“Thenwhy?”
“Becauseit allows me to be close to him, to work against him.I’mnot so foolish as to believeIcould destroy him outright, but with time…”Hetrailed off, andIrealized somethingIhad not truly considered.
“Youhate him?”
“Morethan you can possibly know, little bird.”Ididn’t want to press him anymore, he had already revealed so much to me, butIcouldn’t stop.Ihad never known how.
“Whyhave you saved me, over and over again?Riskedyourself for me, gone up against him for me?”Ialready knew the answer but asked anyway.
Hemoved to me now, laying a hand gently on my injured arm, the other coming up to cup my jaw.
“Ihave brought you here before.Whenyou fell from that cliff, you were so close to deathIcould see its hand reaching for you.Ican’t heal, but the magic of this place works in waysIcan’t understand.Itcalled to me, andIknewIhad to bring you here.Iknow the wild magic here healed you enough to keep you stable and let you fight your way back to me.”Mydreams,Itruly had seen this place, seen the light, and seen him.
“I’vetold you,Tori, you are mine.WhenIfirst found you,Ithought that meantIneeded to keep you locked up like a precious gem, away with all my other riches.Ihave learned that you are mine, not as a bird in a cage, but one who is set free to soar on the wind, to bring more beauty to this world.Youare mine and that includes all your pain and your joy, your hurt and your wonder.Icannot express the sorrowIfeel knowingIhave kept you locked away so long.”
Iwanted to shove him away.Iwanted the words to stop as they carved themselves into my heart.ButIdidn’t have to, because he did it for me.
“Ibrought you here so you could see that there is still hope out there in the world, for something better.”Hepulled a small notebook from his robes, “Thisis everythingIcould find on breaking the enslavement enchantments.It’snot simple, but if you can getJun, you should be able to.Istill have some friends in theCourtofFlames, they can help you.”Iran my fingers over the notebook, the leather was supple from use.
“Whyare you giving this to me?”Ilooked up and nothing but a deep, unending pain filled his eyes.
“You’refree now, little bird.I’vearranged transportation for you, and you have your plan.Itwill take you anywhere you want to go.Ciarais waiting, she will travel with you.”Hepulled me close and planted one last soft kiss on my lips. “Flynow, little bird, fly and don’t look back.”
Chapter50
Tori
Myfeet carried me faster thanIcould comprehend, taking two or three stairs at a time.Mylungs ached and my heart pounded asIcrested the top of the stairs and sped for my room.Ithrew open the doors and immediately reached for the few possessionsIhad.Iscrambled to my knees to pull the sword out from below my bed.
Butas my hand landed on my swordIpaused.Iran my fingers along the fine blade, andIsawAbraxas’ face on the day he had given it to me, his beaming smile.Ifelt his hand slide over my jaw as it had so often these past few weeks, and tears streamed from my eyes.
Iblinked them away, but the voice inside me was roaring and would not be ignored.Icould practically see him standing in the room now, his hair pulled back from a worried face.Icould practically feelJun’shand on my shoulder, “Insuch a rush to leave, sister?”
“I’mcoming to you,Jun, it won’t be long now.”
“Comingto me, or running away again?”
“Runningaway?Jun, we have to get home.Ihave to get out of here.”
Helet out a small laugh,“Isee you,Tori.JustasIalways have.Isaw you that day you tried to end it all, andIforgave you.Iunderstood then what you were running from, because we ran together.Butnow?Iwon’t forgive you this time.”
“Jun, what are you talking about?”
Icould practically feel his hands on my face, see the look in his eye of disappointment.Icould never lie to him;Idon’t know whyItried.Tearsrose in my eyes again,“Ican’t stay hereJun.Ican’t leave you withHadeon.”
Helaughed,“Oh,Iwould very much like for you to come get me.Butyou don’t have to do it alone.”Hisarms wrapped around me,“You’vealways pushed it all away, all those feelings, all that sadness and rage—all your grief,”Ifelt his eyes meet mine,“all your love.”Icould feel my heart cracking open, and no ocean or waves or depths could contain it now.
“Ithurts,Jun.I’mso afraid, so afraid to end up back there, back on that edge you can’t come back from.”
“Tori, you don’t have to be alone anymore.Lookhow much stronger you are, how far you’ve come since we were young.I’veseen you be brave, be vulnerable.You’vealways taken care of me.Yousaid it yourself then, that you would live for me.Andfor a time, that was enough.Butnot anymore, now it’s time for you.AndI’llbe right here beside you, asIalways have.Bebrave,Tori.”Isaw his soft smile one last time, and thenIwas alone.
No,Iwasn’t alone.IhadJun,IhadCiara,IhadKaleosand the cohort.Hell, maybeIeven hadAvlyn.Butabove all,Ihad the manIneeded to get back to right now.
Iran for my door and smacked directly intoCiara.Shewore a sad smile, “Areyou ready,YourHighness?”
“Changeof plans,Ciara.Doyou know where the king is?”
Hereyes twinkled, but her lips set into a hard line, “Iheard him in his room, but perhaps you should wait—”Icarefully pushed past her and sprinted.Iarrived at those ebony doors in only a few heartbeats and pushed inside.
