Since finding Lugh in the fortress, Red had not spoken to me directly, and barely looked my way.
I wasn’t sure how he felt, but I had an inkling that it couldn’t be different than the storm swirling in my chest. There was too much going on, and it was hard to make sense of it all.
Our first priority should be to get the plague under control and defeat our enemies. But there was also Lugh, the lost crown prince, who had returned from the dead.
And the fact that my betrothal to him was probably still standing, even though I was mated to his brother.
I buried my face in my hands.
I stilled.
Slowly, I pressed my palm to my forehead.
Sure enough, I was running a fever.
19
Red
The idea of escaping from my chambers crossed my mind more than I would like to admit, but I knew I shouldn’t do that. If I was sick too, I would only be putting others at risk.
I received reports every hour.
Lugh’s health—he was still weak and unconscious. The healer had been administering the only medicine we had against the sea plague, but it was never effective. It helped with pain and slowed the virus, but it didn’t truly stop it. The plague was fatal.
The quarantine situation—at least half of the fae from the fortress and the soldiers who had fought in the battle were now showing symptoms of the sea plague, like fever and headache. I kept praying it was a fluke and none of them were really sick.
The camp and the barrier—though days had passed since we took Coch Maer back, the sea elves hadn’t tried anything else. They were on the beach, enjoying the sand and the sea, while we scrambled to save fae from a fatal illness.
Which brought me to an ugly conclusion: This was their plan all along. That was why they hadn’t fought us, why they hadn’t pushed back and come at us with all they had. In the beginning of our history, many eons ago, when the sea elves started coming for our lands, they didn’t know about the sea plague. Neither did we. It took our ancestors many years and invasions for them to link the sea plague to the sea elves. Back then, the plague was called something else. But with time, they learned about it just as we did, and each time they came and we defeated them, we were left with a relentless wave of sickness that we had to contain.
It seemed that the sea elves had become too smart for their own good. This time, they attacked us long enough to spread the illness. Now, all they needed to do was sit back and relax while the illness spread and killed us. Even if it didn’t kill all of us, it would take many lives, weakening the kingdom. Making it easier for them to take over.
That knowledge, that fact killed me.
The other thing that killed me was this whole situation with Blair and Lugh, this inevitable triangle we were wrapped in. Though I was praying for a miracle, Lugh wouldn’t survive the virus, but having him alive, even if for a little while, made me feel guilty. I had mated his fiancée. How crazy was that? How did we solve that problem? We didn’t. What I did was lock all my feelings and thoughts about that situation in the depths of my soul. This wasn’t the time to worry about that.
Finally, after two days of agonizing inside my rusting room, the healer came to check on me as he did several times a day, but his news was different.
“I’m glad to say you’re healthy, Prince Redlen.” He sounded relieved. “You don’t have the sea plague. You may leave your chambers now.”
I let out a long sigh. “Thank the chilly wind.” It was hard to run a kingdom and organize a war from inside four walls. I picked up my vest and headed to Lugh’s chambers.
The double doors were open and a heavy curtain fell over the opening. I pulled the curtain to the side and glanced—Lugh was in his bed on the other side of the room, and the windows beside it were wide open, airing the room so the virus wouldn’t easily spread.
Even from here, I could see the slow rise and fall of his chest. He was still alive. I closed my eyes and prayed, render us a miracle. Let him live.
Things between Blair, Lugh, and me would be difficult, but we would deal with it. It would be better that than losing my brother all over again.
The healer stopped a foot behind me. “He’s a fighter. The illness is trying to take him, but Prince Lugh is fighting.”
I frowned. That was good, but I hated that he was suffering. Again, I wished for a miracle. “If anyone can beat this, it’s Lugh.”
Though we all knew no one could beat this.
“Prince Redlen,” the healer said, his voice low. I looked at him. “There’s something else you should know.”
20
Blair
Once the fever started, things went downhill fast. I couldn’t tell the difference between day and night, and I spent most of the time in my bed, sleeping and dreaming—nightmares of monsters attacking the Oren Palace and killing every fae in the Autumn Court.
The healer checked on me every few hours, and one of his assistants came even more often. My parents also came every day, along with Jora, even though I had asked them not to. My mother had practically fainted and her sobs upset me more than helped. I also didn’t like them coming and going when so many people around the palace were in quarantine. Though I knew everyone was being extra careful, this plague was tricky. I would rather they stayed safe in our house, away from the palace.
Maize and Willow also came to visit a couple of times each day. They stayed by the door, as the healer had instructed, and whenever possible, they only withdrew the curtain placed there for a few minutes at a time. Though my bed had been moved closer to the windows, and they remained open all the time, even at night when it got chilly. I didn’t want to risk having anyone being infected because of me.
This particular afternoon, I was tired, the fever and the chills unrelenting, but I felt a tiny bit better, enough to prop my pillows up and sit on the bed instead of cowering under the blankets and hoping to sleep.
As I closed my eyes, I saw movement behind the curtain. A moment later, the curtains were pulled aside and Willow’s smiling face greeted me.
