I stare, stunned. Hespoke.
His words aren’t as delayed as before, though each one still sounds like it costs him. “I’m… Jameson.”
“Jameson,” I offer him a smile, “it’s lovely to meetyou. Thank you for having a meal with me.” Technically, he was the only one eating, but it counted all the same.
Jameson’s eyes flutter closed, a deep sigh leaving his body. “Please come…again.”
His words pierce my heart, stealing the breath from my lungs. I had hoped to be wrong about Jameson. That he did have family, but they just couldn’t be there. But if he’s asking me, a complete stranger, to come back and see him, the likelihood of him having anyone else is slim.
“Of course I’ll come back. I’ll bring something new for you to try the next time,” I vow, hoping there’s enough food for more meals and that he’ll be alive the next time I see him. It’s a sobering thought.
Jameson doesn’t speak this time. The soft rise and fall of his chest tell me he’s fallen asleep. Not wanting to disturb him, I quietly stand up and leave the room.
The moment I enter the hallway, I nearly collide with Niko and Zephyr. As usual, Zephyr is wearing a disinterested frown, while Niko grins. “There you are. Everything okay?”
“Just helping Jameson eat. He really needed the meal.”
“Ah, yes. Jameson is worse off than the rest. He’s one of the first to be exposed to the sickness, and the person who has suffered through the curse the longest. It’s a cruel fate that the sickness has not taken him out of his misery yet.”
I inwardly cringe at his words. “That’s horrible. I can’t even imagine.” Suddenly, that one meal isn’t enough. I want to do more.Needto do more.
A yawn escapes my lips.
I can’t be useful tired. Zephyr seems to catch on to my fatigue before Niko. “Your betrothed needs rest. We’ve kept her up long enough.” From anyone else, his words would appear concerned. But since it’s Zephyr, he seems mildly irritated by my tiredness.
Is there anything that doesn’t irritate the man?
“Right,” Niko agrees, reaching for my hand.
A flash of something like possessiveness crosses Zephyr’s features when Niko takes my hand, but he quickly dons his mask again. Disappointment coats my tongue.
“I promised I’d come back and visit. I would also like to continue to cook for the patients, if that’s possible.” I let Niko lead me down the hallway, presumably toward the castle.
“Then it shall be done. Bed first.”
A shiver passes through me, but it isn’t from the cold. It’s the lingering echo of everything I’ve witnessed today—the poisoned land, the haunting eyes of the Nephilim, the weight of a destiny I never asked for.
The sick fae we’re leaving behind.
I follow Niko and Zephyr in silence, the warmth of their presence the only thing keeping me from unraveling completely.
When we reach my door, they each take a moment to look at me—really look at me—and in their eyes, I see concern wrapped in something deeper, something unspoken. Zephyr offers me a tight-lipped smile, and Niko squeezes my hand, promising they’ll check on me in the morning. I nod, unable to trust my voice, afraid, if I speak, the fragile hold I have on my emotions will snap.
As soon as the door closes behind me, the weight of my responsibilities creeps in like a tide. I stumble to the bed, still wearing the clothes from today, and sink onto the mattress. The moment my head hits the pillow, the exhaustion finally wins. Sleep wraps around me like a cloak, and I let it take me, grateful for the escape, even if only for a little while.
Chapter 19
Evangeline
Morning light slips through the partially opened window, pale and thin. It washes the room in a dull, colorless glow, clinging to the floorboards and the stiff folds of the curtains without warmth. I’m nestled in the center of a large, upholstered bed, wrapped tightly in layers of cozy blankets that form a protective cocoon around me.
The air is quiet except for the soothing chorus of birdsong and the soft rustle of wind weaving through the trees. I linger there, letting the peaceful sounds cradle me in a dreamy haze until the persistent pressure in my bladder can no longer be ignored, forcing me to toss off the covers and shuffle sleepily toward the bathroom.
I go through my daily routine, taking time to wash my face and brush my teeth. Small self-care things, but it grounds me. I need that discipline more than ever now, with the lingering threat and my purpose in all of this gnawing at my heels. Thoughts of Jameson and the other sick fae plague my thoughts as I dress in a simple yellowdress I brought from home. By the time I’m finished, my stomach is growling in protest, reminding me I didn’t eat the dinner I made last night.
I could probably find the kitchen by myself. After all, Finnick escorted me to it yesterday, but the estate is vast, and there are far too many winding hallways and closed doors. I fear my directionally challenged self will get lost. Best to avoid all the unnecessary drama and ask Niko and Zephyr to escort me.
Niko mentioned last night that the door beside my bed leads to his and Zephyr’s room. I walk over to it but pause with my hand hovering just above the handle. What exactly is the right thing to do here? Should I knock? That feels polite, expected, even. Just walking in seems rude. Then again, Niko has told me more than once to make myself at home. And if I were at home, I definitely wouldn’t knock before going into a room. But...I lived alone. That probably changes the rules, doesn’t it? Maybe this is different. Maybe Ishouldknock.
