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45 AELIA

I tossed and turned all night thinking about seeing Tharan. He had come for me, just like I hoped he would. Worry settled like a blanket over me. What if he had already left for the Court of Screams?

As soon as dawn broke, I jumped from my bed and flung the blankets off Caiden. Seeing his toned body wrapped in bandages made my breath catch in my throat. I had put my feelings aside for Caiden when I erased his memories, but now that he had mine, I somehow felt closer to him. Everything I’d ever thought about him laid bare. There was something oddly freeing about it.

“How’s the ankle?” I asked. It was the only thing I could think of to say.

He rubbed his eyes.

“We’ve been traveling for days, we’re battered and bruised, and I’m regrowing bones, let me sleep, woman.”

He was right, but we needed to catch up to Tharan if we had any hope of succeeding.

“You can sleep once we’ve harnessed the power of the Well and defeated Gideon and Erissa.”

Caiden pulled the pillow over his head.

“Fine, I guess you’re right, but I’m not happy about it.”

We quickly bathed and donned new clothing. The queen was nice enough to provide us with leather armor. Complete with a hive embossed on the breastplate.

Caiden came in while I tightened my bootstraps. He leaned against the doorway in a way I hadn’t seen since we were young. The golden light of morning highlighted his square jaw and blue eyes. My gut tightened with a lust I thought I’d erased along with his memories, but I pushed it away. Although I would be lying if I said Tharan’s proposal didn’t run through my mind. Get it together, Aelia. You can think about sex later.

“Ready?” he asked with the coy smile I’d fallen for all those years ago.

“As I’ll ever be.”

He extended his hand and pulled me from where I sat.

Together we walked to the portal room flanked by Shadow Hunters. Tall, dark, and silent—just like Lucius. Only these were pure sylph. Though they looked thin, they were nothing but lean muscle underneath their cloaks.

The heels of our boots clicked on the polished wood floors of the Hive. An ominous feeling hung in the air. I swallowed my thickening throat, hoping we weren’t too late to catch Tharan, Roderick, and the others.

The honey-colored portal opened, and I held my breath before stepping through to a wood paneled library where a sylph woman with white hair and umber skin waited, leaning against a solid, oak desk.

“Aelia?” she said, arching a brow. I noted her leather armor, complete with spiked shoulders.

“Yes,” I said.

“Lydia.” She held out her hand in a sign of peace and friendship as Caiden and the Shadow Hunters shot through the portal. “I’m the mayor of Honeyville.”

I shook her hand and Caiden did the same.

“Roderick and Tharan were here earlier. I was going to have a hunter show them the safest route into the Court of Screams, but when my hunter showed up at the inn, he said they had already gone.”

Rocks sank in my stomach.

“We were so close and yet so far apart,” I said.

“Can your hunter take us into the Court of Screams?” Caiden asked.

“She can. Best to wait until sundown though. They hunt during the day and my clout will only carry you so far. You are welcome to explore our town or rest at the inn until sundown.”

Knots twisted in my chest. I wanted to leave now. Every second counted when lives were on the line.

“I understand you have your customs, but our friends are out there. We need to go now. Evil is coming and daylight will not stop them from getting what they want. We need to beat them to it.”

The mayor tapped her fingers on the desk indecisively.

“I suppose you’re right. I will send for the hunter.”

I let out a breath.

“Thank you.”

The mayor rang a bell, and an attendant entered. She whispered something into his ear, he nodded and left.

“I’ve arranged for some provisions for you to be wrapped up as well. The hunter will meet you outside. Good luck on your journey. For all our sakes.”

Caiden and I nodded curtly and went to wait for the hunter.

The scent of honey and lavender carried on the cool spring air. All around us flowers were beginning to bloom. Birds sang their springtime songs and the anticipation that comes with new beginnings hung in the air. In just a few weeks Ostara would be upon us. I looked at Caiden who was testing his lightning—little sparks flew from his fingertips.

