Page 42

Chapter

Forty-Two

S ometime later, I wake to the sound of people filing down the stairs. My eyelids feel like sandpaper as I pry them open to find everyone crowding into the cramped space.

“What’s going on?” I ask, the words quiet but not as breathy as before.

Thorne is at my side in an instant. “We think we might know where the almanova is being kept.”

“Where?” Surprise has me trying to push myself up, causing my head to spin. Thorne places a hand on my back, offering his silent support to keep me from tumbling out of the bed.

“He said he’ll only tell you.” Fia steps forward, dragging a bloody and broken Nolan with her.

My heart breaks at the sight of the sweet baker. His nose has clearly been broken and both of his eyes are black. The way he’s hunching forward and clutching his ribs tells me they’re likely broken. Despite the fact that I know this was necessary, I still hate to see him this way.

“Tell her what you told us,” Griffen orders him. His typical light-hearted nature is gone, leaving a calculated warrior in its wake.

Nolan’s hateful gaze connects with mine. “ He’s going to kill you tonight.”

In a flash, Thorne is across the room, the back of his hand smacking against Nolan’s face. “Say that again, and I will end you.”

Everyone in the room goes still.

“Now tell her what you said earlier,” Thorne growls as he grabs a fistful of the man’s hair and forces him to look at me.

His lips pull back and when he finally speaks it’s through clenched teeth. “He’s is waiting in the place where he first saw you.”

My nose scrunches. Where he first saw me… I turn the words over in my mind, trying to decipher their meaning. A memory flashes of a dark silhouette standing in a window, watching me as I passed by on the street below.

“ The house ,” I whisper, my gaze connecting with Thorne’s. “The one in the Lowers where the woman attacked me.”

His eyes widen. “You were right all along. Darby did go there.”

My thoughts race, and I swing my legs over the side of the bed. “We need to go. Now.”

Thorne steps in front of me, his hand on my shoulder stopping me from standing up. “It’s most likely a trap.”

He glares down at me, but I merely shrug.

“That’s never stopped her before,” Griffen adds unhelpfully.

I peek around Thorne to scowl at the high fae.

“There’s a first time for everything.” Thorne pulls my attention back to him.

“You and I both know this reprieve won’t last forever,” I tell him, not raising my voice above a whisper. Darrow’s tonic may have helped, but my throat has still been through a lot. “The longer we let this continue, the weaker I’ll become.”

“I won’t let that happen,” he argues, but we both know he can’t follow through on that promise.

“The only way to end this is to remove the collar. And for that, we need the almanova .”

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. When they open again, I know I’ve won.

“Fine,” he grinds out.

My shoulders slump with relief, but before I can say anything else, Fia steps forward.

“The sword can remove your collar?” she asks, her body tense as she glances back and forth between me and Thorne.

I nod, and a strange expression passes over her face. Next to her, Griffen crosses his arms over his chest.

“You should have told us that,” he says to the God beside me, his forehead wrinkling with worry.

Thorne stiffens. “We can discuss this upstairs. Ivy needs to rest.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts me off with a hard glare. The trio disappears up the staircase, causing unease to swim in my stomach. Why would Thorne have kept that a secret from his council? Did he think I wouldn’t want him to share it? Was he trying to protect my privacy?

I push my guilt aside, choosing to focus on happier things. Such as the fact that I didn’t feel a single spark of jealousy as I watched Thorne leave with Fia. While I can’t say exactly what’s growing between us, I do know that loyalty isn’t something I need to worry about. Thorne has proven many times over that he only has eyes for me.

“Ivy.” Darrow’s voice pulls me from my thoughts as he sits on the stool next to my bed. “Do you have a moment?”

My lips turn down at his polite tone. I observe him closer, noticing the way he’s holding himself too straight.

“You should know, the enchantment I placed on you is tied to this building,” he says, refusing to meet my eyes. “Once you leave, the king will be able to track you.”

Deep down, I think I already knew that. Leaving is a risk, but doing nothing is even worse. “Thank you for telling me.”

With that said, I expect him to head back upstairs, but instead he stays seated.

My eyebrows pinch together. “Was there something else?”

His eyes meet mine, clouded with self-loathing. “I wanted to apologize.”

“You’ve apologized to me before,” I remind him. “Recently.”

“I know.” He nods, his throat bobbing as he swallows. “But it will never be enough.”

I want to tell him that’s not true, but the words won’t come out. Still, whatever animosity I’ve harbored toward him in the past seems to have subsided.

