When Lukas narrowed his eyes again, I continued with a sigh. “Just please. Let me have this time to fix this. I know I can find a way, and I’ll help Raphael too.”
A moment passed as Lukas’s lips thinned. “Fine,” he said finally. “But don’t think I want to stop you helping Raphael. If you can’t find a way to help him in time, I’ll speak with Cora to see about your Corlixin friends remaining here until he’s better, or at least until…” He trailed off, clearing his throat. “Let’s not go there. I’ll see to it that they’re given the best accommodations and everything they might need to help Raphael.”
Apart from the shell we could use to contact the merfolk, I wanted to say, but I didn’t interrupt him. Maybe there would be some other way to help Prince Raphael. I seriously hoped there was.
“I’d offer for you to stay with them here.” His voice wavered. “But I won’t leave you all the time you’re still connected to that beast.” His tone turned venomous as his hand found mine. “I won’t let him take you away from me, Naria. I swear it upon my entire kingdom.”
Then he pulled me towards his chest and kissed me softly, my eyes fluttering closed.
“I know you won’t,” I breathed against his lips. “Just give me this week. One week, and then we’ll both be free.”
“One week,” he repeated before kissing me again. And this time, he didn’t stop until we both fell asleep cradled in each other’s arms.
CHAPTER 24
One week later, the prince was still just as sick. Nothing had worked. No herbs, no crushed rare flowers that only grew in certain parts of the realm. Not even the foul-smelling stew Cora’s grandmother had bought from a local medicinewoman – one who’d insisted she could cure any ailment cursed upon a poor human by an angered merfolk.
Not that I’d expected that last idea to work, but at this point, anything was worth trying.
Of course, Arenn’s crystals were also just as embedded on my wrist. As I walked down the hallway, the flickering candles made them glimmer as if they were winking at me.With a scowl, I adjusted the golden cuff on my wrist so that it covered them. I didn’t need another reminder of my failure.
Between finalising deals for my kingdom and helping the cursed prince, I’d barely had time to do any research about my faery bond. The books Lukas had found were vague, and when I’d spoken to Arenn he’d been just as unhelpful as he’d been before.
“Like I said, human, your beloved king is welcome to try breaking our bond, but he’ll probably die trying,” he’d taunted me with two nights ago when I cornered him outside the library.
“But there has to be another way to remove it,” I’d argued, throwing my hands down. “What ifyoudidn’t want to marry me anymore? You’re a faery. Surely you can take it away just as easily as you put it there?”
“But I don’t want to take it away.” His voice had darkened, smile vanishing into the night outside. “And no matter how much you pout, we will be wed, whether you’re willing or not.”
I’d run away after that, scurrying down the hallway with Arenn shouting something about how generous he’d been by letting me stay here to help Prince Raphael. Since then, it’d just been more failed attempts at curing the prince and more heavy stones piling atop of the guilty mountain growing in my chest.
At least the Dalkings were still willing to help my kingdom grow. King Ronan had said Ryntook would help too, though I doubted that offer would still stand if I failed to cure Raphael.
I squeezed my eyes shut as all the busy thoughtsthundered in my mind.
“Are you alright?” Raena asked from beside me.
I glanced at her. She wore a stunning coral gown adorned with gold and crystals, that swished around her legs. Even her hair had been decorated with gold. A dainty tiara sat between two hair puffs, each one glittering with hair jewellery.
“I’m fine,” I lied. “I’ll be alright once we get to the ball.” Another lie.
“You know you don’t have to go, don’t you?” Her tone was gentle. “I mean, your gown is beautiful, and it would be a waste to let it go unappreciated if you spent this night alone in your bedchamber…” she added jokingly. “But maybe I could bring some of the party to you? I could fetch Marius and Terr, Ivy too if we can pry her off away from Theo. Then again, he could always join us—”
“It’s alright, really,” I laughed. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to show my face tonight. If only to bid the other rulers goodbye.”
Raena nodded, a sad smile on her face. “We’ll get you some wine when we arrive. That’ll help with your nerves.”
I couldn’t disagree. As usual the once-comfortable ball gown that Raena had commissioned for me now felt too tight against my skin. While we were dressing, I’d liked the way the bodice had been beaded to look like flowers that trailed down onto the skirt. But now, I just found the extra sparkle distracting. Along with the way the long green skirt dragged behind me. Raena said she’d asked the designer to make me look like I’d just stepped out of a flower meadow. But the longer I was in it, the more I wanted to just peel all the fabric off and collapse into a patch of real grass.
“We’re here,” Raena trilled. Huge double doors loomed ahead of us, muffling the roaring music coming from inside.
When the guards pulled the doors open, I winced. Golden light and noise slammed into me. And with Raena giggling at my side, I was dragged straight into the chaos.
Three glasses of wine later, I’d spoken to all the rulers and advisors on my list, as well as confirming once again with Ivy that she’d be happy to remain here alongside Marius and Terr. I hated the thought of leaving them – as if I were running from my problems instead of helping Raphael like my heart screamed at me to do. But I was a princess, after all. And I had hundreds of my own problems waiting for me back in Corlixir.Kingdom-sized problems.
“Are you ready to go?” Lukas pressed against my ear to be heard over the music.
I rubbed my temples, a headache brewing. “I’ve always been ready.” We’d return to my chambers. Help the servants pack. Then leave the following morning. That was the plan.
