Chapter thirty-eight

Rae missed Nim’s funeral. Witch tradition dictated that their body be burned as soon after death as possible, to ensure the soul didn’t become too attached to the body instead of returning to the Goddess.

Reed had done the right thing: carried out every detail of the funeral rite, and for that, Rae was grateful.

Still, she brought offerings as she made her way down to the pergola at the bottom of the manor gardens, where Nim’s ashes rested in a silver urn Rae had engraved with her friend’s name and dates, an amber stone set in the centre the same shade as the Witch’s eyes.

The spot had been chosen because it faced the setting sun, another tradition Reed had upheld.

Soft beams of light hit the pergola as Rae approached and she imagined Nim waiting there, face tilted towards what remained of the day, a sweet smile on her face, the same smile she’d given Rae so many times before.

Rae arranged her gifts beside Nim’s urn.

Honey for the Maiden, milk for the Mother, wine for the Crone.

A string of fresh flowers just for her friend that she looped over the pot.

The fucking concert tickets she hadn’t had the chance to give.

And a promise that she would fix this, somehow. That she would make things right.

The facility raid hadn’t entirely been a bust. Torrin was dead, and the tally of hybrid fatalities was high, but Baxter was still out there somewhere with the remaining hybrids, and that meant Demesia wasn’t safe yet, not with how many of those things remained and whatever Bax had planned for them.

He’d been the one manipulating the silver prices all along as well as the base metals, and every resource needed for anything important.

Because his hybrids possessed magic and had Thaumas abilities, it was clear now that he intended to use them to take control of the city, and Rae refused to let that happen.

She kneeled before her friend’s urn, hands in her lap. Rae knew what she needed to do. What she’d been born to do. Even though every part of her rioted at the thought. What she wanted had never mattered. Couldn’t matter. Not when so much was at stake.

“I’m sorry I didn’t find you in time,” Rae whispered, a tear slipping down her face.

“That the last days of your life were—were spent in the dark. That you were scared and alone.” She wiped at her face and tried to steady her breaths.

“I hope you knew we were looking for you. That we did everything—” A choked gasp cut her words short as she heard the lie in them.

She hadn’t done enough. She’d failed her friend.

Her only friend. And Nim had suffered for it.

“I’m sorry,” she breathed. “Maybe one day you’ll forgive me.

Maybe one day I’ll forgive myself, but from now on, I want you to know that I’m going to do what’s right.

What I should have done, years ago. I want you to be proud of me, Nim.

The way I was proud of you. Am proud of you. ”

Rae stayed until the sun sank below the horizon, until darkness fell and a hand rested on her shoulder. Reed.

“Time to go,” he told her softly and helped her rise on aching limbs, quiet as he led the way to the cars.

They were all headed to Cormac’s place to help with the survivors, to speak with the remaining council members, and to plan their next move against the hybrids.

Rae had been eager to go, to help wherever she could before she left.

There had been casualties, she’d been informed, prisoners like Nim who hadn’t been able to withstand the effects of the testing, and Rae couldn’t help but wonder if it was a mercy.

Then she thought of Bax, of how normal he’d seemed despite being a hybrid.

Her stomach dropped as she realised he might have always been, ever since she’d known him.

And what if there were hybrids who didn’t buy into his bullshit?

She was too tired to think about it anymore; her decision had already been made.

A shadow caught Rae’s eye as she followed Reed to the front of the manor.

Quinn. “Keep Ru out of trouble while I’m gone,” she told him quietly, scratching beside his ear and not letting herself meet the daemon’s eyes, just in case Baelin was paying too close attention somewhere.

Quinn whined, his rough tongue licking her chin.

Keep them all out of trouble, she wanted to tell him, but knew there was little chance of that.

Rae’s PAD buzzed in her pocket, and she swiped away a message from Scarlett, jumping into the front seat of a waiting vehicle beside Reed.

Already she could feel Aidan’s gaze on her as he slid into the driver’s seat of his own vehicle.

Rae couldn’t risk letting anything slip around him; she doubted a few feet made any difference with how strong his mind was, but it helped her focus.

She needed the distance. To hold on to her anger.

