His words fill me with relief I didn’t know I needed from him. I’m not eager to try that again. Still, lingering doubt remains. I can’t avoid this forever, even if he says it’s okay. If I’m here to help them win this war—though I still don’t think I’m the right woman for the job—then I need to pull my weight as well. The adventurous spirit my parents instilled in me keeps the fear at bay for now.
I can do this. Even if right now it seems impossible.
“That was certainly unexpected,” a familiar voice says from behind. As if we’ve been caught doing something salacious, I pull away from Niko. I don’t miss his confused frown as I put some distance between us.
Lady Thalia takes us in, Finnick perched on her shoulders, and a kind, motherly smile appears on her face. “I assume you both are alright? I see Zephyr has escorted one of those beasts to our dungeon.”
“We are. For now,” Niko assures. Mother and son share a silent look, one that holds promises to explain the demon king’s unusual visit. “I’ll explain more later, but for now I should see if Zephyr needs any assistance.” He looks at me.
I can’t help but feel like a burden he must babysit, even though he’s the one who asked for me to come to his kingdom.
To be his wife. Something I can’t forget.
“You can go. I’ll be fine,” I say, even though the thought of him leaving fills me with unexpected dread. There’s a certain warmth I feel when Niko’s around. A tether of safety that snaps the moment he walks away. Even with Zephyr and his cold distance, there’s a feeling of rightness being near him that I can’t comprehend.
Finnick leaps from Lady Thalia’s shoulder and flutters toward us, wings shimmering in the light. “We’ll keep an eye on Eva while you go handle the terrifying creature that wants us all dead.” His tone is far too cheerful, as if the threat is amusing rather than horrifying. He huffs, crossing his tiny arms. “I wasn’t even finished showing her around before you barged in and ruined our breakfast.”
“That does little to make me feel better, Brother,” Niko mumbles. “Your tours are questionable at best. The last guest you took on a tour came back drunk on fairy wine wearing completely different clothes.”
Finnick grins wickedly, his tiny shoulders rolling with silent laughter. “One of my better tours. The woman stole a?—”
“I will make sure our future queen is taken care of,” Lady Thalia interrupts, cutting Finnick off.
He scowls at her before floating down to land on my shoulder. The careful ease with which he trusts me makes me smile. The mischievous little sprite is easily becoming one of my favorite people.
“I was on my way to the healing ward,” Lady Thalia continues. “Evangeline can join me if she chooses.”
“That sounds dreadful,” Finnick mumbles under his breath, flying to land on his mother’s shoulder. “We don’t accept.”
“Actually,” I gain the attention of the other two fae, “I would like that. I don’t feel like I understand the severity of the kingdom’s problems or my role in all of this. I want to get a better understanding of what’s happening here and see for myself what I can do.”If anything—but Idon’t add that part. No point in making everyone else doubt my abilities to help when I have enough doubt for everyone.
Niko presses his lips together, a flicker of conflict passing over his face. He clearly doesn’t want to leave me, even if he trusts his mother and brother to keep me safe.
Before I can stop myself, I reach out, my fingers lightly brushing his shoulder. He’s so solid beneath my touch—warm, steady—and I have to force myself not to linger.
“You and Zephyr...” I pause, suddenly unsure, my voice softer than I intended. “You can join us once you’ve taken care of the Nephilim.”
For a moment, our gazes lock, and our surroundings disappear. There’s nothing but him and me at this moment. A question of trust is on the table before us. Trust that I’ll be safe. Trust that he’ll come find me. This soft, fragile bond growing between us strengthens with just a simple look.
The trance we’re under breaks when Niko finally sighs, placing his hand over mine. My stomach does a weird little flip at his touch, and he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll return soon.” I can’t help but notice he makes no such promises for Zephyr. Shifting his gaze past me, he addresses his mother. “Keep her safe.”
“With my life, Son,” Lady Thalia promises. And it doesn’t matter that I just met this woman. I trust her. She reminds me of my own mother in a lot of ways. Strong. Beautiful. Capable. Intelligent. All the things I strive to be.
“Very well. I’ll be back soon.”
Niko’s eyes linger on mine, a silent question hanging in the air. For a heartbeat, I think he’s going to kiss me. The thought steals my breath, heat rushing to my cheeks, which is a ridiculous response to someone I barely know.
But then he steps back. The moment shatters like glass, reminding me just how absurd that would have been. He gives me a final, almost wistful smile, then turns and disappears in the direction Zephyr went, leaving me with the echo of what almost was.
When I turn back toward Lady Thalia, a knowing smile greets me.
Chapter 17
Evangeline
I’ve been in my fair share of hospitals, and it never gets any easier. The air is stale and suffocating. The stench of death lingers just above the surface and around every corner, as if Death himself lurks in the shadows. Wails of the dying fill the air, but the silence proves most chilling. Wails show signs of life, but silence? Silence is deadly.
Stricken-looking fae I presume to be healers bounce between rooms. Lady Thalia looks as if she wishes to join them, but she stays close to me, leading me down a long, narrow hallway. I feel as if I’ve walked this path before. Many times, in fact. Usually carrying a homemade meal since both my parents hated hospital food. It wasn’t terrible, but I understood their need for familiarity, and cooking had always been comforting to our family.
