AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It isn’t about fairy tales; it’s about spending time with your family and finding a cure.”
She slapped her hand on a book. “Shane, I will be forever grateful if you find a cure, but I doubt you will. No one has experience with this kind of magic, and time is flying. You should work on accepting what is happening, and if by some miracle I live, then we celebrate. But from now on, I’ll be acting as if I’m dying in a couple of weeks. I want to fight and leave this Earth knowing I did all I could to make it a better place for you and your siblings.”
My throat closed. My eyes stung. I couldn’t breathe.
I shook my head. No, no. Raika wasn’t dying. I refused to accept that. I wouldn’t, not until the last second. She wanted to fight. Fine, I couldn’t stop her, but then neither would I. I would search every crook and corner of this world until I found a way of curing her.
“Fine,” I snapped. “Go ahead. Kill yourself faster.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Shane …”
I flipped the page of the book in front of me, but I couldn’t see any of the words.
Footsteps reached my ears and I looked up.
Minsi, Tyren, and Rue walked in the library.
Shit. Had they heard anything?
8
RAIKA
I perked up when I saw Minsi, Tyren, and Rue walking into the library. I wouldn’t let my grim fate keep me from having a great time with them.
I pushed from the chair and walked to them. “Good morning.”
Minsi ran to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Tyren glanced from Shane to me, to the books on the table. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Your brother is researching something.”
“About your sickness?”
“Something like that.”
“What is it?” he asked, more closed off than usual. “What do you have?”
“Uh, we don’t know exactly.” I gestured to the books. “Thus the research.” I put a hand on his shoulder and turned him away. “But you know what? We should go somewhere else. How about the back garden beside the maze? There are plenty of benches and shade there, and I could ask for food.” I pressed a hand to my stomach. “I haven’t eaten yet.”
I didn’t look back as we walked out of the library and went in the direction of one of the back doors that led to the gardens. I didn’t know much of the castle yet, but that I could find.
As we walked, I glanced at my phone. I had to be mindful of the time. I was allowing myself only one hour after drinking the elixir to be out and about. After that, I had to stay in my suite until the next dose. This way, the chance of me bursting into flames near others was small.
Outside, the warmth of the day greeted us and I tilted my chin to take in the sunlight and the soft breeze. We found a stone bench under a thin tree, with a good amount of shade.
“I’m so glad you guys came to visit me,” I said as I sat down. Minsi sat on my lap, Rue took a place beside me, and Tyren stayed on his feet, looking to this side and the other, as if searching for danger.
“Someone missed you.” Rue bopped Minsi’s nose. She looked at me, her old eyes knowing. “How are you?”
I forced a smile. I knew she understood everything behind it. I had thought so much about preparing the kids, but now I couldn’t even imagine myself telling them about what was happening. I would, though. Soon. But first, whenever I could, I would pull Rue aside and tell her. She would help me break the news to Minsi and Tyren when the time came.
“I’m okay,” I said. “I’m happy you all are here. Did you have breakfast already?”
Minsi nodded.
“Well, I haven’t. How about we invite some of our friends and have a picnic brunch outside?”
Minsi’s eyes rounded, in eagerness.
