I tried to believe Peter’s story that the pixies had willingly donated it, but I couldn’t bring myself to be so naïve. Nothing that had been freely given would be sold on the black market like this.
“They were so happy that you recovered it that they agreed to let you rest for a few days.”
I sat up and realized that for the first time in weeks, my side didn’t hurt. Slowly, I pulled up my shirt.
The gash had healed so perfectly that there wasn’t even a scar left. The stitches had been removed, and the skin looked just like it had before the injury had even occurred.
“Did you…”
Lochlan nodded. “You hadn’t woken up for two days. I was worried. I used a little pixie blood this morning and you woke up soon after. It really works. Just don’t tell Roderick.”
Conflict raged within me. How was I supposed to feel grateful to be healed while knowing that a pixie might have died to give that blood?
“I don’t want to rest. I want to find my mother.”
“I know.” Lochlan placed the back of his hand against my forehead. “You still have a slight fever. No wonder you feel cold.” He offered me the cup again. “Let’s get you better first, then we’ll talk about rescuing your mother.”
Additional conflict was added onto my qualms about the pixie blood. I felt indebted to Lochlan for doing so much to help me and hated feeling like I owed anyone anything, but at the same time, I genuinely felt like he cared. Was he expectingsomething from me in return? He had to have noticed how I would bumble about and lose track of what I was saying when he was around. He had to know I had this absurd crush on him. If he liked me back, what then?
That was the part of my thought process that always broke down. If Lochlan confessed that he had feelings for me, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea of what to do or say or how to act. I already didn’t. Lochlan would undoubtedly become disenchanted when he noticed how much of a fool I acted around him.
“I think I found something,” Lochlan said, breaking through my musings.
“What?”
“Here. It’s faded, but I think it might be a name that starts with a B. There’s a date, too.”
I squinted at the paper. It was dated sixteen years ago and I was certain the name of the person sold started with B, even though the ink was barely visible after so many years. My stomach gave a jolt. It really had been sixteen years. My birthday had come and gone without me so much as noticing. What use did I have for a birthday when I didn’t have anyone to celebrate it with? I went back to the paper.
Under thePurchasercolumn, there was someone listed as King Ra, but the rest of the name after that was smudged so badly that it was illegible.
“Most of those sold in that time frame went to the same purchaser,” Lochlan went on, scanning each paper in turn.
“It must’ve been King Raquel,” I said. “I knew he had many slaves, but I didn’t think he bought any; I always assumed he just took them.” I tried to rise from the bed, but Lochlan placed a restraining hand on my shoulder.
“Lie still. It’s very likely they used a false name when making a purchase. I would have, if I was going to participate insomething illegal. Not that Ieverhave, of course.” He raised his eyebrows. “You of all people know how important hiding your true identity is.”
“I need to get passage on a ship.” I couldn’t stay in bed if I had a lead. I wanted to run, to board a ship and leave immediately. I’d been in Ebora only the year before…if only I’d known then what I knew now, I could’ve bought my mother’s freedom and found my father. I ground my teeth together. I’d grown up on the streets of Ebora and joined the rebellion against the king. My mother might’ve been a part of the palace’s rebellion, and I might have found her if I’d simply gone to look for her there. But I’d been so obsessed with accruing wealth that I hadn’t thought to look there. We might’ve had years together, and I wasn’t going to waste that now.
Lochlan kept his hand on my shoulder. “Jillian,” he whispered fiercely.
I tried to suppress that giddy fluttering in my chest. Shoals, I loved when he used my name, dangerous as it was. I wanted him to say it a thousand times.
“Jillian,” he repeated. “Listen to me. We don’t need to run off to Ebora. We can get information from here if you promise to stay put.”
“How? How are we going to do that?” It hadn’t escaped my notice that Lochlan had saidwe. He was going to help me.
“Prince Jameson is getting married in a few days, and all the visiting nobility will attend.”
“Right, I sort of know the girl he’s marrying—Elena. But I can’t imagine that she’d be too happy to see me after…some things that happened. But why would it matter if they’re getting married?”
“Because,” he continued, “there will be representatives from Ebora there. You can ask about your mother or even send a message. We could give them money so she can travel here.”
My chest was so swollen with hope that I was surprised I didn’t float away. “But with my way, I could go and be with her sooner.”
“Remember who my father is,” Lochlan reminded me. “I can find out things from him that he won’t tell anyone else. Stick with my plan, and I’ll find out what happened to your sister. If he had a hand in selling her, we’ll find out where she is. Your way might take you to your mother sooner, but with my way, you’ll find two family members.”
I bit my lip. Both ideas were very tempting, but Lochlan’s plan would ultimately be better. I couldn’t pass up having both my mother and sister back. I could even place an additional bounty for my mother while I kept searching for my sister. By this time next month, we might all be reunited. We would be a family again.
