Adalia nodded silently, and the siblings took to the sky.
Flying made it easy to survey the mountain range nestled between District Four and Five. As they neared, they scanned the ground, looking for the path that would lead them up the mountain and into the woods. Matthias pointed, and the pair descended. Adalia whispered to the light over and over as they flew up thetrail that Matthias would live and not die, that the woman’s words would ring true . . . that all would be well.
Nikolas reached the woodlands first and quickly dropped to the ground. Adalia followed, and they hurried into the dense scenery. Adalia held back tears as she started frantically searching for the Lux Hyssop bush. Their only light—a lantern and the full moon.
“A bush with yellow flowers, right?” Nik called from a distance away.
“Yes, and the flowers will be in tiny clusters,” she called back.
Her brother scouted the ground to her left while she looked to the right. Panic reared its ugly head the longer she searched. There didn’t seem to be any bushes around like the woman had described.
“Nik, I can’t find it!” Fear surged through her.
“It’s okay, we will, just keep looking.” Nikolas said.
Adalia held back sobs as she searched through the foliage. There was nothing but underbrush and trees all around, plus the odd berry bush. Adalia tried to recall the woman’s words again, yellow . . . small bush—but it was hopeless. Nothing she saw fit the description.
Glancing further into the woodlands with the lantern held high, she saw a rock formation sitting between two trees. From this distance, it looked like a broken well of some kind. The words processed through her mind when she suddenly remembered the woman’s other words . . . all will bewell.
Was it a coincidence?
Adalia raced for the crumbling structure and slid to a halt as she reached it. There nestled between the rocky debris grew a singular Lux Hyssop bush.
“It’s here Nik! I’ve found some!” Adalia cried as she raced towards her brother, carefully tucking the blossoms into her jacket pocket.
Now to get it to the prince before it was too late.
“I’ll catch up with you when I can,” Adalia said as they raced back to the clearing. “I have to get back toMatthias.”
“Let me come with you.”
Adalia whipped around. “You would come with me? To Oscuro?” she asked.
“Ada, I would follow you to the ends of the world,” Nik replied softly.
The look on her brother’s face nearly brought her to tears once again. “Thank you, Nik. I think I will need you with me.”
“I know you will. Now, let’s go.”
On their way to Matthias, Adalia stopped at his cabin to grab a mug from his shelf, then they flew towards the cave. Nikolas looked intrigued, but kept his questions at bay. The cave entrance came into view and the pair dropped to the ground, Adalia leading the way. Once they had reached Matthias, Adalia sprinted to his side and breathed a sigh of relief to find his weak, but throbbing, pulse.
Bones greeted them excitedly, and Nikolas scratched his head.
Adalia retrieved the crushed blossoms from her pocket and placed them in the mug, filling it with water from a small flask she’d tucked inside her jacket pocket. Nikolas made himself useful by building a small fire. Once Adalia was satisfied with the brewing time, she removed the cup from the heat while Nikolas pulled Matthias into a sitting position, supporting his head with his arm.
Adalia blew on the tea to cool it before she tipped a little at a time into the prince’s mouth, pausing every few seconds to let the liquid run down his throat. There was no way of knowing just how much he needed. Hopefully, what she had would be enough.
The bottom of the cup came into view. Last sip.
Adalia sat back on her ankles, heart pounding and ears ringing, as she watched the prince’s face like a hawk, waiting for some sign of life.
Every second that passed felt like an eternity. She couldn’t lose him, not now, not ever. He’d come back into her life and she knew the moment she saw him in her room, veslo in hand, that she wanted him for the rest of eternity.
She glanced at Nik, who offered her a reassuring smile. Adalia closed her eyes. “Please, I’m begging you. Let him live.”
The moment the word live formed in her mind.
A warm hand brushed her face . . .
