Page 51 of A Curse of Breath and Blood (The Mind Breaker #1)

50 AELIA

Tharan tended to me as I healed, delivering soup for nourishment and assisting with mundane tasks. Far from my most glamorous moment, but if Tharan found it repulsive, he didn’t reveal it.

He slept next to me at night, allowing me to rest my head on his chest. The powerful sedative the healer had given me provided me a brief respite from my nightmares.

Once I regained my strength, we headed back to the Woodland Realm. Arion bobbed his head contently as Tharan led him through the snow-slicked streets.

I cleared my throat nervously. “So, uh, do you want to talk about the whole me conjuring an Army of the Dead? Or are we just going to act like it didn’t happen?”

He gave me a sideways glance. “I was wondering when you would bring it up.”

I tossed my head. “Yes, well, I sort of made a deal with an ancient goddess.”

Tharan didn’t say anything, so I continued.

“I knew I needed a backup plan, and well… if I’m being honest… I had nothing to lose .”

“Nothing to lose?” Hurt flooded his voice. “You had everything to lose. You had your sister, your freedom, m—” He stopped himself from saying what we both knew he wanted to say.

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” I blurted out.

Tharan brought Arion to a halt. “Perhaps I was not clear about my intentions, Aelia.”

My chest tightened.

His expression softened. “I’m falling for you. I want you to be mine forever. So, if you’re planning on making a deal with an ancient deity… at least tell me first.”

I let out a breath of relief. Years of being reprimanded for the slightest indiscretion set me on edge. Gideon burst into a rage anytime he perceived my actions as a threat. After a while, I stopped telling him things. I’d been on my own for so long that I didn’t know how to have a partner.“I’m sorry. I’m not used to being part of a team.”

He kissed my gloved hand. “You are not alone anymore, Aelia.”

A bittersweet taste filled my mouth. I wanted to trust Tharan, but I had been let down so many times before. “Do not make promises you cannot keep, King.”

Amolie and Roderick were waiting for us when we arrived at the Alder Palace, accompanied by Frost and Winter, who came bounding out of the foyer, licking Tharan’s face.

“Well, it’s nice to see you, too,” he said as the pups whined for attention.

A solemn look crossed Amolie’s round face. “Since Baylis is still asleep, I’m assuming you didn’t get the amulet?”

I looked at my feet. “It’s a long story, but we didn’t. ”

Amolie bit her lower lip. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep her in her current state. We may not be able to pull her out.”She ran a hand nervously through her wild curls.

I wrung my hands. “I should not have asked you to do this, Amolie. This must be taking a toll on you.”

Amolie straightened. “I will do it for as long as possible, but I am not as skilled as others in my order. I may need to send for help.”

I nodded. “Thank you for everything.”

My heart ached at the thought of my sister wasting away in a bed for the rest of her life.

Tharan put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure something out.”

Roderick cleared his throat. “Uh, there’s something else.”

“What?” I shot Amolie a panicked look.

“Caiden is here,” she whispered, taking my hand in hers.

Caiden emerged from the shadows, the winter sun illuminating his cold blue eyes.

A rope knotted itself around my heart. Words eluded me. What do you say to someone who has no recollection of your history?

“I’m Caiden Stormweaver. I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced.” He held out his hand in a sign of greeting.

My heart sank as the shred of hope I held onto disintegrated into nothing. Clearing my throat, I took his hand. “Aelia.”

He gave me a devilish smile, making butterflies dance in my stomach. “Excuse me for saying this, but I can’t help but feel we’ve met before.”

A knife twisted in my heart. I pushed back hot tears. “Perhaps when you came to visit my sister, Baylis, in the Midlands.”

“Oh, you’re Baylis’s sister. That makes sense now. I’d love to chat more about the Highlands and Gideon. You were impressive back there. ”

A sob built in my chest, and I nodded. “I’d like that too.” My words, a whisper.

“I’ll see you at dinner.” He headed back into the castle.

A single tear snaked its way down my cheek.

We recapped our adventure in the Highlands over a dinner of roasted lamb stew.

“What about Gideon and Erissa? They still need to stand trial,” Roderick asked.

“Scattered to the wind, laying low, biding their time,” Caiden replied.

Roderick slurped his soup. “What of the Highlands?”

“Ashes, I assume. We may have made them martyrs in the eyes of some. The continent will divide further. But I still need to find them. They need to stand trial.” Tharan took a sip of wine before motioning to Hopper to come closer. “Call the Phantom.”

Hopper nodded and left the room.

I couldn’t look at Caiden or Tharan, so I focused on Amolie.

“So, what’s the plan?” Amolie said, dipping her crusty bread into her stew.

My eyes fell to the floor. “For once, I have nothing. Baylis will need to be sedated for the long-term…”

Underneath the table, Tharan placed a reassuring hand on my knee.

“Is there a chance Erissa still has the amulet?” Amolie asked.

“I think I can be of help in that regard,” Caiden said, pulling something gold from his pocket. Laying the amulet on the table, its weight thunked against the hardwood.

The knot in my chest unbound. “Where… how?”

Caiden shrugged. “I saw her dangling it in front of your face when you were strapped to the table and figured it must be important.” He slid the amulet across the table. “So, when I stabbed Erissa, I grabbed it.”

