The queen looks puzzled, and he touches the cage with one hand, while spearing the queen with the trident. Blood oozes from her chest, making the water around her pink. Meanwhile, my cage vibrates as if resisting something as the king emits a pained scream that sounds like “Go. I’ll be fine.” The guards and the prince advance on him.
In less than a second, Azur grabs my hand through the bars, and then we land on a beach with fluffy sand and angry waves crashing under the stars.
He saved me. And I don’t know what happened in the Sea Court.
Azur holds me close. “I got you.”
I craved his touch for so long that I want to melt in his embrace as I feel his heart beating in his chest, his hands holding me.
At the same time, I’m still shocked, horrified. “We’re too close to the ocean,” I mumble, fearing that the queen or her son will come after us.
“True. Where do you want to go? The island’s no longer safe.”
“I know. But my things are on the island. I don’t think the Sea Court will come by right now. If they fly, it takes them some time.”
He nods, and we emerge on the river bank, from where he floats us to the island, all the time holding me close.
There are no lights waiting for us, no voices. Only silence.
“They still haven’t returned,” I say.
He rests his forehead on mine. “I’m no longer bound to the Witch King. When I transcend, I don’t feel his pull anymore.”
Amidst all my confusion and shock, a spark of joy emerges. “You think they killed him?”
A corner of his lips lifts. “It’s what it seems.”
I chuckle with so much relief. “And you’re no longer afraid to touch me?”
He shakes his head. “Seawater can undo the magic poisoning, and either way, now we both have it.”
“Is that why… You disappeared?” I step away from him, all my previous annoyance back in full force. “Not even a goodbye. Not even a warning.”
“I panicked. I saw your hands, and I…” He swallows.
“You need better manners.”
“Teach me.”
“No!” I frown. “Get a book or something, if common sense fails you. I’m not your mother.” I realize then that it might have been an insensitive thing to say, considering she died when hewas little. “I’m sorry. I… also grew up away from my parents. I know how much it hurts.”
He pulls my hand and kisses it. “It’s fine. You’re right. I should have told you where I went. I…” He blinks and takes a deep breath. “Wasn’t even sure my idea made any sense. Didn’t want to raise any false hope.”
“You went to the Sea Court?”
He nods. “To find the Sea King.”
“How did you know?” I still cannot comprehend all this new information, cannot come to terms with it.
“That day, on the boat. All that attention from the prince, all that anger, it wasn’t normal. And the king protected you. He noticed you and didn’t say anything. It’s why I went there, hoping he’d lend me the Pearl of Healing, but he said seawater would be enough to stop the magical poisoning.”
I chuckle in disbelief. “Something so simple.” My laughter then dies as I consider what I saw. “Is it really true? That woman killed my mother? The king’s my father? I don’t know if he survived the guards.”
Azur wraps his arms around me again. “He sounded confident, said he didn’t need guards. And he has strong magic.” He pauses. “It seems that the queen killed your mother, yes, and poisoned your brother. She’s not aware Ferer survived. Your mother hid him well.”
There’s so much anger stirring in my chest, anger that comes out as a tear in my eye. “All for a stupid throne. I don’t think my mother even cared for it.Idon’t care for it.”
“You can’t change who you are. Or change your past.”
