Page 85 of Only Flames Remain

That I would suffer with this never-ending curse for the remainder of my days, however long that may be. I never expected that a day would come where it would be cured.

She was a human.

She was in love with Kallias fucking Ashbourne for gods’ sake.

This wasn’t a dream come true…it was a nightmare.

Did she feel it, too? Or did humans not feel the bond the same way fae did?

The blood drained from my face when I realized it had been days since I had ingested a single drop of blood. I needed to find a feeder, and I needed to find one fast.

I turned back up the staircase, taking the stairs two at a time to reach the top. I needed to see her. I needed to set this straight…somehow.

Enora caught up with me and grabbed my arm, turning me back toward her.

“What are you going to do?” she asked, breathless from chasing me.

“I need to see her.”

“And do what? She doesn’t know any of this.” Enora’s voice was stern. “You cannot simply thrust this upon her. You will scare her.”

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, raking a hand through my hair, voice rising once more. “It can’t be true. You are wrong. Noor is wrong. Azhar is wrong.” I shook my head, covering my face with my hands.

The truth was—I didn’t deserve it.

I didn’t deserve to find my mate. And what a cruel twist of fate that when I finally did…she was already in love with somebody else. Mates could easily be rejected, and I feared that more than anything.

Then, I truly would be cursed to travel this realm injured and alone.

Enora grasped my fingers and pulled them away from my face, her expression severe as she held my gaze. “Believe it or not, it’s true. You were cursed with a wound that wouldn’t heal until you found your fated. What you do with this information is your choice, but she is my best friend. I will protect her at all costs.”

“You think I would hurt her?” A silence fell between us as Enora’s mind worked behind her gaze. I continued, “she already tried to poison me once, and I haven’t hurt her. I wouldn’t.”

Enora remained silent.

“Gods above, Enora. I don’t know what to do.”

She finally spoke. “Then do nothing. Heed my advice and wait.”

“Wait for what? For her to kill me and return to Myros to be with Kallias?” I could hear steps on the staircase beyond the corridor and I lowered my voice. “I haven’t punished her. I’ve already decided I won’t. But this changes things. Changes everything.”

“I know.” Enora swallowed. “I will tell her, if you’d like.”

I shook my head. “It should come from me, I think. Unless she already knows…though she has betrayed nothing to that effect in our time at Stormgaard.”

“Do nothing for now, and we will discuss this again after tonight’s festivities. Are we agreed?” she asked, taking a tentative step toward the staircase that would lead her up toward the dormitories.

Toward Aveline.

I wasn’t sure what other choice I had. I ran another hand down my face to mask my expression, thoughts swirling wildly in my head.

“Agreed.”

At that Enora cast me a sympathetic half-smile before disappearing around the corner.

I wasn’t sure where to go first. I needed to talk to Azhar. I needed to talk to Noor.

I needed to be alone.