Page 30

I rub at my eyes, forcing them to focus as I flip another page. I’ve been reading for hours to no avail, and I can feel myself growing frustrated. The sun hangs low in the sky when Ledger walks in.

I chew absently on a piece of dried jerky, scanning the words in front of me as he approaches.

“I’ve been looking for you. Sorry I wasn’t in my room when you woke. I had pressing matters I needed to attend to this morning,” he says, peering down at me, or the open book, I can’t tell.

I don’t look up at him as he speaks, instead pulling out the crumpled paper from my pocket and tossing it at him. “Did those pressing matters have anything to do with this? ”

He clenches his jaw and then his fist around the paper. “You let me worry about the King of Bellehaven.” His voice is deathly low and serious.

“You want me to pretend every moment I spend here, and every day I fail to heal your father, I am not putting everyone at risk?!” I slam the book shut, standing up. “You do not know him like I do, Ledger—you don’t know what he is capable of.”

“And he doesn’t know what I am capable of when the ones I care about are threatened.” Ledger’s power thunders through the room, shaking the walls and coating them in a foggy haze. Books topple off the shelves of the library. The chair and table creak as his vines snake up the legs.

I swallow, glancing down at them. “Bellehaven has one of the most powerful armies on the continent. I cannot allow anyone to be hurt because of me. I made a promise to you that I will help your father, and I will, but once that happens, I must go back.” My voice is a pleading whisper, Ledger’s face a mask of fury.

“You will not be forced into doing anything. He may have one of the most powerful armies, but they follow him out of fear, not loyalty. He has numbers but he doesn’t have their respect or devotion.

Westray’s army is full of individuals with honor, strength and integrity.

And I would have them fight for you, consequences be damned.

” His power wraps around my hips and tugs me to him, the air around me tinged with the faint smell of smoke .

I don’t resist it, and once in front of him, I let my hand rest on his chest. “I can assure you, Ledger, I am not worth it.”

“And I can assure you that you are. You are destined for more than what he allows of you. I can feel it, Layla, and if you don’t desire that life anymore, then all you need to do is say it.”

“You are asking me to leave Maddox, to forsake my mother. What kind of person would I be if I did that?” I aim the question at him and myself.

“If the King didn’t have your mother, would you stay? Would you fight for a life here? With or without me?” He adds the last part.

“Ledger—” I start but he cuts me off.

“Please, Layla, give me something, anything. I feel like I am going crazy over here.” He runs a hand through his hair.

“To dream of such things is a dangerous game, one I cannot afford to play.” I bite my tongue from saying what I truly want.

He stares at me, the wrinkle in his brows and the frown on his mouth giving away his frustration. I know he wants me to fight for this life, for myself, for him.

I can tell he wants to argue, desires more of an answer from me, a real answer, but the truth is that I simply don’t have one.

He nods stiffly and my heart squeezes. His disappointment is palpable, and I force my eyes away.

Archie, Mia, and Cam walk in, breaking the tense moment.

I lose a relieved breath taking a few steps back.

“Hope we aren’t interrupting anything,” Archie comments wiggling his eyebrows.

“Not at all,” I respond, forcing a smile. “Did Ledger happen to mention he received a threatening note from the King of Bellehaven?” I ask, and Ledger shoots me a furious look.

“He did not.” Mia looks at Ledger pointedly as she brushes past him, her scent of vanilla tickling my nose. “What did it say?”

“What do you think it said, Mia?” Archie grabs a book and plops down on the settee. “If I had to guess, it probably read something like, ‘Give her back or else,’” he says, and Cam barks a laugh.

“Archie, this is serious,” Mia scolds. “You, of all people, know what he is capable of.”

“I do, and that is also why I am in no hurry to return Layla to him.” He frowns.

“Why does it matter what the note says? She can’t go back until Callum is healed, and last time I checked he is still unwell.

” Archie turns his attention back to me.

“You’re too important, Layla, and we knew there would be consequences when we took you. ”

“Let the King of Bellehaven come; we will be ready for him,” Cam chimes in.

“I would never ask anyone to fight for me like that and even a drop of blood shed over me is too much. What would King Callum say?” Everyone is silent after I ask the question. “I’ll take your silence as confirmation he would not agree with you.” I sigh, losing my desire to argue.