“When I was desperate and afraid, I came here,” I admit quietly. “I knew I could count on you to help me when I truly needed it. Whatever was done in the past, I’m ready to move on.”

His head rears back as shock splashes across his face. “That’s a very mature answer, Lady Iverson.”

I shrug. “I’m a very mature woman.”

“Eh, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You’re just jealous.” I roll my eyes.

“I’m unfamiliar with that emotion,” he says snobbishly. “Perhaps you could describe it to me?”

I roll my eyes. “Let me guess, it’s because you’re too beautiful to be envious of anyone?”

His hand flies to his chest dramatically. “Ivy, I’m flattered, but I think of you as the little sister I never had.”

I arch a brow.

“Fine,” he grumbles. “The annoying younger cousin I’m only vaguely fond of.”

“I don’t think of you at all,” I whisper proudly.

“I don’t think of you at all ,” he mimics my tone.

“Break it up, children,” Della says as she returns from the bathing chamber. “And you.” She points at me. “You’re supposed to be resting your voice, not getting into pointless arguments. Go clean up.”

Darrow’s laughter follows me into the bathroom, and I pause to offer him a crude gesture before shutting the door.

All my amusement dries up when I catch sight of my reflection.

My skin is deathly pale. Bruises cover my entire neck in varying shades of black, blue, and purple. My lips are chapped and bleeding, but I think the worst part may be my eyes. They are completely bloodshot, making my amber irises appear darker.

Frankly, I look like a monster.

I’d love to take a bath, but there’s no time. Instead I splash water on my face and use a rag to wipe down my body. Once I’m done, I borrow a brush I found in one of the drawers and comb through my hair, frowning at the state of it. While it’s usually a vibrant shade of copper, now the color appears flat and lifeless. It’s as if the collar is sucking the life out of me, bleeding me dry each time it’s activated.

I force myself to take a deep breath and push aside my paranoid thoughts. My fingers shake as I untangle the mats in my hair and fashion it into my usual braid. With one last glance at my reflection, I decide it’s best to avoid mirrors for the foreseeable future.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid of what’s to come tonight. I’m usually confident during a fight, some might say overconfident, but I know I’m not at my best right now. My reflection alone is proof of that. After the events of the last twenty-four hours, my body is drained and calling on my illusions will only drain me further. Which means I won’t have my eidolon or invisibility to fall back on. Tonight, I’ll have to rely on my strength alone to get me through.

When I return to the room, I find Thorne waiting for me by the stairwell. He doesn’t carry any weapons, but I suppose there’s no reason for him to do so. His shadows and scythe are just a summons away. And of course I can’t forget about the flames he summoned at the ball. Those will make an impressive weapon.

“Where is everyone?” I ask as I head for the bed. It seems Della left my blades and sheaths waiting for me on the pillow.

“They already left,” he says, scanning my body for signs of weakness.

Anger stirs in my veins as I strap the sheaths to my thighs. “You can’t seriously be backing out of our agreement.”

“I’m not.” He crosses his arms over his chest as he leans against the wooden rail. “They left without us because they're going on horseback.”

I narrow my eyes. “And we’re not?”

He shakes his head. “You and I are flying. Once we’re outside these walls, Baylor will be able to track you. Flying will make that more difficult.”

“Oh.” My head cocks to the side. “That’s actually smart.”

One corner of his mouth kicks up in a half smile. “The tone of surprise isn’t appreciated.”

“My sincerest apologies, oh so intelligent God of Death.” I roll my eyes as I move around him to get to the stairs.

He darts in front of me, blocking my path. “You don’t sound sorry.”

I take a step closer, crowding his space until my chest is brushing his. “What would you do if I told you I’m not?”

Shadows curl around the outer rim of his eyes. “There are many things I could do.”

“Such as?” I glance up at him innocently as my teeth sink into my lower lip.

“I don’t think I should say.”

I trail a single finger across his shoulder. “But I want to know.”

“You see, if I tell you, I’ll have to show you.” His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer. “And then we won’t be leaving this room tonight. Is that what you want, Ivy?”

My heart gallops as my breathing turns heavy, this time having nothing to do with the collar. A shiver skips up my spine in anticipation, but I force myself to step back. His arm falls away immediately.

My shoulders slump as I heave a regretful sigh. “Later?”

“Always,” he promises.

Taking my hand in his, he leads me up the stairs. As we make our way to the roof, I send silent prayers to the Fates that “later” will still exist for us after tonight.