“Why are we stopping in Haverglen?” August asked.
Felix rubbed his temple. “Stop talking. I’m trying to think, and your voice is wearing on my nerves.”
“Hopefully, you’re thinking about where we’re going to eat. I have had nothing since yesterday.”
“Shut. Up.”
August shifted again. His mouth turned down at the edges as he sat forward. “Can you at least untie my hands?”
“So you can escape through the veil?”
“I won’t.”
“No, you won’t. Because I’m not untying your hands.”
“How do you know this will even stop me? Maybe I’ll just open it right here and take you both with me.”
“Go ahead.”
Marlow’s jaw tightened. Felix had assured her that keeping his hands bound would be enough. Was he actually sure, or was he bluffing? Sometimes she couldn’t tell.
With a huff, August sank back in his seat. Felix gave her his ‘I told you so’ look.
She was grateful when they both stayed quiet. She tipped her head back, letting her thoughts drift again.
It didn’t last long.
August broke the silence with a groan. “How much longer?”
“Gods,” Felix growled. He turned to Marlow, his face twisted with irritation. “Do you have enough energy for healing?”
She’d gotten in a few hours of sleep, and when she felt for her magic, it responded. “Yeah, I guess. Why?”
He drew his gun and fired, the loud noise startling the horses, and August toppled forward onto the floor, uttering a string of words she never expected a royal to know.
“Felix!” she barked.
He leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “I feel better.”
“We need him alive.”
He gave a bored shrug, and with a flourish of his hand, gestured towards the aesling.
“Heal him, then.”
By the time the carriage finally slowed, Felix had reloaded his pistol, and August was back in his seat, the gunshot wound in his stomach healed.
He glared icily at Felix, who responded with an unfazed smile.
Marlow sat back in her seat, arms folded, jaw set as she seethed. Felix knew she’d be angry for a while, but it was worth the warm peace that had settled over him. She was an excellent healer. He’d known the aesling would be fine.
Alright, he’d been ninety percent sure. But it had all worked out.
The sounds of the busy town surrounded them as they came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived in Haverglen,” the driver called.
Felix hadn’t been outside of Bedwyck in nearly two years. He’d half expected the rest of the country to be in shambles, but as Marlow pushed open the door, it was clear that was not the case.
