Iker checked the body of my father. “He’s still alive too.”
Spinning, I stared down at my father, pale and unconscious, before looking up at Bach. “He was going to kill you. Said he didn’t need two Heirs.” Bach didn’t even look surprised; if anything, he just looked sad. Roman Halhed had been a disappointment to us all. “Be careful, Bach.”
He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “Kian and I will take care of the Ninth Line. You take care of yourself. We need you safe, happy, and healthy when you return home.”
I was never coming home after this. We both knew it. This place held nothing but pain and bad memories.
I hugged him tightly. “Be safe.”
And then we were out of there, Braxus leading us down the stairs and out toward the back through the kitchens. I didn’t hide this time; I strode out of there, meeting the eyes of every single member of the manor staff. Some had done what they could when I was young, like Cook, while others had turned a blind eye to how the Baron had treated his youngest daughter.
Let them all see me now.
Alucius was waiting at the back door and quickly licked Braxus’s muzzle, before licking Hayle’s hand frantically. “I’m okay,” Hayle told her. “I hated not being able to communicate with you too. Thank you for taking care of this guy for me while we couldn’t.”
Alucius huffed and whined, sniffing Vox’s unconscious body, before licking his cheek where it hung over Hayle’s arm.
“We’ll need horses,” Lierick said, the concentration on his face telling me he was using his powers. “We can’t outrun them on foot.”
I turned us toward the stables, pushing through the doors like I belonged here. I didn’t, though; I belonged somewhere with nothing but good memories.
The stablehand looked up from where he was shoveling a stall. “Avalon?”
Of course it had to be him. “Hey, Paton. I need three horses, as fast as you can.”
Paton stared. And stared. This was just my luck. Of course it would be the stablehand who’d given me my first kiss years ago. We’d been friendly, and in a crowd of people, he’d at least been a safe harbor, even if he wouldn’t stick his neck out for me.
“When did you get home? Are you staying?” His desperate hopefulness made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. This was so awkward.
“Obviously not, which is why she wants three horses, fast,” Hayle growled, and as Paton’s eyes turned toward him, I watched his face pale even further than his normal milky complexion.
Paton hesitated. “Edgar said no one was to take any horses without his permission, or that of the Baron.” He took a deep breath. “Fuck it, I always hated that pompous old asshole anyway. This way.” He didn’t specify whether he meant Edgar or the Baron. Probably both.
Lierick, Iker, and Paton quickly saddled three large horses. Hayle pushed an unconscious Vox onto a giant roan, and Lierick climbed up behind him. Iker got on the second horse, while I climbed onto the last one behind Hayle, with Epsy settling between our bodies.
I looked down at Paton, chewing my lip. I’d thought I loved him once, but I hadn’t even known what love was back then.Even just the smallest kindness had felt so much bigger, rather than common human decency. Regardless, Paton had given me some of my most comfortable memories.
“Thank you, Paton. For everything.”
He flushed, his pale skin looking almost as red as his hair as he dipped his chin. “Sorry it couldn’t be more.” He gave a lopsided grin, and I remembered why a younger version of me fell into bed with him. “If they ask, I’m going to say you had one of your boyfriends knock me over the head and stole them, though.”
I laughed. “Understandable. I’ll be seeing you.”
Hayle snorted an incredulous sound, and I reached around to tweak his nipple. I’d never seen him really territorial; he’d taken to both Vox and Lierick with ease. However, something about Paton was turning him into a knuckle-dragging beast.
“Hush. He didn’t have to help us.”
Hayle didn’t say anything, and we left out the side gate behind the stables. Alucius and Braxus ran ahead, and even Quarry appeared from the trees, cawing loudly.
“How is he?” I called over to Lierick, who shook his head.
“He’s getting clammier. We need to move.”
Hayle let out a loud clicking noise, and our horse picked up speed, cantering along the trails it had known since it was a foal. Roads I knew. It would be about forty minutes at this pace to the next village, and it would take us Goddess-knows how long to track down a healer.
I didn’t like this at all. At least I could feel my magic buzzing back along my skin, the further we got from Rewill.
I choked down the panic that was beginning to rise up. My father hated me, but I’d always thought he hated Feodore Vylan more. Apparently, his hatred had festered without an outlet, while I was away at Boellium.
