was trying to find you." He purses his lips, glancing at Jade. Her face is cold. Those green eyes are as hard as her namesake as she meets his stare. But I know that lethal look isn’t meant for him. It's caused by the information Asher's words have revealed, an understanding I lack.
"Why?" I plead, standing so quickly the chair tips backward. Only Cole's quick reflexes stop it from crashing to the floor. "Tell me."
They both look from Cole to me to Cole and back.
Finally, Asher sighs. "The Midwest Command Center, the general there, he's planning an attack. The wheels were already in motion by the time we arrived. Your father, he must have heard about it, he must have been coming to warn you, to get you to leave before you were killed."
Cold dread trickles through me.
Even Cole's hand feels cold.
"They've tried to attack before," he growls, voice low and fueled with danger. "They’ve never once made it through the mountains. In the ten years since the earthquake, no one has ever breeched our city's wall until you did tonight."
Asher glances at him apologetically. "They're not coming through the mountains."
Cole frowns, waiting. Both of us hang on the edge of Asher's next words. But he doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he and Jade share another quick glance, another unspoken conversation.
"Asher," I say slowly, voice just on the edge of wild fury. "If you care for me at all, if you want to honor the promises we were once supposed to make to each other, you'll tell me what they're planning. Now."
His brows tighten. "The magic," he admits. "Even if you don’t think it is, it's evil. All of it. And it has to be stopped."
When I glance up at Cole's face, it's gone white, so pale that his scars have faded into his skin. All the blood is rushing from his cheeks. I squeeze his fingers, trying to let him know I'm here, that I won't let anything happen to his family, to his people.
"The magic in this kingdom, it's not what you think it is," I urge. "Even Cole and I don't fully understand it. We don’t know what will happen if the person wielding it is killed, what will happen to you if you try to kill her. We're trying to stop her, but we need time to find answers."
Time.
The one thing that has never been on my side. And when Asher's soft gaze lands on mine, I know that yet again, time will be my enemy.
"They're attacking in two weeks, whether Jade and I make it back to the base or not."
Their plan is so simple I'm amazed we didn’t see it coming.
The general has never been able to bring troops over the mountains. Cole confessed he's killed many of them himself. Others were stopped by avalanches, blizzards, and storms. And the rest, we both think, were killed by the magic we still don't understand, the spell protecting that woman while she slumbers peacefully in bed.
But this time, they're not coming through the mountains.
They're bringing the mountains down.
One mountain to be exact.
One steep cliff.
The one Cole's kingdom rests upon.
For the past few weeks, the general has been sending soldiers beyond the front line, into the magic realm where the radar system is useless, and the electricity doesn't work. They've been scoping out the bottom edge of the cliff, searching for cracks, weaknesses, and fissures, mapping out the terrain. When Asher and Jade left, the general had already begun setting up explosives strategically along those fault lines—dynamite, bombs, old-fashioned triggers, more devices than I could begin to understand. But I don't need to understand because I know enough.
In two weeks, they're going to blow the mountain up.
And those of us living at the top are going to come tumbling down.
Simple science.
And the protection spell guarding that faerie might be able to save her from the fall, but I doubt it will save all of us. I'm not willing to take that chance.
We have to leave.
There's no other option.
Yet as I sit next to my father's bed, the very idea terrifies me. Because he still hasn’t opened his eyes. Skin that was once cold has grown impossibly hot with fever. His bronze color has gained a horrid chartreuse sheen. In his sleep, he murmurs unintelligibly. And the only thing that seems to soothe him even a little bit is the sound of my voice.
How can I move him?
How can I bring him back out into the cold?
Death if he stays. Death if he leaves.
What am I supposed to do?
"Hey," a voice murmurs.
I turn to find Asher watching me from the doorway, but I don't say anything. I just return to my father, brushing the sweat from his face with a cold towel.
He walks into the room and takes the seat next to me. "How's he doing?"
I frown and shake my head. But I don't speak. The words are too hard to say. I can't push them through my clogged throat. I can hardly even think them.
"Jade is still with Cole," he comments conversationally, filling the silence. "They're figuring out the best escape route through the mountains, comparing maps and information. She's better at that sort of thing than I am, so I figured I'd let the two of them work it out." He shrugs, not at all afraid to admit his own weaknesses. "I'm better at reading people."
The way he says it makes me look up.
Those indigo eyes bore into mine as though he can see all the way to my soul. As though I'm exposed and there's nowhere I can hide.
And I guess that's what I've been doing in here.
Hiding from the decision I'll soon have to make.
"What are you hinting at?" I comment, getting right to the point. I'm in no mood for games.
But he glances away, eyes going to the pots filling every corner of the room, the many herbs I brought to life to try to help my father. "Do you think he would want you to be doing this?"
"That's not his choice to make," I reply smoothly, turning back to my father, but Asher traps me with his stare, examining my expression so openly that I feel the need to run. My heart pounds under the scrutiny.
"I thought that way once," he says softly, still holding me captive. "I thought that sacrificing myself for a good cause was my right. But it i
sn’t. Not always. Not when other people are involved. You have to take their wishes into account. Their choices. Sometimes, the sacrifice isn’t worth it. Sometimes, all it does is leave the people you're willing to die for with unmanageable guilt. Sometimes, it's a burden and not a blessing."
I shake my head. "So I should let him die? Why? Why should I have to live the rest of my life with the guilt of knowing I didn’t do everything I could to save him?"
"Because he's your father."
I close my eyes tight as though I can hide from the words.
But Asher doesn’t relent. "Because you know this isn't what he would want."
"What do you know about it?" I snap.
"Enough," he replies calmly. "Maybe it would be different if it was Cole on that bed. Or your father looking over you. But any good parent would put his child's life over his. Any loving parent would never choose to save himself if it meant hurting his child. And I know your father loved you. That's the only reason he would have risked so much to try to save you."
I lick my lips, swallowing slowly as I realize something.
Why does Asher think I'm sacrificing anything?
Why is he speaking like he knows my secrets?
Like he knows the cost of my magic?
My fingers turn cold. My whole body freezes. "What aren't you saying, Asher?"
He looks down and fiddles with his fingers as an unsure expression passes over his face, like he knows he's about to cross a line that he maybe shouldn't. "I heard something a long time ago," he says slowly. One of his legs begins to bounce with pent-up energy. "I didn't remember it until you asked me how I broke my curse. Something about hearing your voice or seeing your face, it brought back a memory. You were five, same as me. It was the second summer we had spent together, though together is probably too generous a term. I was always chasing after you, and you were always running away. You were afraid of me, and I couldn’t for the life of me understand why. So I followed you one day, and I overheard you talking to your mother about her magic, about the magic you would inherit, about the magic I was supposed to inherit. And I understood."
Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse Book 2) Page 16
