I hold her closer. “Don’t apologize. I’m the one that’s sorry. I’ll never keep you from Oak again. I was wrong.” I pull back, studying her face. She’s okay, and she’s back.
“Where’s Oak?” I ask.
“He’s looking for Silas and Rohhit,” she explains. “The guards were going to let them die on the sidelines. Had things gone wrong, Thatcher would have been the winner—that was your father’s plan for the final trial. He ordered that no one be healed if injured. Thankfully, the chaos you caused let Eden get them to safety at the House of Hedro. They’re both safe.”
Relief washes over me. “Where did you and Oak run to?”
“We’ll talk about that later. Right now, we need to get you to the castle. You’re the Queen of Daramveer now and this isn’t over,” she says, the weight of our actions settling in. The fear I’ve instilled in the townspeople haunts me. “They’ll never trust me, knowing what I am, after seeing what I’m capable of.”
She embraces me again. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”
I press my forehead against hers. “You promise?”
“I promise,” she smiles, her presence a comfort in the chaos.
Chapter 35
My head throbs from the overuse of magic or shock—I’m not sure. Maines shifted us back to the House of Hedro—I couldn’t due to the utter depletion of magic that hit once I fully took over, and we were clear of immediate danger. Now that my secret is out, people are looking at me differently. Fear shows behind their eyes as I pass by, and I can’t help but think of my dreams—the same looks now being my reality. I now understand that all these years, those dreams were visions of what’s to come if Kalix completely takes over. If she ruled again with no counterpart, with no other Great Wiitch, none would be equally powerful as her. There would be no one who could stop her.
“They are both in my quarters,” Maines explains as we make our way through the blinding white hallways, each step making my body scream in pain. Every floor in the House of Hedro is a maze and it would be easy to get lost in this tower—just like so many souls that have passed here. As the white walls of the House blur past, my thoughts continue to churn. My legs feel weighted and each step is a consistent, painful reminder of the battles fought—both outside of these walls and within. The heaviness that lies here with every decision and every loss feelslike it’s pressing down against me. The suffocation I feel in my chest makes me reflect on every past and future decision I have and will make.
Finally, we make it to Maines’s healing room. When I knock, Eden slowly opens the door, peeking through the crack. Realizing it’s us, she swings the door wide, gesturing for us to hurry inside quickly.
“Gods, Briar, I didn’t think I was going to see you walk out of that arena.”
“You and me both,” I say. “Where are they?”
Eden blinks at me slowly, confusion lacing her brows. “I’m sorry, they? Silas is the only one here.”
Maines steps into the room. “Rohhit was brought here too. Did they move him to another floor?”
I can’t help but feel selfish at the feeling of knowing Silas is here and safe.
“Hm. I don’t think he stayed here more than a few minutes.” Eden continues to look worried. “Guards of the Royal Harte came to take him. Nolan was with them as his mouthpiece. They demanded it was on behalf of the King of Eddris.”
A thick air rises around us, making my senses scream at this news. He wasn’t in critical condition by any means but certainly was not in the right condition to travel back to Eddris. I glance toward Maines, her furrowed brows tell me she feels the same shift wading through the room.
“Patients aren’t to leave the House without my approval, Eden!” Maines replies.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Miss Madden. I wasn’t sure what to do with the guards breathing down my neck.” Eden lowers her head, breaking eye contact.
We make eye contact once more, an unsettling uncertainty hitting us both.
Oak shuffles through the heavy velvet curtain separating the rest of the room. He races in our direction, embracing Maines first with a quick kiss. Then he squeezes me tight. “I’m happy to see you. The Queen of Daramveer before my eyes. The queen of giving everyone a heart attack. Remind me next time to not piss you off, okay?”
“I’m so sorry, Oak. I never meant for things to go so wrong—for your life to be in danger because of me.”
“I know Thatcher had suspicions about something going on between his sister and me. He’s the reason that happened, not you. And let’s be honest, I couldn’t keep my eyes off Maines, so I guess she is the one we should blame. I mean, look at her.”
Maines laughs. “No, this happened because you are a persistent pig. That’s why we were in deep shit.”
Oak winks, his eyes longing for her, and the same look budding on her face.
My smile fades. “How did you all already know about my father?”
“Well, when the king doesn’t show up after an epic battle everyone witnessed, news travels fast—he either died or ran away, and my bet is on the former,” he answers.
“Silas. Where is Silas?” I move through the curtain separating half of the room.