“You look better,” the young fae said. “Are you taking the medicine?”
I gestured to the side table, where a tray full of untouched food and drinks sat along with the medicine. “Yes,” I told her. Though I wasn’t sure why I was even taking it. To help with the pain, to make my death slower? Wouldn’t it be better to get this misery over with?
“You know, I think I had an idea—“
“Blair,” a voice boomed from the hallway. A wide-eyed Red appeared beside Willow. His eyes locked with mine and my heart lurched. “No, no, no,” he whispered.
A faint smile stretched over my lips. “You’re all right.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “Thank the red leaves.”
“But you aren’t.” He took a step forward, in my bedroom, and I sat straighter.
“Stop! Stay back!” I shouted. He took another step. “Red! I’ll call the guards. Stay back!”
He halted, his hands up. “I just … I can’t …” His eyes shone with unshed tears.
My heart squeezed again. I knew what he was feeling, because if I was in his shoes, I would be feeling the same. He was my mate and I was his. It hurt him to see me like this. Oh by the chilly wind, how I wished I could ease his pain.
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “It’s … slow and it doesn’t hurt much, thanks to the medicine.”
“First Lugh, now you.” He shook his head. “I can’t take this. I’m going to call Mahaeru. I’ll make a deal with her. If she heals you both, I’ll … I don’t know—“
“Don’t talk nonsense,” I snapped. That was so like Red, wanting to save others by sacrificing himself. “You won’t do anything that foolish.”
“I have an idea,” Willow said, her voice louder than usual. Red turned to her and she cowered under his inquisitive gaze. “Hm, remember Bloodwrath? The witch Layla?”
“King Varian’s mate,” I whispered, recalling her. “Yes, I remember her. What a
bout her?”
“She’s powerful and really good with potions,” Willow continued. “I was thinking that maybe if you ask her to take a look at the medicine you have available and ask her to improve on it, maybe even use her magic to shift it into a potion that will heal those infected with the sea plague …”
Red’s eyes returned to mine. “That isn’t a bad idea,” he whispered.
“No, it’s not,” I agreed.
Red pressed his lips tight. “I’ll see to this. Meanwhile, you rest and do whatever the healer asks of you.”
I nodded. “Yes, my prince.”
He glared at me for a moment, before turning around and taking Willow by the hand. “All right, you’re going to help me. Let’s go.”
21
Red
With perfect timing, Mahaeru showed up as I was about to order a page to get my horse ready. Other than riding as fast as the wind, there was no other way to get to the Summer Court.
Until Mahaeru opened a portal right into the heart of the Sun City. The fae here might not know me well enough, but they knew the goddess. Once the soldiers at the palace gates saw her, they ushered her in.
King Varian and Queen Layla met us in the grand hall. The last time I had seen both was almost a year ago, when I had come to help them defeat the witch Sanna and her ogres. The only thing that had changed since then was the golden crowns on their heads.
“That chair suits you,” I teased as Varian rose from his throne to greet me.
He clasped his arm with mine, holding on tight. “I’ve heard what’s happening. I’m so sorry.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” I turned to Layla and she offered me a small smile. Her blond hair matched the shine from the crown. “I think you can help us.”
“With what?”
I fished a small vial from my pocket. “This is the medicine we use to slow the spread of the sea plague and lessen the suffering of those afflicted. I think that with your expertise and magic, you might be able to make it more effective.”
She took the vial from me and lifted it to her eye level. “You want me to make it better, like … you want me to transform this into a cure.”
It was not a question. “I want you to at least try.”
Layla wrapped her hand around the vial and glanced at Mahaeru. She opened her mouth, but closed it when the goddess turned her hand, revealing a golden ring with a red stone. “You’ll need it.”
“I know,” Layla whispered. With trembling fingers, she took the ring. “But you’ll come back to get it once I’m done, right?”
“I’ll be with you the entire way,” Mahaeru said, her tone firm. “When you’re done, I’ll take the ring and the cure from you.”
The goddess’s words weren’t lost on me. “Did you say a cure? So you know Layla will succeed?”
Mahaeru shot me an annoyed glance. “Patience, Prince Redlen.”
Patience? While my brother, my mate, and many other fae were dying? That was not only hard, but impossible.
“I should be able to do it, but it’ll take a while,” Layla said. “A couple of days, at least.”
Varian grasped my shoulder. “You’re welcome to stay while you wait.”
I shook my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to go back. There’s much to do.”
“I understand.” Varian dropped his hand.
I thanked them profusely, a relieved sensation skirting around me, but I didn’t let it get too close. It was too soon for that.
Mahaeru opened the portal for me again, but she didn’t come with me this time. Alone, I crossed over and went to work.
For the next couple of days, I busied myself like I had never done before. I sent scouts to check on the camp and the barrier often, and I also received reports throughout the day. The sea elves had not moved, which only reinforced my idea that they were waiting for the right time to attack.
