“Oh, he’ll probably search the Keep, and the bailey,” Helena said dismissively. “I’m always out there watching my sweet Will at his archery practice.”
“You’re always out there flirting with the stable hands,” Will snapped, and she looked mortified.
“My love, how can you say that? You know I have eyes only for you!”
“Youhaveto put her right,” I said quietly to Devil, as Will finally pulled himself from Helena’s grasp and walked away. She followed on his heels like a thoughtless, simpering dog.
“Unfortunately, this particular magyk comes from a flower,” Devil murmured, “and the antidote is the same. Both plants are rather rare, so it might take some time to find it.”
I pushed a groan of frustration back down my throat. “Then what can we do?”
“I believe you outrank the rest of us, Mayhem,” Devil said with a wink. “I will defer to you in this case.” I raised an eyebrow at him, but then chewed my fingernail and paced the forest floor, thinking quickly.
“Alright,” I said at last, clapping my hands together to call everyone’s attention. “Will and Helena must return to Nottingham quickly. Jon, you and Aliena please see them safely to the edge of the Arden. Devil, you will take me back to the Bower to see Oberon, then start searching for the antidote.”
“And how will you get the antidote to us?” Will asked, his voice thick with desperation.
“I will figure something out,” I sighed. “Perhaps I can bring it to you myself. But Will, you might need to…keep up the charade, at least until we find it. If you both disappear like this, and then you spurn her as soon as you return, the Prince will suspect that you’ve…well, I’m sure you can imagine. You must keep up the pretense, or he could have your head on a pike.”
“Pretense?” Helena scoffed. “Will and I are in love, and due to be married!”
“Of course, your ladyship,” I said with a saccharine smile, which quickly shifted to a glare when Will opened his mouth to argue.
“Fine,” he grunted between gritted teeth.
“And what will you tell Oberon?” asked Aliena quietly. “He has no more love for humans in the Arden than Titania does, even if he does not go out of his way to hunt us down.”
“I am not sure yet,” I muttered. “But I swear, it won’t compromise the safety of the Hollow.” Everyone nodded firmly, except Helena, and I put on another smile before speaking directly to her. “My lady, there is a message I need my dear friend Will to carry, and it is rather private. Could I steal him away for only a moment?”
She looked suspiciously between us, but Will gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and she released him. Fighting my instinct to take his hand, I walked away from the group and leaned against the broad trunk of a maple tree.
“Did they tell you?” I asked softly. “Did they tell you…what I am?”
“A faerie princess,” Will laughed. “I couldn’t…I didn’t want to believe it, but then I saw…” He ran his fingers along the tip of my ear, and I was confused until I did the same, shock rushing through me as I felt their new, pointed shape. It took me a moment to drag my focus back to Will, but he spoke before I could. “May, you found your family. Aren’t you happy?”
“My parents are still gone,” I said, looking down at the worn toes of my boots. “I’ll never know them…only the pain their absence has left behind. Perhaps I can ease that pain, perhaps not, but I won’t forgive myself if I don’t at least try to save this place…their home.” I paused to pull the iron medallion from my pocket. “Please, give this to Tuck. Make sure he and Sissi know I’m safe, and that I’ll come back someday…if I can.”
“I promise.” He slipped it into his pocket, then waited for me to speak again, but the words failed as I looked up at him.
All I could think to say was, “I’m sorry, Will.” Rather pathetic, I knew, but how could I crumple a lifetime of love and friendship into so short a time as we had to say goodbye?
“For what?” he asked, leaning on the tree so his body blocked any view Helena or Devil might have of our fingers, which we laced together.
“For…all of it—for not letting you go sooner, not realizing that I couldn’t…live the kind of life you want…”
He shook his head. “Every minute I spent on your hook was worth it. I promise.”
“What will you do now?”
“Well, I suppose it depends on whether or not your…pet demon can find that antidote. If he doesn’t, I might be getting married.” He chuckled, but his hazel eyes clouded over with resignation and fear.
“You can still refuse,” I told him, squeezing his hand. “You don’t have to go through with it.”
“But I’m a coward,” he replied with a wry smile. “We both know it. My father knows it. The Prince knows it too. I’m sorry I couldn’t be brave for you, May. Someday…maybe I’ll find a person who makes me feel…stronger…”
I brought a hand up to his cheek. “You are already strong, Will. Your strength isn’t loud or brash. It’s quiet, and kind, and steady. You deserve someone who sees that, and understands it. I know you’ll find her someday, and when you do, I want to meet her.” I grinned up at him and he returned it, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he pulled me into a tight embrace.
“I’ve done naught with my life,” he recited, breath ruffling my hair.
