AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What’s happening?” I breathe, dread filling me.
“I’m so sorry,” he croaks. “But there’s no other way.”
“Put your clothes back on.”
He unbuttons his trousers and nods at the items he put on the table. “Those spectacles are enchanted, allowing the wearer to see through magical bindings. No one will suspect because it’s brass. Who you choose to wear them is up to you, but the enchantment won’t transfer to others. Choose wisely.”
“Stop.”
He pulls his trousers down, collects his clothes, and drapes them over the table.
“My clothes might be too small for him,” he mutters, “but it’s better than him turning up naked.”
Tears blur my vision. “I said stop!”
“Between Styx and the spectacles wearer, you’ll be safe.”
“Fox!”
He grinds his teeth. “It has to be like this. Puck had a resonance stone holding an image of you leaving here, a jar of wisps in your hand, confessing to stealing them. I would have killed him if it made a difference. Instead, I made a bargain.”
I choke back a sob. My mind whirls. Resonance stone? No sense. No logic. Bodin’s voice telling me,There are charms that relay images.I can’t think of a way out of this. I fucked up. Again.I’mthe curse. It’s me. I close the gap between us, take his face, and beg. “Please don’t go. Don’t leave me.”
Long lashes flutter closed. He leans into my hand, brows lifting in the middle. “I’m not leaving you. I’ll be right here.”
“No,” I accuse. “You’re leaving me. You said you wouldn’t.”
“Willow . . .”
“Is it because I keep getting into trouble? I’m sorry, okay? I’m calamity, a jinx—a magnet for trouble. I’ll change. I’ll do whatever you want, but don’t leave me.”
Pain is etched all over his face, in every line of his body, his stilted breath. I try to latch onto him, to lock him in my arms, but he pries me off with ease. I fall to my knees, head bowed, tears splashing onto the dirt.
“Is it my face?” I whisper.
“You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”
“Fox... we can figure a way out of this. We have the manabeeze. We can portal home and get help.”
“You are ourqueen. This is your home,” he growls, eyes flashing. He slams his palm on Styx’s solid chest. “I ate Sylvanar, Willow. I ate his Shadow. I’m the fucking monster!”
“You’re not.”
“But I am.” He laughs bitterly. “I tried so hard not to be. But in the end, I made it worse. Puck bonded to the Baleful Hunt and said it was either you or me. I fucked up, not you. But I can make it right. I’ll trade places with Styx.”
The blood drains from my face. “I thought it had to be a mortal.”
“We only need a mortal to gain access to this temple. But then you found a way to pull me in.”
“You didn’t tell Puck you were coming here, did you?”
“He thinks I’ll turn up tomorrow for my sentencing.” His sad, wry smile breaks my heart. “I bargained for the night, for the evidence he holds over you, and for the jar of wisps you stole. Use it to pay Cait for the mirror, or use it to—” He chokes up. “To return to Elphyne.”
He doesn’t mean that. He just said this is my home.
Fire ants crawl over my skin, itching me as he chants a spell. Panic squeezes my heart. I try not to let my emotions break me, not to fall apart, but I can’t lose him. Can’t lose another person I love. My fist wraps around Tinger’s pendant. I yank it over my head.
“Is it this?” I shake the pendant. “I’m ready to let him go. It won’t cause any more trouble. Fox, I promise!”
