Page 81 of To Scale the Emerald Mountain

“Because you have always smelled like cloves. Only recently has the scent of jasmine developed along with it.” Alec nods towards the vase of flowers on the nightstand.

I wipe my nose with the black cloth again, unsure of what to say.

Alec’s gaze lingers on me. “What can I do?” I shake my head and cross my arms, folding in on myself as I turn away from him. “At least eat something. It has already been an entire day, and you have only taken one bite. When did you last eat before that?”

When I don’t answer, Alec rises, standing in my line of view. I shy away from the sight and turn away from him; afraid that if I look at him his face will morph into the cruel lines of his brother; equally afraid that it won’t.

“Does it pain you that much to look at me?”

“Please, just leave,” I whisper, the threat of tears returning.

“No,” Alec says firmly. “Speak to me, Elly.”

My hand angrily dashes away a tear. “I have nothing to say to you.” Averting my eyes from him, I get up and walk to the bathing chamber, slamming the door behind me.

When I’m alone my vision tunnels—an odd hazy light blurring the edges. My hands don’t feel like my own. It’s like I’m seeing myself through someone else’s perspective, in such a similar fashion to one of my visions. My world tilts as I try to ground myself in my current reality. I stifle my cries, afraid that if Alec hears them he will come despite me telling him to leave.

Running the sink, I splash the cool liquid on my face. It helps clear my mind—but everything is surreal. I take in my reflection in the mirror, ignoring the sad state I’m in with my tired eyes, hollow cheeks, and dull hair. Instead, I pinch my cheeks, marveling in my ability to see what I’m doing but no sting radiates from my reddened skin. I do this for a couple minutes before heading to curl back up in bed.

My heart stutters, and I stop in my tracks when I see Alec still standing in the center of the room, a hand on his hip and the other massaging the back of his neck.

I falter a beat before growling with annoyance. “Fucking Mother, why are you still here?”

His head pops up. “Because I cannot bring myself to leave.”

Alec’s honesty makes my gut clench. I’m overtaken by the crushing need to run to him. To wrap my arms around him, bury my nose in his chest, comfort him, ease his pain. Instead, I breeze past him and go back to the bed, burrowing myself under the covers.

Maybe he will take the hint.

Alec loosens a noise of frustration before coming to the side of the bed—snatching the blanket back forcefully.

“Hey!” I yell.

“You will eat something, Ellya, and then I will leave.” He gestures towards the fruit on my bedside table.

“You can leave now, or I’ll just blast you with electricity.”

“Go ahead,” Alec challenges. “It would not be the first time you tried.”

A fiery glare covers my face, but Alec doesn’t back down. He looks pointedly at the food again. I grab a pillow from behind me and throw it at his face. He catches it before it hits him and tosses it back on the bed.

“Anything else?” Alec crosses his arms across his broad chest and peers down at me expectantly.

Scoffing, I grab the banana, unpeel it, and shove half of it in my mouth in one bite. “There. Fucking leave,” I say through the thick mouthful.

“Swallow,” Alec’s deep voice commands, rumbling through me.

It makes my stomach do odd flips and my toes curl.

I do as he instructs before opening my mouth and sticking my tongue out wide for emphasis. Alec’s nostrils and pupils flare at the sight. He subtly bites his gloriously full bottom lip before nodding once and making his way towards the door. His long, powerful legs close the distance in just a few strides.

Alec pauses briefly in the doorway before exiting, banging the door closed behind him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ELLYA

The next few days, I don’t leave my room.