AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t.” My teeth lock together. “Just don’t. Please.”
Alice is my person. She’s like a sister to me—a best friend—but not even she knows everything that happened in that prison realm. It’s not longing for a family that she’s seeing in me. It’s grief, a void that opens up every time I’m reminded of what I’ve lost.
The only solace I have lies in the fact my mate’s soul is safe in Hell Hold. That no one can ever hurt her again, not even me. I won’t let it happen. Jade might be gone, but her soul is at peace.And one day, when I die, Alice has promised to ensure Jade and I can get out happily ever after, by returning both of our souls to the Soul Well at the same time, so we can be reincarnated together.
I should be content with that. The mad king I was forced to serve is dead. My father, who used to rule over the rest of our world is gone. Neither of them can hurt me again, yet it's not enough. I still can't find peace in this gods forsaken world.
I don’t need to be in love to feel whole. Even though Alice wishes that I’ll find someone to fill the void Jade left, I don’t need it. I had an epic love, one written in the fucking stars. That’s enough for me.
“I’ll let it go if you answer one question.” Alice blocks me from getting off the altar.
“One.” I glare at her, but it quickly fades when her blue eyes twinkle like she’s struck gold. I’m not sure when the woman wrapped me around her finger, but it’s annoying as fuck.
“Do you ever think about falling in love again?”
I’m not sure how long I stare at her, but I know it’s too long. The truth is, I have thought of what life could be like if Jade hadn’t died, of what it could’ve been like if she never existed. And I hate myself for it.
I’ve lost count of how many hours I’ve spent, staring at my ceiling at night, missing the feel of holding someone in my arms, or wanting to have someone to wake up next to. But for everyone of those times, guilt follows. Guilt from the fact I ended Jade’s life and took her from this world even if it wasn't my fault. Moving on from her feels a lot like forgiving myself, like cheating on the person who should have ownership of my heart for all eternity. It’s not an option.
“No,” I lie, leaving no room for interpretation. “Never.”
Alice’s face falls, her shoulders too, as she takes a step back. “Okay, then.”
“Thank you for helping me.” I take a deep breath, blinking long and hard. “It wasn’t the elves, butanelf. When I got here, there was a woman hiding in the keep.”
Something about that comment sends a new spark of life through Alice. Any hint of her sorrow from my lack of love vanishes in an instant. “An elf woman?” Her lips twist into a knowing smirk.
“Yes. She was invisible. I didn’t know who or what she was until I pinned her to the wall and demanded answers. When I discovered who was trespassing, I was debating on whether to take her to Hell Hold. The night was falling fast and the wards are down. It wouldn’t have been safe to make her leave, but the keep isn’t exactly inhabitable, either. While I was thinking, she grabbed my blade and stabbed me.”
Her smile turns down-right wicked as she licks her lips, resuming her seat in the chair. “And where did this woman go?’
“The fuck if I know, and I don’t care. She’s not in my house any more and considering shestabbed me, she’s not my problem.”
“Once upon a time, I stabbed you, and here we are.” She tilts her head, soft red curls falling off her shoulders. “Was she pretty?”
“For fuck’s sake…” Darting my gaze to hers, I furrow my brow. “Does it matter? I don’t need a woman in my life. I’m happy on my own.”
She shrugs. “It was just a question. No need to get defensive about it.”
Dragging in air until my lungs can’t inflate any more, I slide off the altar, boots smacking against the stone floor as I straighten. I’m not sure where my shirt disappeared to, nor do I bother finding it. As is, I only ever wear them for Alice because she thinks not doing so in the king’s court is improper. “If you’ll excuse me, there’s a wall I need to enchant.”
“Then I’ll help you. I’d prefer not to save your life twice in one night.” Alice waves a hand and the spell she cast dissipates.
“I’m sure the kids need you. I’ve got this.” Not wasting a beat, I rush from the infirmary, traveling down the hall until the cool night air assaults my senses.
“The king is just as capable of getting them to bed. If you’re set on living in this death trap, I’m going to help. I’ll sleep better knowing you’re not poisoned on the floor.” She falls into step beside me, her leather vest gleaming in the light of the moons. It’s made from dragon scales—impenetrable by magic or steel—and a small golden crown is pinned on top of her head. Long white sleeves spill out from beneath the vest, billowing around her wrists, and swaying as she chaperones me to the woods.
My boots crunch against the earth with every stride, yet she keeps pace. The forest is thick, the air still as we travel deeper into the darkness. A silence so pure, so resounding, blankets this place, and it makes me wonder where the animals have gone.
Reaching a stone wall in the woods, Alice places her palms against the rocky surface. “There aren't any wards left, like all the magic was stripped out of it. The woman, could she siphon?”
“It didn’t seem so. She had a crystal. If she had magic of her own, why use one?” I shift, letting my demon form see what my naked eyes can’t, but it only confirms what Alice has said. There’s not a trace of magic here, not a single thread in sight.
“I use crystals to amplify my magic. Sometimes when I siphon, I can’t hold all the power within my body. Crystals give me a place to store it for later use.” She gets to work casting, weaving together the magic while I do the same.
“Maybe, but elves rarely possess magic on their own. Even the elf lord needs crystals to cast. Though, her hair was darker. It’s possible she was a half-breed.”
Power pulses beneath my skin, heating my veins, boiling in my middle as it burns brighter and brighter. Together, Alice and I replace the enchantment on the wall, rendering the keep invisible to the creatures in the woods. It’s stronger than the magic cloaking this place ever was before, and my hope is it’ll hold against whatever brought it down.
