Her eyes narrowed on him, but she lightened her hold on the dagger ever so slightly. “Why do you even care?”
This time, Killian did huff a laugh. “Because I love you, you idiot. And I’m never going to stop trying to reunite you with your soul—ever.”
His heart exploded at his words, as if he’d been keeping his feelings squirreled away, and now they were liberated in the most painful way. He loved her. He loved her, and she hated him, and the thought made him want to die. But it also made him want to live, and fight, and hope.
Elyse looked as though she might vomit, which would be unfortunate considering Killian was in her trajectory. He held his breath and waited for her response.
“After tonight, I won’t need you anymore,” she began very slowly, her anger enunciated in each word. “I don’t want my soul back, and I don’t need it. I’m better off without it. If you bring up my soul again, if I find you planning anything, I will destroy everyone you love.”
“Not everyone,” he said, staring into her dark eyes.
Elyse made a growling sound before leaping off him and sheathing her dagger. “We’re done here,” she stated. “I intend to keep that promise. The rest is up to you.”
Killian touched a hand to the wound at his neck. He sat up and watched as Elyse stalked off toward the forest. “Where are you going?” he called after her.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she waved her hand and disappeared into nothingness.
16
Killian
Elyse didn’t return until after dinner. She stormed through the front door of the clinic and headed straight for the stairs, a fresh pair of boots stomping on each step. “We’re leaving in ten minutes,” she called down as she went.
Killian, who had been sitting in the main room with Sera and Manny, raised a brow but said nothing.
Nine minutes later, everyone had gathered in the main room. Hugs and well-wishes were exchanged all around, except for Elyse, who leaned against the stairs with her arms crossed. She pretended not to watch, but Killian caught her sneering at them.
“Your face will get stuck like that if you don’t stop,” Killian muttered to her after saying his goodbyes.
Elyse responded with an exaggerated glare.
He knew he was testing the limits of her anger, but he didn’t care. He’d been restless all day, riled up by their argument. He’dpaced throughout the clinic—much to Privya’s frustration—as he replayed it all in his mind. It wasn’t just Elyse he was angry at. He was still perturbed by Sera and Manny acting as if they were helpless to find Elyse’s soul. And he was mad at himself for acting so… pathetic.
Because I love you, you idiot. He cringed to think of the words he’d spat at her. What would his mother say? She’d probably smack him in the head with a wooden spoon before laughing at him.
There was no reason to tell her that he loved her. She was incapable of loving him back. And beside that, the woman that he had actually loved was long gone.
When he wasn’t pacing, he was catching up the others on what had happened the night before. He told them everything Lazarus had said, including how he had called Elyse his daughter. But the part they’d discussed the longest was Lazarus’s mention of a “grand show.”
“What do you think he means?” Manny had asked.
“Maybe he’ll attack the palace in Sevhella,” Sera had suggested.
The others threw out their own opinions. Each suggestion was a viable option, but none of them seemed monumental enough for whatever Lazarus had planned.
Killian was eager to ask Elyse her opinion on it but had a feeling their alliance didn’t extend that far.
When Manny and Sera had finished saying their goodbyes to the others, they grasped hands. Killian clutched Manny’s wrist and held his free hand out to Elyse. She finally pushed herself away from the wall and let Killian grasp her tunic.
Before Elyse magicked them away, Killian took one last look at Privya. Instead of finding her face calm and observant as it usually was, he sensed pain. Elyse hadn’t said goodbye to any of them. Not one word, not even a glance. He saw his own despair mirrored in Privya’s features. It made his stomach lurch.
But then she was gone, as were Corin and Nina, and his stomach was lurching for a different reason. A second later, the brick buildings of Sevhella surrounded them.
“Well,” Manny said. “I guess this is where we part ways.”
Killian looked down the street and noted they were in the market district. His and Elyse’s destination was only a block away, but Manny and Sera would be heading northwest to the palace. Manny was due to give King Maelor an update on their progress, or lack thereof, tracking down Lazarus.
“Say hi to my mum for me,” Killian said to Sera. She would stay within the safety of the palace while Manny met with the king.
