by Gwen Knight
I could leave. Right now. Throw back the blankets, tie them off, and slide down to the ground. No one had to know. And without my bracelet, no one would be able to follow me. I could leave this place. Abandon Markos and his crazy plan. Cut out my own corner of the world and make a life for myself. A place without magic, without fae, without anything but these ghostly memories.
It almost sounded like heaven. Until I realized something.
I was still a coward.
Nothing had changed if I was ready to tuck my tail and run. If only I’d gone with Logan when he’d asked. At least he’d still be alive. If only I’d summoned just an ounce of courage. He’d be with me right now. Building a fire out in the woods. Comforting me. Telling me I’d made the right choice. That we’d find a way to remove the bracelet, stay one step ahead of Arik, put an end to this madness.
But I wasn’t with Logan. And the one who needed me now was Oren.
Perhaps he had his own reasons for springing me, but he’d taken that risk. He’d endangered his own life to free the one prisoner Dask coveted above all else. Because he believed he needed me. Needed my help.
He needed me to be brave. Yes, he was fae. But so was the rest of the world.
A soft rap against my bedroom door had me dashing away the tears still lingering in my eyes. I cleared my throat, then murmured, “Come in.”
The door opened, and a sliver of light illuminated the floor in front of the bed.
I wasn’t sure who to expect. Taly, perhaps? So when Oren’s head popped into sight, I sucked in a soft breath and pushed up onto my pillows.
“Thought you might be awake,” he whispered. He entered my room, then pushed the door shut with a soft click behind him.
“What are you doing in my room?”
His easy chuckle soothed my riled nerves. “I couldn’t sleep either. I thought we might as well be awake together. Go over our game plan for tomorrow.”
“Um. All right.” I smoothed my hands over my hair, then rearranged the covers.
Oren toed into my room, his gaze studying the walls and floor all while avoiding eye contact. He wrung his hands together, his lips pursed.
Could it be?
Was the prince nervous?
From his uncle’s words, it sounded as though Oren was an expert in the bedroom. So, was it me then? Uncomfortable being in the same room with a witch?
“Have a seat,” I said, gesturing toward the chair next to my bed.
Relief flickered over his face as he sank into the cushion. Then his gaze found mine. Even in the darkness, I could see the green sheen of his irises. I may not like the fae, but I’d always found their eyes beautiful. Like gems alight in the sunlight. Part of me had always wondered if it were part of their glamour—a way to improve their appearances. In comparison, human eyes must have seemed so drab.
I lifted my brow when he remained silent.
“Right.” He ran his hands down the armrests. “I guess I wanted to check on you. You didn’t seem overly confident of our plan, and I wanted to make sure you were all right with everything.”
Shock parted my lips. Seriously? He was here to make sure I was all right? That sort of consideration wasn’t something I was accustomed to. I wasn’t sure how to respond.
“So, yah. That’s it,” he continued.
That’s it. As though it was no skin off his nose to come in here and check on me.
I blinked and turned away from him, staring instead at my bedspread. No one had ever just checked on me before. Not since Arik had taken me away from my father. So strange, the sensation uncurling in my chest.
“Uh, Keira?”
I forced myself to swallow the emotions building in my throat and looked at Oren. “Oh. Um, the plan should be fine, I think.”
“That’s reassuring,” he chortled. “I got the opinion that wasn’t how you felt at dinner.”
“No, that’s not why I was…” I sighed and settled against the pillows. “The plan is fine. That wasn’t what was bothering me.”
“Was it Markos? He can be a tad overwhelming, but I’ve known him my whole life. When he says he means you no harm, you can believe him.”
“No. That wasn’t…” I shook my head, then tried again. “The plan is fine. It’ll probably go off without a hitch. No one is looking at the Foundry right now.”
“Then…what’s the matter?”
“Did you two even consider what this’ll mean to me? How this might affect me? You want me to sneak into the Foundry and reap the bodies of those who meant the most to me. I have to lay hands on them, Oren. You know that, you saw it with the guard in the dungeons.”
When his eyes widened, I knew he finally understood.
“These people used to be my family. They were the people who survived The Crossing with me. My father will be among them, and…” I choked back Logan’s name. “And you want me to touch them. To take their magic and just hand it over to your uncle like it’s nothing.”
“Oh…” Oren exhaled a long, slow breath. “Wow. I’m so sorry, Keira. I didn’t realize…I mean, I know you grew up in Osvea. I didn’t stop to think about what this would mean to you. Obviously, I saw how you reacted when Dask lit the place on fire. I guess the two just didn’t click.”
“Of course it didn’t,” I said in a harsh tone. “Because they’re just witches.”
“Now, that’s not fair,” he retorted. “That has nothing to do with it. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve been a tad preoccupied thinking about our escape and your bracelet and getting you here to my uncle. Not to mention making plans for, oh, just the future of Osvea. I’m sorry that one thing missed my attention.”
I bit down on my bottom lip. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry.”
“We need to work together. We’re going to be stuck together for a while. So how about we put aside these nasty titles you’re so used to dwelling on. Forget about who’s a witch and who’s a fae, and think of me as Oren, a slightly less psychotic and far more handsome version of my brother. And I’ll think of you as Keira, a prickly female who doesn’t enjoy fawning over me.”
