Not thatElowenseems to notice.Tobe honest, she looks like she’s in shock.
“Perhaps the two of you would like to tidy up a bit,”Salazar’svoice comes from behind the curtain and suddenly, a silver basin on wheels appears beside us.There’sa washcloth and the water is steaming, sending delicate wisps of mist into the air.
“Um…thank you,”Elowensays in a small voice.”
She dismounts from my lap—if that’s the right word—turns away from me and begins washing herself.Whenshe’s finished, she puts the washcloth back in the water and belts her white priestess robes.
“Are you all right?”Ican’t help asking her, thoughIknow she’s not.“Ididn’t get any on your, uh, robes, didI?”
She shakes her head, her face downcast.
“No.Notthat it matters.Iwon’t be allowed to wear them anymore—not now that my eyes are changed.”Shelooks down at herself.“Ishould find something else to wear, ifIcan.”
“I can provide you with new clothing if you wish, my dear,”Salazarsays, stepping out from behind the curtain.“Atno extra charge, of course,” he adds.
Rage fills me.I’mitching to wipe that smug smile off his demonic face with my fist.ButIknow thatElowenwill never get the living coal ifIdo and then all this will have been for nothing.
“Why the long faces, friends?”he asks, his smile widening.“Yougot to do exactly what you’ve been craving with each other for all this time without any consequences at all.”
“How can you say that?”Elowencries.Shepoints to her eyes.“Therearedefinitelyconsequences!”
“But they’ll all be erased once you work your littleTimeWeavingspell—will they not?”Salazarcocks an eyebrow at her.
A look of realization dawns onElowen’spretty face andIfeel it dawning on my face as well.Ofcourse—theTimeWeavingspell!She’splanning to go back to the time before we even met each other, soI’llnever have a chance to change the color of her eyes.
This epiphany ought to make me feel better…but somehow it makes me feel worse instead.NowthatI’veformed a partialBondwith her, losing her seems even more unbearable.Iknow she can’t feel theBond—it’s barely there sinceIbarely came in her—butIcan feel it and so can myDrake.
Speaking of myDrake, he’s extremely upset by the idea ofElowengoing back in time to forget us.I’vetried and tried to explain this to him before but for some reason, he is only just now fully understanding that she’s going to leave and never return.
She’s not just going to forget us,Itry to explain.Shewants to go back to her peaceful, safe life at the temple.
“Meet her later?Afterthe spell?”he asks hopefully.
She’s supposed to remain celibate—it wouldn’t be a good idea for us to meet her,Itell him—which makes him upset all over again.Infact, it’s allIcan do to hold him back fromShiftingand breaking out of the mansion so he can fly away.
Meanwhile,Elowenlooks almost as upset as myDrakefeels, which is strange, since going back in time will restore her virginity and her blue eyes to her.
“I guess you’re right,” she says toSalazar, who’s still smirking at us both.“Iwill regain whatIlost onceIwork the spell.”
“That you will, my dear,” he purrs.“Butfor now, a deal is a deal.Here.”
He reaches into his hair and pulls out a living coal once more.
Elowen reaches out her hand to take it, butIstop her by grabbing her wrist.
“Wait, baby!That’sgoing to burn the fuck out of your fingers,”Iprotest.
“Oh…Isuppose you’re right.”Shenods dully.Shereally isn’t herself right now—I’mgetting worried about her.
“Where are those little crystal globes?”Iask her.“Theones you put the feather, the sacred river water and the jewel in?”
“I don’t know.”Sheshakes her head.“Theyjust seem to appear onceIhave the elementI’mcollecting andIneed them.”
“It sounds like part of a collecting spell,”Salazarremarks, looking interested.“Perhapsif you hold out your hand andItip the living coal into it, the collecting vessel will appear to catch it.”
“Or perhaps the fucking coal will burn a hole through her hand!”Igrowl.“Idon’t want you taking a chance,”Isay to her.“Letme hold the coal—it can’t hurt me—myDrake’sinner fire will protect me.”
Elowen’s newly green eyes soften as she looks up at me.
