Elvenkind didn’t succumb to human diseases like heart failure, but as we had just witnessed, our bodies could certainly be affected by witches’ spells.
And Caitriona had mentioned his failure to fulfil her bargain.
Had she tied his life to her own, intending to take him down with her when she died?
Stellon didn’t lose consciousness though. He just sat on the ground, looking around and blinking while rubbing his chest.
“What is it? Are you in pain?” Raewyn asked, kneeling to place a hand on his bent knee.
“Not now, but a moment ago it was excruciating,” he said. “It felt as if a plant with roots wrapped around and through my heart was ripped from my chest, all at once. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“But you’re okay now?” she asked.
He nodded and just looked at her. The perusal went on and on to the point I began shifting from foot to foot, a trickle of annoyance leaking into my veins.
My brother and I had tabled the Raewyn issue until after Turi was rescued and the witches had been dealt with, but those things were both behind us now.
My fists clenched as he reached out and stroked her hair, his expression full of wonderment.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said. “But… I’m free.”
He retracted his hand to rub his chest, his tone continuing to rise as he said the last words I’d expected to hear from him.
“I feel so different. I still care for you, but I don’t think… no I’m sure of it. I’m not in love with you. I think it was a spell after all.”
Raewyn nodded, her voice growing more animated. “Caitriona was the Earthwife who helped Sorcha change my appearance for the ball. They must have worked together to cast the love spell. It didn’t lift when Sorcha died, but once Caitriona was gone as well, so was the spell.”
My heart leapt. Was it possible I could have the woman I loved and keep my brother as well?
My own feelings about Raewyn were still every bit as strong, if not stronger.
She hugged Stellon then rose and ran to me. I swept her up in my arms, inhaling the sweet scent of her skin beneath the woodsmoke.
“It’s over,” she said.
I shook my head and gave her a smile. “You mean it’s just beginning.”
“Yes.” She nodded against my cheek. “Yes.”
Glancing over at Caitriona’s smoking corpse, she asked, “Does that mean that final curse died with her as well? She cast it with the help of these Earthwives, and they’re all dead.”
“I hope so,” I said. “But I’m afraid it might be the exact opposite. Her last words were that it was ‘worth the sacrifice.’ I think what we witnessed was a group sacrifice tosealthe spell. And I have a feeling that fiery column was connecting them to the power of their sisters in other regions.”
“So they’re all dead? Everywhere?” Stellon asked.
“I don’t think so. The fire changed directions and rained down on the ones gatheredhere. I suspect there are still plenty of Earthwives left, spread throughout the world. It could be that as long as one is alive, the curse will remain,” I said.
“Maybe she was lying, like you said,” Raewyn suggested.
“Maybe.” I leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Only time will tell. But there’s one thing I’m sure of.”
She smiled. “What’s that?”
“Time will never change the fact that I love you.”
I shifted to internal conversation so there could be no doubt.
I will always love you, just as I have from the first night we met,I said.And as soon as we get out of this stinking field and clean up a bit, I’ll tell you the full story of that night.
