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I didn’t expect Aodin to show up again, but he did with his staff also in tow. He didn’t even waste time flirting and just beelined to where he’d left off the other day and started searching.
What if palace life could always be like this? People genuinely wanting to help each other for the better good? It certainly seemed like a better set-up than now.
Hours went by. My eyes were burning dry, my neck throbbed, and my back was begging me to go lay down, but I pressed on. I was bolstered by those around me, and I didn’t want to waste their efforts by failing yet again.
It was when I was really flagging that one of the workers ran over, a large, leather-bound book in their hands.
“Healer Everton, I think I found something.”
It was the first time one of them had directly addressed me, so I hoped their intuition was indeed right.
I took the tome with slightly shaking hands and set it in my lap. It took a while for my tired eyes to focus on the words, but eventually, they came into view, detailing a foul curse.
It was a darker type of magic, yet I could see traces of benevolence laced through the words, making it much harder to decipher without already knowing the energy. The spell required tying the curse to the earth’s energy, exploiting itsnatural and ever-present urge to grow. After all, that was what all plants wanted, to flourish and spread their seed into the next generation, hoping no drought or other malady would destroy it before it could…
Wait.
Wait!
That was it.
“Aodin!” I cried, leaping to my feet so fast it made me dizzy. But Darla caught my arm, steadying me.
“Yes, Healer Everton? Are you all right?”
“I need you to fetch Prince Nikolai and tell him to get to the infirmary,” I said, already tucking the book under my arm and, given my condition, rushing toward the door as fast as I could. I heard the fae sputter behind me, and though I’d have loved to see his expression, I didn’t have the time.
Every second was precious.
“Ayla, are you sure you can do this right now?” Darla asked, having the good sense to wait until we were outside of the library before expressing her doubts.
“We don’t have a choice,” I said sharply. Besides, as we walked, I felt more energy coming back to me. Not enough for me to fully straighten up or even feel all right, but it was better than the absolute zero I’d started with.
Darla didn’t press further, and we made it to the infirmary just as Kai did, the prince naturally being much faster than the either of us, considering he could truly run.
“What’s going on?”
“I’ve figured it out,” I said with all the determination left in me. I had to believe I could do it. One of the tricks in magic, or at least my own, was it wouldn’t work unless I believed in myself. Otherwise, my own doubts weaved their way into my tone, my words, my energy, until the spell ultimately failed.
Kai’s eyes went wide. “You know how to save Mad Dog?”
He believed me just like that. Why did this make me want to burst into tears?
“I do, but I need you as well.” I gave him the most honest expression possible, hoping he’d know every ounce of what I felt for him. Gone was all the denial, all the shielding I held up to protect myself and those around me. There was only the affection, the appreciation, the devotion I felt for the fated mate I never thought I’d truly have. “It’s going to hurt.”
He reached out and took my hand, clearly not caring who saw. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”
Whatever I needed.
An impossible promise, and too much to ask for, yet there he was, offering. A prince of the nation, an alpha, acaptain, yet he was willing to follow my lead completely. Even after I failed the last time. Even after I’d hurt him.
A thousand years could pass, and I didn’t think I could ever be as good of a partner as Kai, but dammit, I was going to try.
Assuming my curse didn’t kill us all first.
Together, the three of us marched into the infirmary, taking the now familiar trek to Mad Dog’s little containment area. Sure enough, he was there in the bed, more gray than human-colored, an aura of death all around him.
“Healer Everton,” one of the staff said, and I recognized the voice as the one who’d shoved a needle into my arm. To her credit, she didn’t look intimidated to see me, just concerned. “I’m surprised to see you so—”
