Did they really feel so fucking entitled to restore their full powers that it was worth thirteen mortal lives every decade?
Why had every single elven simply accepted this barbaric practice just for a curse to be broken?
“I’ve already said far too much, Lirahna. We should head back to the house.”
“You promised to answer three questions. You have not answered my third.”
Septimus’ eyes glowed. “You have asked plenty of questions this morning, and I have been extremely transparent with you. Consider our deal concluded. Now, you can follow me back down to Valhan House or you can remain here all day until a nanuuq comes to eat you. What do you choose?”
I considered my luck with the nanuuq, but ultimately, it wasn’t Septimus I was mad at. I wanted to look Kilian himself in the eyes and ask him exactly what the fuck he had done and to whom.
“Don’t even think about it.” Septimus rolled his eyes, starting down the slope. “He’s not here. He’s away on businessin Greyhaven. He’ll be back the night before the second challenge.”
I seethed the entire way back, not even saying goodbye to Septimus as we parted on the third floor of Valhan House. I stormed into my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.
Calendula jerked awake from her hammock with a start. “Gods above, you scared me.”
I gave her an apologetic look, pausing my frustration momentarily to say, “I didn’t know you were sleeping.”
“I’m always either sleeping or eating.” Calendula yawned. “What’s got you so wound up?”
“What do you think?” I flopped onto my bed.
Calendula grimaced. “I thought you two were getting along fine. What happened?”
I assumed she was referring to Kilian and me. “Why would you think we were getting along?”
The shadow sprite’s wings fluttered, a nervous tell. “I, uhm… I saw the two of you in the corridor last night. It didn’t look like you were…unhappy.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. I threw a pillow over my face and screamed.
Calendula said something, but it was muffled by the pillow. I plucked it off and looked at her. “What did you say?”
Calendula huffed impatiently. “I said, don’t be upset with him because of Elena. He’s been over her for decades.”
“What?”
“Elena,” Calendula repeated. “That’s why you’re upset at him, right?”
At the look I gave her, she dropped her face into her hands and groaned, “He’s going to exile me to the other side of the Shadow Soil for sure now.”
“Calendula,” I said firmly, “who is Elena?”
She peeked out through tiny fingers, silver eyes flicking to the bracelet dangling from my wrist.
And everything clicked into place.
The words spoken by the elven female this morning. The recognition in Kilian’s eyes as he held the charm on my wrist. No. Not recognition. Sadness.
“He gave this to her, didn’t he?” I whispered. Elena. The mortal girl with fire in her eyes and a restless soul.
I unclipped the bracelet and laid it on the table, unable to bear the sight of it. Unable to process how I felt about it.
Calendula’s wings fluttered gently. She laid a small hand atop the bracelet, fondly. “She was one of my favorites.”
“What does it mean?” I asked dully, my gaze trained on the engraved wording on the back of the pendant.
Calendula did not need to look at it. She murmured, “‘May the fire within protect you throughout.’”