Long ago we’d danced the night away at the Ostara balls. On our last night together he’d worn a white tailcoat embroidered with golden flowers. The same flowers were embroidered on my dress. I was supposed to spend the night dancing with many suitors, but once Caiden and I locked hands, I knew I never wanted to dance with anyone else ever again. My heart was so full I thought it would burst, but our happiness would not last. I should have treasured those moments more. If only I’d known what I’d had then. If only I’d known how dark my life would become.

I popped into a shop to grab some cigarettes. Through all this stress, I hadn’t thought about using dust once. That must be growth. The shopkeeper handed me the pack wrapped in parchment, and I slid a gold coin across the stand. Before I left, I made sure to light one on the nearest candle. Taking the smoke deep into my lungs, I let it calm my senses.

Tug, tug-tug the knot in my chest reminded me it wanted to return home. I waited for the sensation to stop before leaving the store.

When I returned, the hunter, a short sylph woman with tan skin and dark hair, was waiting to take us into the forest. She wore a long leather jacket over a beige tunic and trousers, with knee-high boots. Her face looked like that of a teen, but knowing the sylph she was probably much older.

“Alright,” she said in a heavy northern accent. “We’re goin’ inta the Court of Screams. You must keep yer wits about ya. Do you hear me?”

We all nodded.

“The forest has a mind of its own. It’ll play tricks on ya. Follow me and dunnot stray from the path.” She chewed on a piece of willow bark as she spoke. “Now, I’m takin’ ya to the ruins, am I?”

“Yes,” Caiden said.

“Very good. I dunno what ya think yer gonna find there, but I’ll get ya there.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Don’t thank me yet. We still have ta make it out alive.”

Fear coiled in my stomach, but I had made it this far—past the siren and the sea serpent, escaped Erissa, and the clutches of the Blood Riders. If Ammena existed, she must have been looking out for me. “Let’s go.”

The hunter nodded. “See where the tree line becomes black and dead?”

We all turned to the forest. A murder of crows took flight from the ominous trees.

“That’s where we’re going.”

I didn’t dare look back as we crossed the barren field toward the trees. I couldn’t focus on what was behind me, only on what lay ahead of me. The sky seemed to grey as we drew nearer, as if the light was being sucked from the sky.

The hunter didn’t hesitate before entering the forest. Just went right in as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“We have ta be quiet as spirits now,” she whispered, holding her pointer finger up to her mouth.

The Shadow Hunters, who were with us, rolled their eyes. Silence was their domain.

The forest still wore its winter bareness. The black-bark trees grew together in a mess of mangled limbs and vines. The stench of sulfur hung in the air.

“Sulfur wells,” the hunter said. “That’s what makes the smell.”

“Wonderful,” I said under my breath.

We walked for hours through the dead wood. Not one creature stirred, and no birds called to one another. I focused on my feet as we walked. Even the soil was black here. Had the Trinity cursed this place for a reason?

A light rain fell, coating us in a fine mist.

My thoughts drifted to what lay before us. Erissa had my scepter but couldn’t use it and neither could I. If I could get my hands on it, we would be in control. We could destroy anyone who stood in our way. My blood boiled as I thought about it more. Perhaps she knew all along it would not bind to her blood. If Erissa created it, she had to know the limitations.

At midday we stopped by a stream to eat our rations and drink from the cool water.

“Keep a lookout,” the hunter said. “You neva know what lurks here.”

Caiden and I quickly downed the cheese and hard salami that had been packed for us before switching with the Shadow Hunters so they could eat.

“What do you think the Well will look like?” Caiden asked.

“To be honest, I haven’t thought much about it. I just kind of picture the fairy wells from the stories we heard as kids. But since there’s blood involved, I’m sure it’s something much darker.”

“It has to be if it’s in this place,” Caiden replied. “If I had to guess, I bet the people of this court perform their rituals right over the Well and have no idea what they’re doing.”

“I mean, they’d have original blood, wouldn’t that open the Well?”

“They’d have to have all three… allegedly.”

“Perhaps they’ve already opened it, and this pain god thing is just an act to keep people out.” I arched my brow, and Caiden gave me a smirk. His dimples indenting on his cheeks made butterflies flit in my stomach, just as they had ten years ago.

“Only time will tell I guess.”

A whistle echoed through the woods and the hunter appeared. “It’s time to go.”