“Now that you all are here, you can at least help. If we can find the answer to healing Ledger’s father, then I can return to Bellehaven, and maybe we can avoid retribution.” Even as I say the words, I know the King of Bellehaven won’t let this go unpunished one way or another.

“Grab a book. If you see anything about nullifying powers or something useful that may help her breakthrough to my father, show me,” Ledger addresses each of them.

“Get comfortable, we may be here a while,” I add, grabbing a book and sitting next to Archie.

We all read for hours, stopping only when a housemaid comes to bring us food. My head lays on a pillow in Archie’s lap. I pop grapes into my mouth as I scan the pages of the text I hold.

“Grape,” Archie says, and I place a grape into his open, awaiting mouth. “You know, if you were wearing less clothing, this would be fulfilling one of my many fantasies.”

Ledger growls from the chair across from us. “And if you don’t start feeding yourself grapes, you’ll find out what fantasies I have been having, Archie.” The chair squeaks across the floor as he pushes up to stand. He throws his book onto the table and yanks another off the shelf.

Archie gives me a wide-eyed look, and I smother a smile .

“Grape,” Cam calls and I toss him one, laughing as he catches it in his mouth.

“Not you too, Cam.” Ledger scowls, making Archie snicker. “Are you even reading, Archie?”

“Of course, I’m reading, Ledge. I can’t help it I get hungry.”

I push myself up, scooting over to the other side of the settee, not wanting to further Ledger’s irritation.

“Guys, I think I found something,” Mia calls from the table where she sits.

We all jump up, crowding her. “It is in Urtash, the language of the old gods, so I can’t make out much, but I keep seeing the word blood. Ledger, can you translate it?”

“Let me see.” He grabs the text. We all hold our breath as he reads.

My heart pounds as I wait. “It says if a healer’s power was diminished or unreachable, a select few had the essence of healing within their blood.

If they so desired, they could complete the sacred act of blood sharing to channel their healing ability. ”

My heart pounds. We all look at each other wondering the same thing. Could it work?

“We should go to your father. It’s the first idea we have found in days, and I think it’s worth trying,” I suggest, letting hope swell within me.

“Okay,” Ledger agrees, looking at everyone else, who nod back at him.

We leave the library together and make our way to the King of Westray’s room. My stomach flips nervously the closer we get. Ledger orders the guards outside to stand down and they comply, opening the King’s door. My palms sweat as we walk in.

Ledger’s father looks worse than the last time I saw him. More frail, his skin yellow and sticky with perspiration. His breathing is loud and labored.

I reach for my dagger, dropping my hand and looking at Ledger when I realize I’m not wearing it.

Ledger grasps the hilt of his dagger. “Are you sure?” he questions.

“I’m sure.” I nod at him. The metal rasps as he unsheathes it and hands it to me.

He lurches towards me as I grasp the razor-sharp edge in my closed palm and pull, slicing into my skin. Blood drips onto the floor as I approach the King.

“Layla.” Ledger steps closer to me, and I hand him back his dagger.

Everyone watches as I step to the King’s bedside, extending my fist. My blood leaves a trail as I bring the flow to his mouth.

My hands shake as the liquid trickles down, coating his tongue in a deep red. My head swims when he swallows. The tang of copper stings my nostrils.

I pull back my hand and Ledger is there, wrapping it in a cloth and holding it to his chest. We all stare at the motionless King, none of us breathing .

Minutes pass and nothing happens. My stomach drops, a sickening dread filling my chest. My heart aches for Ledger as he squeezes my hand gently. I swallow the knot in my throat, the bitter taste of defeat enough to make me gag.

I turn away, letting my head fall onto Ledger’s chest. His hand rubs my back, and I cling to him. We stay like that for a long moment, the silence between us deafening.

“We will keep trying,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “You guys should get some rest.”

I pull back as Mia steps up, enveloping him in her arms. “We are going to figure it out—we always do.”

Archie claps him on the shoulder. “I can stay with you if you want?”

“I need to be alone with him, Arch,” he responds, and I feel the failure all the way to my toes.

“There is still time,” Cam whispers as he follows Mia and Archie out.

I stand awkwardly next to him, wanting to offer comfort but not sure how.

“Go. Rest, Layla,” he demands, and I can feel his need to be alone with his dying father.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper before walking out of the room.