Page 71 of A Cursed Son

I can barely breathe. “You’re going to die.”

“Indeed. It’s what usually happens. You’re born really small, then you become a child?—”

“Listen to me.” I don’t have time for his sass. “Listen to me.” My voice reverberates through the room, and only now I realize we’re in a gigantic chamber with high columns and a tall, domed ceiling. Everything is ancient and odd, and made of some gray stone. But that’s not what matters. I need him to listen. “Now. Now, Marlak, not in one hour, not in ten minutes. You’re going to find some root of alastacia and eat as much as you can.”

He frowns. “Root of what? You think I’m an apothecary? Or a gardener? An herbalist?”

“I don’t care. Find it. Eat it. Or you’ll die.” I don’t understand why I don’t simply go and get it for him. Why I don’t let him rest while I find the root. My words don’t make sense. “Now. Find it.”

He stares at me, eyes wide. I hope he’s truly listening.

I continue, “If you can’t find an herbalist, go somewhere near a swamp. The plant has small red flowers.”

“That’s poison!”

“Yes, the flowers and the plant could kill you. The root will save you.”

Marlak sits up, still holding me. “And if I don’t find it?”

“You’ll die!” My yell is a squeak, my throat constricted with desperation.

“I’ll find it, azalee. You’re not getting rid of me that soon.” He kisses my temple, just like he did at our wedding. “I trust you.”

“Tell me you’re going to get it, then.”

He holds my face with both hands and plants a brief kiss on my lips. “Of course I am.”

My eyes open suddenly, wet with tears, and I can barely breathe.

I’m in the river hideout, no light coming in through the curtains. It’s the middle of the night. Was the dream real? Was Marlak poisoned? My heart is throbbing in desperation. But there’s nothing I can do.

Isn’t there?

I could wake up Nelsin and Ferer. They might have a way to contact him. But then, if I say I dreamed about Marlak, and if he also had this dream, he’ll know I’ve been dreaming about him. And maybe the dreams are not related to what’s truly happening. They could be memories or predictions. They could even be nothing.

I mean, some of the dreams were definitely not real, considering we couldn’t be doing what we were doing when each of us were in our own room. And yet. What if this is a warning?

Sure, I might regret this, but regret might come anyway, so the only thing I can do is choose the milder regret, and that’s why I head to Nelsin and Ferer’s room and knock softly. I should be banging on that door, given the urgency of the situation, and then again, I don’t know if there’s any urgency.

There’s something tapping softly, but it’s not me. I open my eyes and find my room inundated with sunlight. No. No. It can’t be. Didn’t I go to Nelsin and Ferer’s room? I want to scream, but how can I make any sound when I can’t even breathe? Marlak could be dead now.

That tapping again, and I dare look. There’s an odd creature there, with green skin and large black eyes—a nymph. My heart wants to jump out of my chest as I walk to the window and open it. I’m not afraid of the nymph. I’m afraid for Marlak, feeling guilty that I didn’t warn anyone, didn’t try to do anything.

“Y-yes?”

The creature blinks, then I hear a feminine, soft voice. Your husband is safe. Don’t fret, child.

“Are you sure?” I whisper, then add, “Can you see my dreams?” That would be so awkward.

I hear a chuckle. We sense your feelings, child. But don’t worry. Your husband is safe.

“Thank you,” I mouth.

The creature turns around and walks away, truly walks, graceful like a fae. She’s wearing a long tunic whose edges float slowly as if it was still in water. I had no idea nymphs could come to land, and no idea they could sense feelings, or whatever it is they did.

I don’t think the nymph was lying. Now, of course I could be wrong. And then again, why would she come here to deceive me about something so personal? And Marlak trusts them.

I sag back on the bed, exhaling more air than I ever thought I could hold. So my dream was real? And I did indeed warn him?