“I’m fine,” I growled, watching the bubbles retreat and fresh pink skin replace them.
“And what if you’re taking time off your life?” Ayden pressed.
Eden was asleep in a cot in the corner. She had passed out a few hours ago. She’d been assisting me, handing me gauze and salves, bringing me water. Only Hayes, Mrs. Reebus, Master Hart, and I were still going. And just barely. Hayes slumped forward on a patient’s cot and appeared to fall asleep right before me.
I swayed on my feet. “Then so be it.”
Ayden swam into view and got right up in my face, close enough that I backed up a little so a stray hair wouldn’t touch him.
“And what if you’re taking days off Ariyon’s life?” he asked, and I yanked my hands away from the patient.
My throat constricted with emotion, and I peered around the tent. The casualties had already passed on; those who remained would live, maybe in pain, maybe scarred, but they would live. Ariyon might not.
I wish I knew more about switching powers and how it all worked because if it was just my life I was affecting, I wouldn’t hesitate. The black wall in Ariyon’s studio with the white marks loomed in my mind, and I nodded, folding my gloved hands into my chest.
Ayden reached out and rubbed small circles on my back. “You saved my aunt’s life today, Fallon. That’s a win for the whole realm.”
He was right. It felt good to save a life, even the life of a woman who didn’t like me. Having this great power to heal and take pain felt like a waste when it wasn’t used.
“I think I’m understanding Ariyon a lot more now,” I shared.
Ayden nodded. “When we were younger, he tried to describe what it felt like to be around people and constantly feel their pain. It made me sad, so he stopped talking about it.”
That sounded familiar—like what I did with my own father when describing my curse.
I sighed, walking over to a makeshift handwashing station and peeling off my sweaty gloves. “I saw him, you know? When I saved the queen.”
Ayden nodded. “I heard from Eden. Is he…okay?”
I pursed my lips. “He’s alive. Seems like a rough place to be. I’ve got a lead on someone who might be able to help us figureout how to get him out. Want to take off school tomorrow and go searching for him with me?”
Ayden chuckled. “Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. You can’t miss that. My aunt is very much looking forward to you bowing before her.”
Right. That whole thing I was doing to keep from being imprisoned.
“The day after, then. Ariyon said he was an Ealdor Fae? Emmeric.”
“An Ealdor?” His brows drew together. It was painful to notice how handsome he was. Falling in love with someone and then looking at their identical copy was a confusing experience.
“You know where he might be?”
“Well, yes, but—”
Hope bloomed in my chest. “Awesome. You know where he lives? I’m guessing the West Side?”
Ayden shoved his hands into his pockets. “He’s an Ealdor Fae, Fallon. They live in a secluded realm past Isariah. An entire day’s travel on horseback, and you can’t go there unless invited. My aunt sent them a letter once and didn’t get a reply until a month later. They do as they please.”
“Ariyon might not have a month!” I protested.
“I’ll ask my aunt if we can get permission to see him. It’s a formal process. You don’t sneak up on Ealdoria unannounced and live to tell about it.”
Chills raced up my spine at this information. “Okay, thanks. If not, I might have a backup plan.” My so-called plan had to do with breaking into Ealdoria, so I hoped he could get us an invite.
The edges of his eyes crinkled. “You always have something brewing in that brilliant mind of yours, don’t you?”
My heart pinched—the look he was giving me right now was one of adoration, maybe even love. Eden couldn’t have beenright about what she’d said earlier, could she? Ayden didn’t still like me as more than a friend, right?
His eyes fell to my lips, and I frowned. “Ayden,” I said gently. “I can’t—”