I held the amulet to my chest. “Thank you, Caiden. You do not know what this means to me.”

He nodded like the soldier he was. “Glad I could be of service.”

Amolie’s eyes darted between us. “Well, we better go try to wake the sleeping beauty up, don’t you think?” She pushed her chair back from the table with a screech.

I followed suit, and we headed to Baylis’s chamber together, leaving the men on their own.

Once we were out of earshot, Amolie said, “Well, that was awkward.”

I gave her a knowing glance. “You’re telling me.”

“So, who are you going to choose?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Amolie pulled her dark curls back into a bun. “You and Caiden have a long history together.”

“One filled with heartache and regret,” I said, placing my hand on the door to Baylis’s chamber. “Let’s get Baylis back, and then we can focus on the mess that is my love life.”

Amolie shook her head, a grin lighting her face. “Life is never dull being your friend.”

Baylis lay perfectly still in her extended slumber.

I held my breath as Amolie pulled the blood from her veins.

The amulet weighed heavy in my outstretched hand. The rune engraved on the stone glowed as Amolie brought the blood nearer.

“Well, this is either a grand sign or a terrible one,” she said, tapping her finger on the needle.

The amulet absorbed the drop.

Amolie and I exchanged hesitant looks. I took Baylis’s hand in mine, praying to Ammena, one last time .

Baylis shook.

“Quickly, put something in her mouth so she does not bite off her tongue,” Amolie cried as we tried to pin Baylis down.

Baylis’s frigid, gray eyes remained open as if she were witnessing some dreadful spectacle only visible to her. Her body convulsed, and then, there was stillness. Once more, she lay motionless, her eyes closed as if in slumber.

Slamming my fist onto the side table, I let out a primal scream. “Damn you, Erissa. Damn, you, Trinity. I swear, I will have my vengeance on all of you.”

I buried my head in the mattress, hiding my tears. “Please come back to me, Baylis. I need you. I can’t do this alone.”

The amulet burned hot in my hand, pulling it away, the jewel clunked onto the floor. “What the?”

Soft fingers touched my hair.

“Aelia?”

Baylis stared at me, her gray eyes full of life.

“Baylis?” I asked, unable to believe my eyes.

“Where am I?” She looked around the stark room.

A wave of relief washed over me. “You’re in the Alder Palace.”

Her eyes blinked rapidly. “Where?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain it later. For now, let’s get you something to eat. You must be starving.” Tears streamed down my face. For the first time in a long time, my body felt light.

“I was having the most terrifying dream,” she said, taking my hand in hers.

“It’s alright, I’m here now,” I said, sliding into bed next to her.

She laid her head on my chest like she did when we were young.

Two satyrs brought in silver trays filled with food. The aromatic scent of stew wafted through the air. Caiden, Roderick, and Lucius lingered in the doorway .

“Caiden!” Baylis’s face lit up at the sight of the Lord of Lightning.

“Baylis! I’m glad to see you’re feeling better,” Caiden said, embracing my sister.

A piece of my heart cracked.

Seeing my pain, Lucius returned a knowing glance.

“Please, all of you, join us.” Baylis sat up, making room for the three large men on the bed.

“Leave room for me,” Amolie said, climbing into the bed. “Eat, everyone, before it gets cold.”

We did as we were told. Looking around at my friends, laughing and drinking, I could not believe my luck. A couple of months ago, I was a lone mercenary at the edge of the world, running from my past, slowly killing my future. Somehow, I still felt incomplete.

“There’s something I need to do,” I said, jumping off the bed, sending some of the rolls flying into the air.

“Where are you going?” Baylis shouted after me.

“I’ll be back shortly. There’s something I need to do.”

My heart beat wildly in my chest as I climbed the stairs to Tharan’s study. Each step brought me closer to something I had been afraid to admit. Tharan helped me. He saw me for the person I was without the titles forced upon me.

Heaving open the heavy doors to the study, I found Tharan sitting cross-legged on the floor with his two pups. Their tails thumped on the floor wildly at the sight of me.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” Tharan said, getting to his feet. “I wasn’t cuddling them.”

“Yes, you were, but that’s not why I’m here.” I rested my hands on my hips.

He cocked his head in concern. “Is something wrong with Baylis?”

“No, she’s fine. Well… she seems to be.” I moved cl oser to him. The scent of the forest radiated from his glowing skin. “I need to tell you something.”

“Oh?” He swallowed hard.

I gazed into his green eyes, searching for any hint of deceit, but found only love reflected back at me. “I think I’m in love with you, too.”

His angular face lit up with delight as he pulled me in for the first kiss of many.

Our lips explored one another. No longer holding back the passion we both felt. Tharan’s hands caressed the curves of my body.

I deserved this. I deserved the love of a man like Tharan. We were good together. I would not deny myself happiness any longer.

Tharan pulled away, taking my face into his hands. “You are everything I dreamed of,” he said before kissing me on the forehead. “Now, shall I meet your sister?”

I unscrewed the gold earring once more, letting my scar show. “Yes, I think that seems fitting, seeing as you saved her life.”

Taking my hand in his, we made our way to Baylis’s chambers.

I don’t know what the future holds for us, but with Tharan by my side, I know I am on the right path.