“What’s wrong, my love?” Ellis gripped her hand, demanding she meet his gaze. “Riv, please talk to me.”
“I don’t know.” The fear swimming in her eyes pained his heart. “I’m afraid El.”
“What can I do? Tell me what you need.”
“I need my aunt. She’ll know how to help.”
“Ok, let me help you up. Can you stand?” He eased his arm around her waist to help her, but she shook her head, refusing to move.
“No. El, I won’t make it. You have to go alone and bring her here.”
“I can’t leave you! Don’t ask that of me.” He growled, his panic growing.
“El, please. Something is wrong. The babe is barely moving. You must go.”
Ellis couldn’t believe that she dared ask this of him. How was he supposed to just leave her here, unprotected and alone? He could see the resolve on her face and knew that she had made up her mind. Arguing would do him no good, yet he tried one last time anyway.
“Are you certain you can’t make it? I can just carry you. It is only a few more hours’ walk.”
“I am certain. I need Althea.”
Weighing his options, Ellis muttered a curse before acquiescing to her request. He silently grabbed their bags and moved them within her reach, pulling the canteen out and handing it to her. He pulled a second drop cloth from the box and laid it next to her as well.
Rivka lay on her side, and Ellis crouched down next to the table, bringing his face close to hers.
“Ok. Promise me that you will wait for me?”
Rivka stared into his eyes, as tears rimmed hers.
“Say it, Riv. Say you will wait.” Ellis demanded, his voice wavering with his emotion.
“I cannot promise you that. I can only promise to do whatever it takes to save my child.” A single tear spilled over, tracing down her cheek. “I love you, El.”
Ellis closed his eyes as a shudder raced down his spine. He leaned forward, grasping each side of her face, forcefully shoving his lips against her forehead. He lingered there, cherishing the moment, before releasing her and moving back.
“I will come back for you, thisIpromise. I love you.”
With one last look, Ellis ran.
Chapter Forty-Four
A Foreboding Presence
Ellis
His lungs burned, and his legs ached, but he wouldn’t stop until he found Althea. He had left her alone. He knew that it was the right thing to do, but it still tore at his pounding heart. Its rhythm thumping to the speed of his feet striking the ground. Rivka needed him. He wouldn’t stop, no matter how much his body begged him. Althea would come. Evanar had sworn that she would be their ally, that she would do what needed to be done. While he didn’t know exactly what was happening with Rivka, he presumed the baby was making its arrival early. She had been in so much pain when he’d left, and while he knew finding Althea was what she needed, it had destroyed him to leave her unprotected. The thought of her birthing that babe alone, or worse…he needed to move faster.
The dirt and gravel beneath his feet gradually changed to stone as he sprinted. His ragged breathing bounced back at him in the dark as he started up a slight incline. Rough hewn stairs appeared ahead just at the edge of his vision, below a softly burning sconce, a literal and figurative light at the end of the tunnel. Exhaustion pulled at him as he neared the entrance into what he hoped was The Lavender Rose. The tunnels could be misleading. You were never certain of your path or how long you spent in them.
A figure stepped out of the shadows ahead, barely discernible.
“What’s your business here?” the gravelly voice of the shadow barked, causing Ellis’ steps to slow.
“Ellis Varon.” He panted, coming to a stop completely, resting his hands on his knees. He had to pause and remember exactly what Evanar had told him to say. Doing his best to control his breathing, he continued, “Requesting the sanctity of The Lavender Rose, sent by Evanar Varon.”
The shadow disappeared, leaving Ellis standing in the small pool of light the sconce cast. “Nice to meet you too.” Ellis quipped under his breath, surveying his surroundings. There was nowhere else to go but up those stairs or back the way he had come.
The door swung open at the top of the steps, but there was no sign of the shadow man. Ellis peered ahead, hesitating, before moving cautiously up the steps and into an empty room. It appeared to be a private dining room, decorated in various shades of lavender. The golden hues of the maple wood accents made everything appear warm and inviting.
