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Vomit bubbles in my throat, and I hunch over, dry heaving. Then a lightening of warmth strokes my heavy chest as Jules places a hand on my back and uses his healing gift on me.
“Breathe, Lake. Breathe through the pain.” He strokes my back, fingers brushing up and down my spine. “I know it’s hard, but the pain will pass.”
He speaks as if he understands. Perhaps he does. Perhaps he felt this agony when he started to lose his mom.
When he lost me.
My brain spasms as I inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Gradually, the pain fades enough for me to straighten and move forward with him.
Jules remains close to my side, watching me carefully. “I’m sorry you’re going through this. I wish there was an easier way for you to remember.”
“Me, too. I wish I could just remember everything all at once and get it over with.” I rest my head on his shoulder, suddenly too exhausted to hold my head up.
“It’s better that your memories come back slowly. Too much too soon could make you sick.”
Perhaps. That doesn’t mean the clock isn’t ticking.
“Have you talked to Philip at all?”
He shakes his head, resting his cheek against the top of my head. “Not yet. I want to give you some time to remember.”
“And what if …? What if I can’t remember that part of my past?”
“Then we’ll find another way to solve your parents’ murders.” His response is so automatic, so easy, putting my needs first.
That’s how he always seems to me. I just wish I knew for sure.
Wish I could get over my issues and wholly open up to him.
* * *
The ride back through the field isn’t the same experience as when I entered. For starters, Jules has fewer guards with him, and Liberty and Kylan are with us. The biggest difference is when the whispering dream daisies’ petals bloom up to shower sleepy glitter into the air. This time, sleepy slumber doesn’t overcome me. Instead, the glitter simply blankets my body and whispers soothing magic into my senses. Knowing my alertness won’t go unnoticed, I pretend to sleep. Even when the sleigh glides to a stop, I keep my eyelids shut.
“I know you’re awake,” Jules whispers in my ear as he scoops me up into my arms. “But I think it’s a good idea that you pretend to stay asleep until we reach my house. That way, we don’t have to answer questions.”
I nod once, then get comfortable in his arms as he carries me somewhere. Light chatter builds amongst the wolves and the buzzing of the city hums in the background.
“The thorns are spreading,” Liberty notes. “Have you seen that they’re reaching the edge of the vampire territory?”
“I noticed that when I went home,” Legend replies. He had once told me that the magic of the whispering dream daisies doesn’t put him to sleep for very long, only working as the glitter falls. I wonder if he realizes I’m fake sleeping. “The Eternals are starting to get worried. They want to start searching for whoever polluted the lands and find a cure.”
Jules gently strokes the small of my back. “Do they have any ideas of what could cure the vine?”
“No, they’re as clueless as every other creature out there,” Legend answers. “But if they start searching for a cure, more than likely, innocent creatures will die … You know how the Eternals work.”
“Kill anything and everything until you find an answer, right?” Kylan’s bitter tone startles me.
Clearly, he has issues with the Eternals, but why? He’s not a vampire, so he doesn’t have to obey them like Legend does.
“You seem to know the Eternals well,” Legend comments. “Have you met one before?”
“A few, actually.” Kylan doesn’t embellish, and Legend doesn’t press.
“The poison is starting to affect more creatures,” Liberty says fiercely. “Did you hear about the group of wolf cubs from the Shadow Thornwall pack who were thrown into the vines? The cubs were in there for a long time, too, so the effects of the poison were twice as bad. The wolves are just shadows now, unable to move … like Mom. I hate that Father keeps her locked in that room, as if not seeing her makes it all better.”
Tears burn underneath my eyelids. Their mom is just an unmoving shadow? Their father has her locked up?
“Who threw the wolves into the vines?” Jules asks quietly, his grip on me securing.
