It had never occurred to me what became of any offspring between the fae and humans. If I’d given it any thought, I would have assumed the fae ate their half-human children. At least that assumption has been proven wrong. “Are any of the previous Chosen still alive in the other courts?”
She shakes her head. “I’m the last. No—I suppose there are two of us now. Three of us? Where is your sister?”
I can’t bring myself to talk about Amelie, even though Doris might be the one person who could understand. “She isn’t here,” I say, then take a sip of my tea.
“I see.” I’m not sure if I imagine it, but she seems to shoot me a knowing look. She then reaches across the table and gives my hand a squeeze. “Persevere, Miss Fairfield. If I can do it, so can you.”
I look into her worn eyes, her empty expression, the lips that can barely form a smile. A morbid thought crosses my mind.If this is what perseverance looks like…perhaps Amelie was the lucky one.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ican’t shake my meeting with Doris, even long after she leaves. I’d always imagined the Chosen were unhappy with their predicaments—miserable, even—but seeing the evidence before me is more than I can handle. And hearing how she and her cousin were treated by their husbands…how did my people never hear of this?
My mood sours further when I open the bedroom door and find Aspen waiting inside, pouring a glass of wine from the bedside table.
“Come to steal your room back?”
He ignores me. “Did you enjoy your guest?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You mean, did I enjoy that glimpse into my future? Did you arrange our meeting as some sort of threat?”
He sips his wine, not looking at me. “I thought you might be lonely for human company.”
“So you sent me an abused old woman?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes. “Ungrateful human.”
“Have all the Chosen been treated so poorly? Used as breeding stock? Neglected until they died of loneliness?”
He sets down his glass and storms over to me. “I didn’t wait here the past hour so you could return and gripe about Doris Mason. I came to tell you I’m leaving.”
“Leaving?”
“I have to deal with a skirmish near the wall. Cobalt will be coming too, along with some of my guards and soldiers. That leaves you in charge of the palace. Try not to burn it down.” He turns to leave.
I’m flummoxed as I process his words. “Wait,” I call after him before he reaches the door. “What’s the skirmish about? And how long will you be gone?”
He considers me a while before answering. His posture relaxes. “It’s the Holstrom father. He wants my blood. I’ll likely be gone no longer than three days.”
I want to make a cutting retort, to tell him three days is far too short. But there’s a fatigue in Aspen’s bearing that I hadn’t noticed until now, making me hold my tongue.
Aspen continues. “Mr. Holstrom won’t leave the wall until I face him in person. His recklessness is putting both humans and fae alike in danger. So I’ll go put an end to this stupidity.”
“What are you going to do to him?”
He shrugs. “Give him what he wants.”
I raise a brow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’ll offer him a bargain. Let him choose his weapon and draw blood from me in any way he likes without fear of reproach. Then we will call a truce and return to our lands.”
“You’re going tolethim attack you?”
“Just once. If he continues to fight me after he draws blood, the truce is off.”
It seems like an odd way to settle a dispute. Then again, it makes sense for the fae. Of course they would end conflict with a bargain. But will it be enough for Mr. Holstrom? Would the blood of an immortal king be enough to compensate for losing two daughters?It will if it kills Aspen.
He seems to read my mind, lips pulling into a smirk. “Perhaps you’ll get your dearest wish and the Holstrom father will deal me a fatal blow.”
