I took a steady breath. “Maybe if we work together instead of on our own. Try to trust each other.”
He stared out into the darkness toward the forest for so long I thought he wouldn’t answer. Then he turned and lashed out, “Like them?”
“What?” I blinked in surprise and stepped backward.
His eyes flashed with pain beyond the fury, raw and terrible anguish. “Now just statues, Little One. Stone corpses.” His voice took on a bitter edge. “Those were my soldiers. They trusted me. And look at them now.”
My heart pummeled against my ribs as I dared to look at all the figures. So there was indeed life in there once. “What…” My voice dropped to barely a whisper. “What happened to them?”
Silence gnawed across the night. “The same thing that will happen to me.”
I inhaled sharply. “No…”
“That’s my fate, Little One.” He lifted one large hand and swept it across the graveyard of his soldiers. “You can’t help me.” The gravity of his voice echoed around me, leaving no room for argument.
Still, I tried. “But…”
“But what?” He arched his brows. “You think you’re strong enough to break a curse?”
“A curse?” I whispered.
That word seemed to echo between us. The only being I knew who was powerful enough to cast such a horrific spell was the monster who tormented us all. “The queen?”
He let out a bitter laugh. “I refused to command my men to follow her unlawful orders. And this is how she punished us all.”
My ribs tightened in my chest. “That’s…that’s vile.”
“That’s the queen.” His smile was sharp and cold. “And her perverse sense of justice. She demands loyalty, and if questioned, lashes out and declares treason.” He straightened, walls slamming down his expression once more. “So you see, Little One. There’s nothing you can do. There’s nothinganyonecan do. Her power is too strong. Go back inside.” He turned away and his wings twitched as if he were about to fly.
“No.”
The word stopped him mid-stride.
“No?” He looked back at me, quirking an eyebrow. “You dare?—”
“I dare,” I said, my heart hammering but my voice steady. “Because how do you know we’ll fail if we haven’t even tried?”
“You don’t listen,” he said through gritted teeth. “Ihavetried. I’ll try again tonight but nothing will change.”
I took a deep breath, warring over my next words. “Let me come with you.”
CHAPTER 10
HADRIEN
Was this tiny human truly volunteering to go into the forest with me?
“I fly,” I said, dismissing her foolish idea.
Lilia recoiled slightly, then glanced at the darkening sky. Her expression tightened as if considering the option. Another silly one.
“Don’t even think of it,” I said.
She arched a brow and met my gaze. “I’m not. Tell me which way to go and I’ll meet you there.”
I exhaled with an exasperated whoosh. “Are you always this reckless?” I motioned toward the dark forest. “Or do you often wander the woods after dark?”
She tightened her lips. “It’s not reckless if it makes us safer.”
