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“How fast do you heal?”
Another moan.No!She couldn’t lose him.
A bright light illuminated the road. Coming from the direction of Broadstone Hall, there was the possibility it was someone coming to help. But she didn’t hear horses, and the light didn’t seem to be coming from a lantern, because the color wasn’t right. It was pinkish more than golden. Phillipa sat up and reached for the gun.
“Oh! Phillipa, what are you doing out here? Am I ever glad to see you!” Ainslee exclaimed. “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find you in time, and how I’d get you away from your mother…wait, why you are away from your mother, and what happened to that awful wolven?”
“I’ll tell you as soon as I can. Do you have any magic that will save him?”
Ainslee’s light dimmed. “You wantmeto savehim?”
“Please. He was shot and fell out of the carriage. The bullets were lead, but I’m worried that he might have broken some bones.” Phillipa cradled his head in her hands and looked up at the fae. “He was talking, but then he stopped. I’m worried that animals could find us. Or infection could set into a broken bone.”
Ainslee landed softly on the wolven, looking tinier than ever in comparison. “I wonder how many times he thought of how he left the fae after he drained him of their magic.” Her color had darkened since she had landed. “If he ever tried to save any of them.”
Phillipa closed her eyes in frustration. “I understand why you would not want to help him. But he’s not who you think he is.”
“He’s the Wolven King, yes? The woodland terror?”
“He’s Wesley.”
“My lady, have you gone mad?” Ainslee was dimming by the moment.
Phillipa lifted the fae off Wesley’s body, even more troubled when some of her glow immediately returned. “It seems to be a popular opinion lately that I have. I did not believe him either when he first made the claim, but who else at that party came to my rescue?”
“I did.”
“Because you’re my best friend, who’s been with me through thick and thin. No matter who he is, he needs help. He seems sorry that he hurt the fae, that he did not realize what he was doing until it was too late. But you have a chance to save him. Please, before it is too late for him as well.”
Ainslee peered into a small velvet sack that she had hooked over her shoulder. “I packed quite hastily, and I’m not sure I brought anything with me that would numb the pain of a giant, awful beast. How on earth did your Wesley wind up like this?”
“That’s not important right now—”
“Virus.” His voice was getting stronger, and Phillipa was lightheaded with relief. But just because Wesley was regaining strength didn’t mean this was any time for her to lose hers. She had to get everyone—Ainslee included, whose color fluctuations were quite concerning—back to Broadstone Hall in one piece.
“Family,” he added.
“The Queen’s Curse,” Ainslee said softly. “That makes sense.”
“What do you mean? The Queen cursed him? This is terrible news! Even if my mother falsified those documents, Wesley is already damned.” She shook her head and put her hand against his cheek. She would swear he smiled. “Maybe bringing him back to the Ball isn’t our best course of action.”
“It would serve him right if Her Majesty did banish him, but that’s not what I’m talking about. The virus is also known asmonstrum plaga. It originated in the time of Queen Elizabeth, hence the name. The affliction can be quite cruel.” Ainslee sighed and leaned forward to place an amethyst on the wolven’s forehead. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. If this crystal works, you owe an immeasurable debt to the fae, wolven.”
“This is not the time to threaten him.” Phillipa barely dared to breathe. How many times had Ainslee’s crystals lifted her mood when she simply couldn’t bear to go on? The fae had gotten her to the Ball, but her magic wasn’t infallible.
Wesley’s eyes opened, and Phillipa and Ainslee gasped in unison.
He sat up, kissed Phillipa on the head, and then he put his big hand out to Ainslee. Phillipa nodded to her, and she cautiously stepped onto his finger. “I do owe a debt, fae, and I intend to pay in full. But first, we must get back to the Ball and stand before the Queen.”
ChapterEighteen
Wesley
The little fae’s magic was the most delectable he’d ever tasted. The amethyst had been placed on his forehead, but the power had flowed through his veins, leaving a berry lavender taste on his tongue. Like he was deep in the forest.
All beast.
“Now may I tell him what a despicable wolven he is?” The little fae still stood on his finger, arms crossed in front of her, wings on point, and a scowl on her face.