For the first time since my escape, I laughed without cynicism. The sound startled Oren as much as it did me.
“Oh, blessed winter, is that an actual smile? Was that a laugh I heard?”
“Shut up,” I grumbled.
“My lady!” He clapped a hand over his chest. “And what a beautiful sound. I shall endeavour to hear it again. Mark my words.”
I reached for a pillow and threw it at him, snickering under my breath when it collided with his face.
“A miracle!” Oren crowed as he tossed the pillow back at me. “Another laugh! It is possible.”
I shook my head and stuffed the pillow behind me. “You’re so strange.”
“Ah, and you’re not the first female to tell me that.”
Now, that I believed.
“Well, you seem to be feeling better now. And we really should get some sleep.” Oren rose to his feet and started for the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nodded, then snuggled down into the pillows.
He vanished from my room without another word.
As for me, I settled into bed and stared at the ceiling, realizing the weight on my heart had lessened the tiniest bit.
8
When war struck our world, we were lost. Nuclear bombs had ravaged our country and decimated our population. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Until the fae. They offered us a safe haven, a new realm to call home. Those of us who survived made for the nearest ley line, but it’s been theorized only those with magic in their blood survived The Crossing and those without were…decimated. The death toll was astounding. My wife…my beautiful wife. I will never forget the day we grabbed our sweet daughter and escaped the carnage. To this day, the percussive blasts and the sound of men dying haunt my dreams. But nothing will ever torment me as much as the image of my wife disintegrating right before my eyes. I only hope our daughter grows up to b
e like her: strong, brave, and selfless.
—A passage from Nathan Myers’ diary
Night passed into morning and still I hadn’t slept. A combination of recurring nightmares and a plague of thoughts that refused to leave me be. What had seemed so clear hours ago now seemed terrifying. It was easy to think of bravery and selflessness until the moment came upon me.
That moment was now.
With a deep breath, I glanced out the window and watched as the sun peeked over the horizon. It wasn’t a sight I’d often seen. My room in Arik’s estate had been windowless in an attempt to keep me from escaping. Of course, that hadn’t stopped me. I’d found my ways. But to actually lie in bed and watch as the soft morning light crested over the trees…remarkable.
And gone far too quickly.
I pushed back my covers and lowered my feet to the chilled floor. I padded toward the closet and drew it open. Last night Taly had mentioned they’d placed clothes inside for me, seeing as my clothing was no longer fit to burn. I wasn’t sure what they’d done with Oren’s and my garments, nor did I care.
Instead, I withdrew a navy blue tunic and a pair of slim black leggings. My whole life, I’d worn the same couple of dresses over and over. I’d never been given anything like this. But if we were planning to travel through the woods, a dress wouldn’t do.
I slid my feet into the pants and drew them up over my knees, reveling in the buttery soft material. They felt as though they were made for me. Once snugged at my hips, I pulled the tunic on over my head, and drew the material over to my thighs. The last piece before I found some boots was a belt, cinched tight around my waist to hold the tunic in place. The outfit felt loose compared to the dresses I’d worn, but I loved it.
After a moment’s pause to inspect my reflection, I slipped out of my room and headed for the bathroom. As I reached for the door, it opened, and I collided with a hard chest.
“Whoa there,” a familiar voice chuckled.
I lifted my chin and stared up into a pair of forest green eyes.
“Morning,” Oren said. His gaze raked over my length, blinking as he took in the whole package. “I see you’re almost ready to go. Nice outfit. You look…”
I bit the inside of my cheek, waiting for what I was sure was some condemnation.
“Dangerous,” he finally concluded. “It’s a good look. It suits you. But you should put your hair up. We’ll be hiking through the woods. Wouldn’t want it to snag in the trees.”
“Oh, uh…thanks,” I murmured.
There was no need to comment on his appearance. Much like every day, he looked the part of a prince. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t admire his soft cotton pants. Maybe I’d have to try a pair of those one day.
“I’ll see you downstairs?”
I nodded, then skirted past him into the bathroom. The same brush from last night sat on the counter, and I reached for it and pulled it through my hair until it gleamed. As much as I wanted to leave it down, Oren was right. I grabbed a silk tie and pulled my hair into a low bun. After a moment’s admiration, I realized he was right. I did look dangerous. The dark colors accented my fair skin but emphasized my deep blue eyes.
Grown up, I realized. I no longer looked like a tiny simpering teenager. And I wasn’t too sure how I felt about that.
I washed up, then headed downstairs and followed the sound of people bustling through the kitchen.
“Ah, there you are, Keira,” Taly called out. The moment she spotted me, she paused and did a double take, her lashes fluttering as she took me in. “Well, I’d definitely say you clean up nicely.”
Heat spread through my cheeks. “Anything would look better than last night.”
A silent pause, and then laughter swept through the room. Only this time, they were laughing with me.
“A joke,” Oren’s voice rose behind me. “Last night a laugh, and this morning a joke. Never thought I’d see the day.”
I rolled my eyes, much to the amusement of Taly and her helpers.
