Page 51 of Where We Belong

I gesture for her to continue. “The poison. It’s so potent I doubt an ordinary fae could even handle some of these ingredients, let alone create it. It reeks of Vale’s skill set, yet he is gone. I saw his body myself.” Something akin to sadness shadows her face as she continues. “There is an unidentifiable toxin laced through it that is only harmful to royal blood. That is what resists us and fights through the intent. Now, I know Cursewater should be impossible to bypass, and yet…” She hesitates, clearing her throat. “With all due respect to your lieutenant, we were in the same Elixirs class at Mordain. He couldn’t have concocted this.”

“Right.”

“I…I know about the bond. That you kissed her.” Heat flares in my chest but I tame it, reigning it in. “The day I brought the Princess to meet King Aeron for the first time, I saw wisps of black smoke spill from her back when she reacted to the palace wards. I questioned Leander, who told me I was wrong, but I know what I saw. You don’t have to say anything, I just need you to know you can trust me. We’re on the same side.”

She straightens, her voice returning to its normal tone. “All done, Captain. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Anka has not shown herself to be untrustworthy yet, so I store that problem for a later date. What gnaws at me is that I fucking knew it. There is no doubt in my mind that Nyk is innocent, but Aiden is also terrible at Elixirs, so now what? He could have commissioned someone to do it on his behalf, but then so could Nyk. Fire burns in my chest as Ashley lets out a small sigh. Whoever it is will pay with blood, brother or not.

Chapter 48

Aiden

so now in my fullness I had to pour out,

and heal, and teach, and wait.

According to Anka, she will wake today. I see how much it weighs on Eira, so I am hopeful that she does. In less than three months, she and Agni have formed a bond unlike any I have seen Eira experience. She had always been somewhere in the middle, neither popular nor unpopular in school. Her parents are not members of the Court who stand out in any significant way. Now, watching her struggle is heartbreaking. I want to fix it for her, to take the burden off her shoulders, comfort her.

But the assassination attempt has unsettled me more than I would like to admit. That there now exists a liquid capable of ending us, it changes everything. Accusations fall naturally upon Obsidian and Ember. It is predictable. They would, after all, gain much from her death. But I cannot shake the sense that this was not their doing. For all their ferocity and ambition, their leaders are not careless. Ruthless, yes. Power hungry, certainly. But not reckless. Their refusal to accept Cursewater remains frustrating, though not without reason. If I were in their position, I might do the same. I am sure they want to conceal the truth of the treaty terms they insisted on, the false prophecies that are upheld and the hidden mines. Despite this, I do not regret my decision. Peace. The bonding ceremony could have turned into a bloodbath, what with all the accusations being hurled around. Thankfully, the treaty is signed.

The room is silent save for the steady ticking of the clock when Tobian enters freshly returned from leave — visiting his parents in Cinder Cliffs and attending the Sending of his niece who was taken by the Mer but a fortnight ago. They recovered enough of her for the rites. His bright blonde hair has grown out a little, now falling in a loose sweep across his forehead.

“I trust you’re all holding up well,” he says, bowing to the room. “Your presence is required in the war room, my King.”

Uncle casts one last solemn glance at Agni before bidding us goodnight. Eira exhales as the door closes behind him. “What do you think is taking so long?” She hisses, sliding her chair closer to mine. The sound grates on me and she apologises. She is so close our knees are almost touching.

“I am unsure,” I say, determined to ignore the charge I feel from her nearness. “But I am glad you have finally found someone to care for, well, someone else.” I force a smile, hoping it hides my turmoil. Not likely. Her brows furrow as she tilts her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” I lean back, crossing my ankles and arms, regretting my choice of words. I attempt to steer the conversation before it escapes me. “I like seeing you happy.”

“Right,” she says, her tone flat. “So, we’re having this out then.”

“Having what out? It is not meant unkindly. I am merely saying I have not seen you with friends in a while, aside from Rhory and Me. Or Nykholas, of course. You are always working.”

“I have no choice but to work,” she snaps. “I’d love to have more friends, get out of the palace, but the King had other plans for my life.”

“Now what is that supposed to mean?” I ask, my neck suddenly very itchy. I study her face, trying to figure out what she is holding back, but I need to lean closer.

“Exactly what I said.” She stands abruptly, pushing her chair back to the far side of the room with a loud, unapologetic scrape. “Poor Eira with no friends. Some of us aren’t royalty. Some of us must jump when the King tells us to. Make swords and bracelets at the drop of a hat. God forbid I should find someone in the palace that gives me a little fire back in my bones.”

“Who are we—”

“Oh, stop it. You know what you’re doing, and you know who you’re really talking about,” she interrupts, letting out a frustrated growl. “No, I can’t do this.”

“Your reaction feels disproportionate.” I keep my voice even, but my leg starts to bounce. The pressure in my chest making it hard to stay still.

“Just stop it. Stop flirting. Stop dancing with me and giving me flowers. Stop glaring at Nyk like you’re about to tear him apart.”

“Why?” I demand, venom spilling onto my words. “You are sleeping with him and parading it around in front of me. Do you remember what happened last time you did that?”

Her eyes widen, lighting up with fury, before they brim with tears. Flashes of my blood-stained hands sear through my brain. “I’m not parading it! What am I supposed to do, Aiden? Be alone? I can’t be chained to you, to whatever this is, forever.”

Heat rushes down my neck as I straighten my jacket and I press my anger down into the deepest part of my chest and lock it in its prison. But today it will not stay contained.

“Well, I am not going to sit back and watch this any longer. I—”

“You made a vow!” She points a trembling finger at me, tears streaking her cheeks. “You did. Not me. You vowed to cut me off. To throw me and our bond away.”