“I remember a green glow.”
“So do I, from when Riley attacked me.” That rang a distant bell. “We should?—”
She screamed as the charred floorboards underneath her gave in and she dropped.
The look of terror on her face made me move quickly. I acted on pure instinct and grabbed her arm before she hit the floor. Instant agony burnt through my body, choking me.
The fall was short, and she was a wili. She wouldn’t die although she would feel pain if injured, and her healing wasn’t fast. But I couldn’t let her fall.
I pulled her up and laid her in a corner before jumping away from her. My mouth filled with bitter bile as pain flared up. My vision blurred at the edges, and I gnashed my teeth not to faint. Dozens of hot blades stabbed me, setting my skin on fire. Cold shivers caused my teeth to chatter.
“Alex.” Irene’s voice sounded as if coming through water. “Say something.”
Nausea scratched the back of my throat, and I couldn’t contain myself. I turned to the side and threw up. As my stomach emptied itself, shame filled it.
“Leave.” I stretched out an arm to keep her at a distance.
“I won’t touch you, but I won’t leave you.” Her voice was soft and low, intimate.
When I finished, the tremors in my body died down. Cold sweat dampened my skin, and pain throbbed in my body. Above all, shame sat heavy in my chest. I wiped my mouth quickly with a handkerchief.
“It’s not safe here. We must leave.” I avoided her gaze. “Walk close to the wall.”
She tiptoed across the floor, casting glances at me. We didn’t speak until we were outside.
“Are you all right?” She avoided looking at me as well.
No. “Yes. What about you?”
“Just a fright.” She turned towards me. “Thank you. I appreciate how difficult it must have been for you.”
I shrugged and headed for the carriage.
“I didn’t realise how painful a touch was for you.” Too much compassion wafted from her. It was wasted on me. “It’s torture for you.”
It was, but shame was a good rival.
The confined space of the carriage worked against me.
In the span of a few minutes, my relationship with Irene had changed. She had to think I was weak and deranged.
“Echoing what you told me, you don’t have to be ashamed.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Not with me. I understand what it means to be ridiculed and feel ashamed for something you don’t control.”
I worked my jaw. “You aren’t the Duke of the Dark Court though. If the courtiers learnt everything about my weakness, they would exploit it to destroy me. They know I don’t want to be touched, but they don’t know that touching frightens me and makes me throw up. They think I’m eccentric, not insane.”
“I know nothing about being a leader, but if the court worked in harmony, everything would be easier.”
“The wilis supported me when I challenged the former duke for the role. But then they criticised me for my lack of social engagements. Myrtha believes the Dark Court should organise more social events involving the fairies and the werewolves.” I huffed. “I don’t think balls and parties are important. If that’s their idea of harmony, then I’m not interested.”
“Connections are important, especially since supernatural beings are already isolated from the rest of the population.”
“Some supernatural beings live incognito among humans. Sean might be a wizard or possess a peculiar ability he hides.”
She trapped her bottom lip between her teeth. “I remember something. Animals were attracted to Sean. Wherever he went, birds would follow him.”
“I’ll ask Darius. He’ll confirm if there are traces of magic in your house.”
“If I can help you…”