“We have breakfast made for you,” she said. “Help yourself. I suggest you eat your fill. The Foundry isn’t far, but you’ll need to keep a fast pace if you want to be in and out before anyone takes notice.”
Nodding, I reached for a plate and filled it with more food than I’d eaten in my entire life, but the heavenly smell was intoxicating. Balancing the plate on my forearm while I reached for the pitcher of water, I glanced into the dining room to find it empty. “Where’s Markos?”
“Oh, he’s gone for the morning,” Taly said. “He’ll be back this afternoon, though. Likely before you return.”
“Where’d he go?”
A few of the helpers shared a glance, but Taly merely shrugged. “He keeps to himself a great deal. We never ask.”
Curious.
“Come on, Keira.” Oren nudged me gently. “Let’s eat. We need to be on our way.”
I trailed after him into the dining room and chose the chair second to his right.
“Are you still nervous about today?” he murmured under his breath before taking a bite.
I cut him a sly glance, then nodded. “It didn’t feel as real last night as it does this morning. The Foundry, Oren. I sort of grew up there, remember?”
“If you can’t handle it, we can walk away. There are always other ways to find power.”
“Like?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. But I know we’d find one. I just…” He sighed and turned toward me, his fork dangling between his fingers. “I’m nothing like my father, Keira. Or brother. Hell, some days I don’t think I’m anything like my uncle. And I’d like for you to see that. The last thing I want is to force you into something that hurts you. You’re here as my guest, not my prisoner.”
His words rendered me speechless.
What the hell was I supposed to say to that? To think? My whole life I’d never known a single compassionate fae. Arik was the epitome of a monster, and his eldest son was even worse. I’d always assumed Oren would be a chip off the ol’ block.
“Well?” he urged when I didn’t respond. “Say something.”
I blinked and glanced down at my fork. “You make it very hard to dislike you.”
He burst into laughter. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist my charm.”
“Oh, for crying out loud,” I groaned. “Forget I said anything.”
“Sure, sure. Just put your stern face back on and keep eating. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
“What secret?”
He turned to me and winked. “That you have a heart.”
Taken aback, I focused on my breakfast while his words echoed through my head.
I was so screwed.
“How you doing back there?” Oren called out to me, not for the first time.
I sighed as I struggled to climb over a massive fallen log. Maybe I’d snuck out of Arik’s estate a few times, but that’d never required me tramping through the woods. Half these trees were four times my size, all tangled together, their never-ending branches all reaching toward the sky. Thanks to the thick foliage, I could barely see the sunlight. Everything was dark and cold, and my boots were full of snow.
A part of me couldn’t wait until we reached the Foundry. At least there would be dirt paths.
“Keira?”
“I’m fine,” I called back, grunting when I stumbled into a knee-high snow drift.
I officially hated winter. And snow. And just…everything cold. I pulled the cloak Taly had given me tight around my shoulders and tugged the furred edging over my ears. One downside to wearing my hair up—the tips of my ears had long since gone numb.
“We almost there?” I asked.
“Not much farther now.”
I followed Oren, aiming to use his footsteps, except his strides were nearly twice mine. I had to hop from print to print, anything to avoid wading through the snow.
“I think we’re at the…” He stopped dead in his tracks. “Wait, Keira, no!”
> But it was too late.
I stumbled up to him and choked on my next breath. “What is that?” Something rank invaded my nose. It smelled like…burnt flesh.
With a gasp, I spun around and covered my nose with my palms. I wasn’t sure which was worse: the sewage from last night or this.
Oren’s hands curved around my shoulders and guided me behind the next tree. “I’m sorry. I was hoping to give you more warning.” He stood in front of me, his head ducked so he could meet my gaze. “You all right?”
I couldn’t ignore the tears that pricked at my eyes. For some reason, I hadn’t expected that sort of welcome. But then, the bodies I usually dealt with were burned after I’d reaped them.
I drew in a deep breath, then nodded. I could handle this. I refused to break down in front of him. I had to keep it together if we were going to do this.
“Hey…” Oren lifted a gloved hand to my cheek and brushed away a stray tear that dared to fall. “It’s all right. You don’t need to pretend with me. This wouldn’t be easy for anyone.”
And yet, he didn’t seem affected. Of course, he didn’t know them. He’d probably never stepped a foot inside the Foundry. Well, today was going to be a red-letter day for him then.
“I’m fine,” I warbled. “It just caught me by surprise.”
“Understandably,” he said, his voice grave. “Have I said…how sorry I am my brother did this?”
I gaped at him in shock. “Uh, no.”
Oren looked away, his jaw tight. “I never thought he’d go so far, you know? But Dask…he’d always believed the Foundry to be a waste of resources. Why keep them alive when they could be reaped and their power made use of? But my father…”
“He used them as leverage,” I whispered. “If I didn’t do as I was told, they were dead. They were his way of controlling me.”
Oren’s mouth parted in shock. “I didn’t know that.”
“No offense, but it sounds like you didn’t know a lot.”
He gave a slow nod. “So it seems. But I want to fix that. I refuse to let my brother destroy my home.”
“That’s a good goal,” I told him. “I just want my freedom.”
