I emitted a lonesome sigh. “Yeah. That’d be me.”
Marcus stood, stacking our empty plates. “It’s kind of late. I should probably check on Kallie. She’s not doing too good right now.”
“You should be with her, not with me.”
“She knows you need me. But I’m gonna leave you with somebody I think can help you more than I can.”
He’d helped far more than he’d realized— he’d saved my life— but I wasn’t going to object when we headed back to the palace, because he dropped me off in front of Professor Hemlock’s door.
She was in her dressing gown, her long hair running down her back. I never realized how pretty Hemlock was, since she always had her hair tied up in such a no-nonsense bun. But now that her locks were unbound, I observed the famed beauty the fae were known for.
Her eyes crinkled when she saw me, and she instantly brought me into an embrace. “Oh, Ava.”
I was startled by her total acceptance as I wrapped my arms around her. “I thought you’d be furious with me.”
“I could never be angry with you, Ava.” Hemlock cupped my cheek, then moved aside. “Come in. I’ll put on some tea.”
I was full from the ramen bar, but Hemlock insisted on preparing a pot of cranberry tea and a plate of angel wing cookies. The powdered sugar fell from the cookies as my lips bit into the soft, pliable dough.
We sat on her balcony, which overlooked the ocean. Though it was late fall, the weather here in Ilamanthe was still cool, aided by the Mediterranean Sea. One of her blankets laid across my shoulders, warming me up.
“I’m sorry if I woke you up.” It had to be around early morning by now, but she didn’t look tired at all.
“You didn’t. I couldn’t sleep. Something’s been keeping me up.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t quite put my finger on it. But whatever it is, it’s… electrifying. I think I’m about to go traveling again.” She gave a wistful glance toward the ocean. “My time with the Demigod Guardians has been appreciated, but I’d love to go on another adventure.”
“I hope you get to leave soon. Maybe when you get back, you can show my grandpa what you’ve found.”
Hemlock laughed. “By the gods, please don’t send your grandfather with me. Baine has gotten me into enough problems.”
“I won’t. I don’t even know what I’m going to say to him once I see him again, or anyone in my family. I can’t even talk to Mama and Daddy right now.” My parents were heroes, and here I was, proving to be the biggest mistake they’d ever made.
“They won’t push you. But they’ll be here when you need them,” Hemlock promised.
“I don’t even know why you’re here for me. What I did was unforgivable.”
“Perhaps in the eyes of some, but the fae don’t believe in absolutes, the idea of good or evil, or right or wrong. You made an error in judgement, yet the outcome isn’t as poor as it could’ve been.”
“You mean I sucked the biggest dick of all time and now I don’t know how to choke it back up.”
Hemlock smiled. “In all my years of teaching, no one could quite make as many phallic references as you could.”
She shook her head. “And I think that blanket is the most covered-up I’ve seen you be since I met you. You always did like to shock and surprise. I could never quite guess what you were going to do next.”
“At least I’m good for something.”
“I suppose you and Mister Wahkin are considering dissolving your marriage.” Her sharp eyes had caught that I wasn’t wearing my ring. Not a surprise.
“I served him papers.” I pulled the blanket she’d given me tighter around me. “It must seem like such a waste to you, since you married us.”
Hemlock gave a noncommittal shrug. “I loved my husband dearly, but I’ve been single since the time he died. Malovian sorceresses believe men come and go. Mates are lost easily in the throes of heroic deeds and monster hunting, but the one thing a woman can depend on is herself.”
“But how can I trust myself again? I hurt people, I hurt myself… I hurt the man I loved.” I wiped away tears with the back of my hand. “Charlie wants us to fight for this, but I’m so tired. I don’t see how we can mend this, or if we should even try.”
“You weren’t trying to hurt anyone, Ava. You were just looking for a way out. You still are.” Hemlock reached out to hold my hand. “But running from this isn’t going to solve your problems. You must pick up your sword, face your demons, and continue to fight on.”
