It must be a trap. There isn’t any way she would simply let him live.
“I don’t believe you,” Evren said, taking a step backward. “The moment my back is turned, you’ll kill me. You can try to seduce me with those unnatural, blue eyes woman but I’ve seen the destruction of your kind. Have learned firsthand just how vile you are.”
The Enchantress's eyes widened, and she took a step back, putting even more distance between them.
“I. Don’t. Trust. You,” Evren clipped out, continuing to step backward until he pressed his back against the workbench.
She stood there, saying nothing but watching his every move. Her eyes filled again with tears and as they did, his stomach dropped. Why did he care if she cried?
“You’re wrong,” she whispered, still standing in the center of the domed room.
Evren glanced at her. She looked frail, but more so, she looked tired. He could try again to attack her, but it seemed to be no use. Her magick was fast, the ivy lethal. If he left now, would she kill him the moment turned his back? If she didn’t, he could tell the others where she was. Bring more bodies, more men?—
But did he want to?
He was tired too. Down to the very last inch of his soul. He was tired. The last year had taken so much from him and right now, the call to the drink was the only thing he could think about.
Maybe she’d kill him when he turned his back, maybe she’d kill him before he even stepped a foot into the snow. But he would try. Would try to leave her here, for now, if it meant heading straight back to the Blackwind Tavern and buying a half dozen pints. Anything to numb the pain in his leg. The pain in his heart for who he was. Who he used to be.
“Okay.” Evren rolled his shoulders, his addiction deciding his fate for him. “I’ll spare your life if you spare mine. Let me go and I’ll let you be.”
His head spun and doubt made his knees weak, but he was determined to get out of here. Determined to get back to Davenport and away from this Enchantress.
“And you won’t tell anyone I’m here.” She raised her hands slightly as if she readied herself to call upon the ivy. Her blue eyes were no longer lined with tears, but they shone brightly anyway. Maybe it was hope shining in them. Maybe it was fear.
“I’ll tell no one.” The lie felt thick in his throat, but he hadn’t any choice. He needed to get out of here, and this was his way.
She’s saving you, the little voice inside his head whispered. And maybe she was saving him, but it didn’t change what she was. Didn’t change the law.
Silence hung between them for several moments. The Enchantress in the middle of the greenhouse and Evren backed into a corner against the cedar workbench.
She took a step forward, her sage dress draping across the stone floor. “I’m going to unshackle you, and once I do, you will leave out the front door. You will leave and you will not come back.”
Her eyes narrowed, the silver glint of the key catching his eye. He nodded and as he did, she took a step closer. Then another step, and another until she was mere inches away from him. Her face met his chest, and he had to dip his head low to meet her eyes.
He inhaled. She smelled of perfume, something floral and sweet he couldn’t quite name. She kept her eyes on his face as she slid the key into the shackles. Heat bloomed against his skin as their hands brushed. He cleared his throat, not moving a muscle for fear of the ivy she’d call upon him. Once she slid the shackles off completely, he rubbed the soreness out of his wrists.
“Thank you,” he said with a smile, before quickly wiping it away. She didn’t return it, only stepping backward, giving him space.
“Go.” She gestured to the door.
Evren wasn’t sure why he hesitated. He still couldn’t believe she’d let him go unharmed. But slowly his boots stepped forward, the scrape and scruff against the stone the only sound between them. Once he reached the door of the greenhouse, he peered behind him, expecting to see the Enchantress. But she wasn’t there. So, he quietly slipped out the door and into the cold, bitter daylight.
A few miles back into the woods, Evren remembered the flask he’d stored in his pocket. Dropping to his knees, he stumbled to untwist the cap before swallowing the contents in a single gulp.
The shakiness he’d felt the past two days subsided, his head quieted, the ache in his leg soothed, and for a moment he didn’t care about the Enchantress. Didn’t care that he’d let her slip free, or rather, she let him. All he cared about was getting back to the tavern and chasing this feeling.
Seven
Birds chirpedthrough the cracked window as Tallulah shoved her botany books and a few notebooks into her small leather bag. It felt silly to pack these things in such a time of haste, but she didn’t care. She wanted them with her. The notebooks alone would deem themselves useful if she ended up in the forest.
She’d made good use of her time this last year, cataloging all the different plants she encountered and grew. Shoving the last notebook into her bag, she slouched on the sofa and did a final look around.
The moment Evren stepped toward the doorway yesterday, she’d known she would need to leave the greenhouse. Would need to put as much distance as possible between herself and Davenport. She didn’t trust Evren for a second and was truly shocked when he’d agreed to go. She’d waited up all night. Fear that he’d return keeping her from sleep. But now that it was just before dawn, she was ready to make her move.
With her bag packed and her boots laced, she peered out the greenhouse door. The sun still slept, and darkness remained. Though, even in the dimming moonlight, it was bright from the freshly fallen snow. She tugged her cable-knit sweater closer to her body, wishing she’d had a cloak.
She didn’t know where she headed. All she knew was she could no longer stay. A tear slipped from her eye, freezing upon her cheek in the chilly air. She would miss the greenhouse. Would miss her plants and flowers and the birds that regularly visited her.
