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“I’m not invincible, you know. I make mistakes.”
She’s pissed, and I’m not sure I blame her. Bringing Alice here had been my best option. She’s quick on her feet and so obnoxiously vigilant, that I knew she’d figure out what was wrong with me. My brother is strong and cunning, but he’s built for war, not puzzles. That, and he would’ve likely shrugged off my summons instead of letting me pull him here.
I needed someone who would come, not get back to me later.
Still, Alice is also a chess player. She’s the one who sees windows in a doorless room, who sees things others don’t, and not just in a magical sense. Something within her, something not born of sorcery or creature allows her to sense things about people. I should’ve known she’d suspect something, that she’d read into me being hurt more than she should, but I was out of options.
Her eyes shift briefly between mine until I’m forced to avert my gaze. Whatever information she’s gathered from them, I’d rather not know. Instead, I drag my teeth over my lower lip and stare at the glowing crystal sigils embedded into the walls and ceiling. Anything to not look at her as I say, “I’m sorry to scare you.”
“Scare me? You’re the one person I don’t have to worry about. Finding you one foot in the grave is downrightterrifying.”Alice chuckles humorlessly. “You survived living in the Realm of Monsters for years. I died on my first day there. And if it weren’t for you, I'm certain my immortal soul would’ve died again and again until something finally ended me for good.” She shakes her head.
“What do you want me to say, Alice?” I push the words through my teeth, my body shaking as if death’s claws are stillhanging onto my limbs, weighing me down and smothering my heart.
“I can count on one hand how many times in the last two hundred years that I’ve bested you and I’m the most powerful creature in this realm. Yet, someone tookyour bladeoffyour bodyand bury it between your ribs. And judging from the lack of body parts in the hall, they lived to tell the tale. You expect me to believe that?”
Peeking at her from the corner of my eye, I watch her drag a rickety chair over and plant herself in it. Alice’s arms are crossed in defiance, and her steely gaze pins me to the altar like a nail driven through stone. A red eyebrow arches up, demanding an explanation I can’t admit to myself, let alone to her.
“As I said, I make mistakes.” My tone is unnervingly steady. She should be worried. Hell, I’m worried. But there’s nothing I can say to ease her heart.
“You don’t make mistakes. You taught me that mistakes mean death. So, I’m sorry, but we’re not leaving this room until you tell me whatreallyhappened.” Alice lifts a hand, waving two fingers in a circle. Magic explodes through the air, so sweet it turns my stomach. The doorway and the windows glow as shields form in the openings, cutting the room off from the rest of the world. “Now, what do the elves have to do with this?”
“The elves?” I scrunch my face.
“That’s what you mumbled before you passed out. If they’re trying something, I need to know. It’s no secret that the elf lord has been plotting something. He doesn’t like me having a say in the court, and he despised Kai for letting me. Some of the other lords have voiced concerns. There’s been whispers of him planning a rebellion to overthrow us. I’m not sure how true they are, but after this…” She tosses a hand at me, looking at the ceiling for a long moment, like it will give her strength.
Letting out a deep sigh, I trail my fingers down my stomach, prodding where the blade tore through my flesh. All that’s left is a puckered scar between my ribs. Healed. Whether by my abilities or Alice’s magic, I’m not sure, but it doesn’t matter.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the elves?” I’ve been in Hell Hold for weeks. It’s been months since the court of lords convened last. If the elves were pulling on their leashes, testing my brother’s and Alice’s rule, they've said nothing. They never so much as alluded to it.
I push up from the stone altar, taking in the dust-covered shelves and dirty amber bottles as I wait for Alice to use her words. She’s never been good at it. Not when emotions run high. Not when the people she loves are in danger or hurt.
Herbs hang from the walls, carefully placed around the room to keep the crystal sigils uncovered. They’re still active, despite the keep’s current state. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alice used them to speed up the healing process. It’s what I would’ve done.
It’s not until I meet those blue eyes—the ones I’m so used to seeing locked down and giving away nothing—now so full of emotion, ofguilt,that I put the pieces together.
She didn’t tell me about the elves because she promised she wouldn’t.
My brother and I have mended our relationship to a point. He hadn’t been born when I was banished and thus, he’d only heard my father’s side of the story. It wasn’t until the war—and Alice—brought us together that we became friends and moved past the stories and rumors. Two hundred years later, and he still doesn’t trust me. Not like she does.
“He wanted to tell you,” she says, barely above a whisper.
Shaking my head, I clench my jaw, making the muscle in my cheek feather. “Then why didn’t he?”
Alice doesn’t answer.
“Fine. Don’t say it. I already know the answer, anyway.” I scoff.
I’d served the mad king, but it wasn’t because I wanted to. I had no choice. In the Realm of Monsters, the only choices were to be killed or serve him. I’d chosen to live, but Alice can attest to my hatred for the mad king. Not to mention that I helped her and my brother defeat him. In a way, I’m partially responsible for them becoming the King and Queen of the Seven Realms.
But none of it matters.
“I’ll always be a monster to the lords, to this kingdom. I’m not sure why I bother pretending to be something different.” I barely recognize my voice, the rawness to it, and it strikes a chord in me. “My brother asked you not to tell me because the lords are worried I’ll join the elves, because I betrayed my father by serving the mad king, just as I betrayed the mad king to serve you. Trust me, I’m aware of how it looks, but you have to know, I’ll serve you with my dying breath, Alice. I’ve sworn my fealty toyou,always. I won’t pretend I didn’t do terrible things, but I’d fall on my sword before I ever betrayed you.”
“I don’t see you as a monster, Asmo. I don’t think Kai does, either. You’re the reason I’m alive. He’ll always be in your debt for that.” She stands from the chair, inching closer, but I stare off into space.
“Being indebted to me and forgiving me are two very different things. It’s why I didn’t want to stay in Hell Hold.”
I can feel her eyes on me, analyzing with that innate power of hers, reading me like an open book. “I know. It’s why I didn’t argue when you said you wanted a place to call your own. It can’t be easy being there. Your face turns to stone every time you go down that hallway, where Jade…” she trails off and I thank the gods for it. “I can sense your sadness every time you see Kai with the kids, like it’s a future you’ll never have, and I hate that for you.”