I also visited the many improvised shelters and tents outside Masarn, where the evacuated fae and the sick fae were being kept. I brought them clothes, food, toys for the young ones, and able hands to help out. Healers I had sent days ago treated the sick fae and made sure they were isolated.
The fae thanked me profusely, and the healthy ones held on to my hands, as if I could help them more with a simple touch.
It broke my heart to see what had happened to my kingdom, how deep it had fallen, but there was hope on the horizon. Layla would be able to make a cure, and soon everyone, including Blair and Lugh, would be better.
Which brought on more problems, but I shut those thoughts before they began. It wasn’t worth it to dwell on them yet.
I also visited Lugh and Blair either late at night when I was about to turn in, or early morning, when I woke up before the sun was up. Lugh was barely conscious. Just once he was awake and recognized me. “The rebel prince is back,” he said, before falling asleep again.
Blair didn’t seem well either. Her health was deteriorating fast, despite the medicine, and I hadn’t seen her awake, though Willow assured me she had lucid moments during the day.
Two days passed, then three, then four … and Layla still had not sent Mahaeru with the cure. I was starting to think it hadn’t really worked, when finally, on the sixth day after I had asked the new queen of the Summer Court for a favor, a portal opened up in one of the Oren Palace’s courtyards, right when I was walking around it, trying to clear my head.
Mahaeru and Layla crossed the portal. Smiling, Layla approached me. She handed me a vial with a dark green liquid. “Here. This should work.” I took the vial from her. “You should test it. In case it doesn’t work, I can make tweaks.”
I closed my hand around the vial and held it dearly. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” she said. “Now, who will be our first volunteer?”
22
Blair
As the days passed, I got worse and worse. I didn’t know how many days were gone, but Willow and Maize told me each time they came to visit. I promptly forgot, along with everything else they said. It was becoming harder and harder to hold on to sanity and consciousness. All I wanted to do was sleep.
But I was afraid that one of these days, I wouldn’t wake up again.
Though they tried keeping sad news from me, I demanded to know what was happening—many fae had already died from the sea plague, Lugh was still alive but in worse shape than I was, and Red was going crazy, waiting for Layla and the new medicine.
When Willow told me Layla and Mahaeru had arrived and needed a volunteer, I offered myself.
“No,” Red said from my chamber’s entrance. He crossed his arms and hid the vial he was holding. “No way.”
Beside him, Layla seemed a little uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Ignoring Red, Mahaeru walked into the bedroom and approached my bed. I scooted as far as I could. “Don’t worry. I can’t get infected.” She extended her hand, producing another vial. “I knew he wouldn’t agree, so I brought an extra.”
I glanced at Red—his tanned face paled. Gingerly, I took the vial, uncapped it, and drank the bitter liquid before he could protest.
Immediately, my stomach turned and I pressed a hand to it, sure I would throw up.
“That’s part of it,” Layla said, her tone low. “Sorry I couldn’t make it more pleasant.”
“It’s okay,” I croaked. I took deep breaths through my mouth. Even if this was a magical potion, it wouldn’t work in a few seconds, would it?
Without taking her eyes from me, Mahaeru said, “Willow, call the healer.”
The young fae dashed down the hallway.
Red stiffened. “Why? What’s happening?”
“Relax, Prince Redlen,” Mahaeru said. “We need him to confirm if the new medicine is working or not.”
The healer was probably busy on the other side of the palace, tending to the sick fae who actually needed his immediate attention, and yet, he had been called for one of the noble ladies. If this wasn’t for a good cause, for so
mething that could possibly heal us all, I would have refused. His time was better spent helping others, not me.
The minutes ticked by. Red paced the wide corridor outside, Layla stood quiet under the doorjamb, and Mahaeru looked like a statue seated at the edge of my bed.
I closed my eyes, trying to feel everything. Was it working? Was the fever reducing? Was the pain lessening? I couldn’t tell, not yet.
Something tugged in my stomach. It turned again and I pressed a hand over my mouth. Pain bloomed along with it, spreading fast and taking me like a storm.
My hands trembled and dark spots danced in my visions.
Red halted at the doorway. “Blair, what’s wrong?”
The pain exploded and I couldn’t hold it anymore. A scream ripped from my throat and I fell back on the mattress.
23
Red
I took a step forward. Mahaeru pointed a finger at me. “Stay right there, Prince Redlen.”
I pressed my lips together, clenching my teeth and my fists. How did the goddess want me to stay back when Blair was writhing in her bed, suffering.
“This … this shouldn’t be happening,” Layla said, her eyes wide.
This was her fault!
I stopped that thought before it took root. It wasn’t her fault. It was mine. I had agreed to Willow’s idea, I had gone after Layla, and I had believed in the goddess when she seemed so sure this would work.
And now Blair was paying for it.
Blair gasped and stilled.
I lurched forward. In a flash, Mahaeru appeared in front of me. “She’s fine.”
I blinked. “What?” I glanced over the goddess’s shoulders. In her bed, Blair sat up. “What’s going on?”
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