Evander and Orion took up their position in the vehicle behind as Reed left the manor grounds, the lights of the city flashing by.

Even at night, Demesia was full of life.

“We need a fourth,” he said after a while.

Someone to replace Roak, he meant. A new member of the First Unit.

Rae shot him a sideways glance. “What? You’d be a great asset to the team, Rae. ”

“Something tells me Lord Vale wouldn’t allow that.”

Reed chuckled. “I think your husband would do just about anything for you.”

It struck Rae, then, that she thought he might be right.

Dangerous, dangerous territory. Aidan had seen her tattoo, seen her .

How exposed she was; would have felt it, the connection between them, just as she did.

Rae swallowed. Swallowed down every emotion; the memory of him above her, inside her, surrounding her.

“You know better than anyone our arrangement was a means to an end.”

“What end, exactly?” the Fae asked as they turned into the Central District.

The buildings became more industrial with metal fascia instead of the prettier architecture of the First and Second Districts.

Warehouses that stretched for entire blocks.

Humans were smart, but their eye for aesthetics was sorely lacking.

Rae turned to Reed and winked. “A good wife never tells.”

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel, the air in the car suddenly thick.

“You were going to ask her?” Rae whispered. For a union. Marriage. The Fae nodded, and what remained of Rae’s heart crumpled in on itself. Nim would have been overjoyed. “Oh, Reed. I’m so sorry.”

He managed a smile, a small shrug of his huge shoulders.

“I know it might seem fast to you, but I knew the moment I met her.” His voice thickened, and he cleared his throat.

“I knew her. Had time with her. That will have to be enough.” Rae’s throat was painfully tight as she watched him.

“But if I’m ever lucky enough to feel that again.

This ,” he said, placing a hand over his heart.

“I won’t wait a second time. I won’t hesitate or second guess myself.

I’ll be all in. I know she’d want that for me. ”

Rae rested her hand over his as he pulled the car into park. “She would.”

“So you’ll think about it?” Reed asked, his tone light once more. Optimistic. “First Unit?”

Rae didn’t meet his gaze as she slipped out of the car, struggling to keep her tone light to match his. She couldn’t be the reason he lost any of the hope he clung to, and Goddess knew how he still did. “Sure.”

Cormac was already waiting for them, his mate beside him, Scarlett’s expression brightening the moment she saw Rae, no doubt taking in her pale pink hair and her blue eyes.

Rae had barely been able to hide her surprise when she’d seen the hybrids bring the Witch up top the night of the raid.

It had been just over ten years since she’d laid eyes on her cousin’s friend, but everything from Scarlett’s perfectly styled blonde curls to her manicured nails was the same.

Despite how close she’d been to Emlyn, her cousin was afforded certain freedoms that Rae, as princess, never was. Emlyn didn’t live in the palace. Could move through the Witch city of Riguera as she pleased. Make friends with whomever she wished, like her tutor’s daughter, Scarlett.

Emlyn had always spoken fondly of Scarlett, and they’d met precisely twice: once before her cousin’s death, and once the day of the funeral when her cousin Maddock had made a scene about his sister’s demise.

Whatever happened, I know you’d never harm her intentionally , she’d told Rae.

And Rae knew she’d meant it. But if she’d witnessed it, if she’d seen Emlyn’s marred skin and smelt the stench of burning flesh, Rae knew the Witch would feel differently.

She swallowed down the memory as Scarlett approached, hazel eyes meeting hers immediately.

“So good to see you, A—” the Witch began.

“Rae.” Rae shoved a hand into the one Scarlett offered before the Witch could use her real name. They’d been communicating these last few days via encrypted messages, ones Rae had gone to great lengths to ensure Baelin hadn’t discovered. “I’m so happy to see you’re well.”

Scarlett hesitated for a moment. “I… of course. Thank you. For everything.”

Rae knew Aidan watched them, felt the press of his Provident abilities over every inch of her skin, praying he was feeling benevolent enough to not tear through Scarlett’s shields.

Rae had told him earlier she’d be remaining up top with Scarlett and the other survivors in the makeshift hospital whilst he went below to speak with the council, and Aidan hadn’t argued with her.