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“We can ask, not order. Later. I’m sure she’s with Yu now…”
He trailed off when he glimpsed a figure out of the corner of his eye, flying in a frenzy. The pixie would have slammed against his head if he hadn’t sidestepped. He reached out to pluck the guy’s wings when Yu was about to hit a tree, gently redirecting him.
“Yu, what are you doing here? What—”
“Em. Help.”
Fear coated Yu’s tone. It fed Rick’s enough that he didn’t bother to ask questions, already running until Yu was leading the way. Erin followed behind them, a frown marring her lips. She gasped when they reached a clearing, but he barely heard her as he took in the cracked icy pond and destroyed tree barks.
Traces of blood led out of the clearing, along with footprints. He quickened his pace, leaving the two behind and feeling sick to his stomach when the blood drops grew thicker and the tracks became sluggish. Then up ahead was the shoreline, which their court avoided as too many creatures liked to portal in and out of the ocean.
“Not our territory,” Erin warned. “Rick, it’s not safe—”
The scream cut her off. Then power surged, so insanely strong that it made him stumble. There was another scream, then more power until it felt like they were clashing. The sounds died as fast as they came, and Rick was greeted with silence when he pushed out of their territory toward the sand. Blood gleamed on every inch he could glimpse and dark holes petered into the ocean. A figure emerged, dragging another. His heart stopped as recognition flared, and soon he was running again.
Blood coated Emerald’s shoulders, her legs, and her arms. Her dress was torn in various places, the dark patches indicating they had been burned. She dropped the cloaked man in her arms, whose lips were gray but whose forehead was bleeding.
“I’m sorry. I tried to catch him, but he tried to kill me. I tried to keep my magic in check, but he kept attacking. He’s half-Fae. Half-warlock. Not from this court.” She trembled. “I burned his heart. I’ve never done it before. I didn’t mean to…”
“Shut up,” Rick growled, unable to stand hearing the guilt in her voice. “Don’t say another word. Don’t…”
She crumpled to her feet before he could catch her, but Yu caught her head before it could slam on the sand. Then he was taking over, hefting her in his arms and looking around wildly.
“Castle. Healers—”
Erin blocked his path. “Graveyard first.”
Like a curtain parting in his muddled, terrified mind, he got what she was saying and nodded. Then he was sprinting as fast as he could, faster than he ever had in his life with Yu in tow. He reached the graveyard in no time, where he knelt with her. She was still breathing, but it was harsh and riddled with pain.
“Hello, Mom and Dad…Your Highnesses. I brought another outsider and she needs your help. Please. Please help her. She can’t die. She needs the help now.”
It took every ounce of his being to let Emerald go, especially when he wanted to keep holding her. He stepped back, body rigid with tension, and forcibly restrained himself from jumping forward at every whimper she made. There was no activity at first, the seconds ticking by with agony and his mind going crazed with it. Then the ground whispered with energy, thin and taking its time, wisping around her, then retreating.
“Her magic’s good. She won’t hurt you,” he added when the graveyard’s energy grew cautious. “Please.”
Silence. Then the energy touched her, light at first before building up. When the glow appeared, Emerald was consumed by it, and the sight nearly blinded him. Yu turned away, but Rick kept his gaze steady, even when the glow blocked him from seeing what was happening. After a while, he sensed another presence and saw Erin kneeling beside him.
“Hello, Father. Mother.” She glanced at him. “Billicent and his men are on the scene. They will secure the man.”
Rick nodded, not interested at first until one question bugged his mind. “Dead?”
“Dead.”
“Good.”
She hesitated. “Not that good. We could have questioned him alive—”
“No, you wouldn’t. I would have killed him first.”
Erin shut her mouth, not bothering to argue as she shifted her focus to the glow. They watched in silence while the pixie grew restless.
“How long?” Yu asked.
“I don’t know,” Erin replied.
“Too long. Not working?”
“I don’t know.”
