“Oh, I do yeah,” said Felix. “Very much so.”
“Then why drag me back to Fallowmoor?”
The last thing Felix wanted was to admit they needed him, so he simply said, “This isyourresponsibility. Not mine.”
August was silent for a long moment, eyes distant like he was puzzling something out.
“I’m not going back to my mother,” he said. “I have no interest in being aesveran.”
Felix snorted a laugh as he plucked a blade of grass. “Believe me, nobody would benefit fromyouruling.”
August’s gaze cut to the side, and he tilted his head, as if listening to something nobody else could hear, and it sent a shiver down Felix’s spine.
Anchored.
“What are they saying?”
August’s lip curled. “They say you’re a pompous, pig-headedtaesanwith—”
The sentence cut off with a groan, his face twisting in pain before he dropped to his knees and folded in on himself.
Felix studied him curiously.
After a long stretch, August finally sat back on the ground and pulled in a shaky breath. He drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his bound hands around them.
“What’s the story, Aesling? What was all that about?”
“Your presence makes me physically ill,” August mumbled, but his voice was heavy with exhaustion, and the insult was devoid of heat.
He really was sick. No wonder he was seeking help.
Something caught in Felix’s chest, and he chided himself for the weakness. “There’s a tear in the veil,” he said. “And it’s spreading. We’re keeping you alive to close it. Don’t mistake it for kindness.”
August looked up, dark eyes narrowing. “What?”
“You asked why we’re going to Fallowmoor. Why I don’t just kill you now. That’s why.”
A dozen different emotions crossed August’s face before it hardened into a frown. He glanced to the side again, searching the shadows.
After a long stretch of silence, Felix secured his prosthetic, tightening the straps before standing.
“We should keep moving.”
The sun finally peeked over the horizon as they came to the edge of the forest, meeting up with the wide road that stretched between Atheran’s largest cities. A small hamlet sat in the distance, nestled among the sprawling, hilled farmland, the scenery painted the bright green of early spring. A dirt path veered off from the main road, and Felix slowed his steps.
“Still got a long way to go,” he said, eyeing the houses. “We could stock up on food, find a water pump for a drink.”
“Don’t have much money on me,” Marlow answered. “They’re not gonna offer us anything out of the kindness of their hearts.”
“I wasn’t planning on asking. Looks like everyone’s still sleeping. We can grab what we need and get out.”
The windows were still dark when they reached the first house. Felix stopped just outside, listening for any movement.
When he was satisfied with the silence, he said, “Be right back.”
“I’ll go,” Marlow said, then sent a pointed look in August’s direction. “You watch him.”
Felix would rather not be the one sitting around out here, but it was the obvious smart choice. If August tried to escape, Felix only needed to be within sight to stop him.
