I didn’t care that he wasn't my husband anymore. I wasn’t letting that go. Cameron had crossed one too many lines when it came to Charlie. He thought he could whack his son around as he pleased and experience no consequences.
Not in my house. I owned this palace. The bastard just didn’t know it yet. People thought karma was a bitch. They had no idea, because karma was me, and I didn’t play nice.
“Did Cameron notice anything?” I asked Eldin.
She shook her head. “Not a thing. He departed from the play raving about how he wants to return for the next showing.”
At least somebody around here liked Marcus’ art. Pity it was a man with poor taste.
We returned to the Ladies’ Court. I entered my bedroom still carrying the present.
Hemlock’s final gift glittered in the light, and Eldin asked, “Would you like me to be here when you open it?”
I could hardly breathe. I managed to shake my head and stated, “I have to do this alone.”
“I understand. I will be outside should you need anything.” Eldin quietly dipped out, and I turned over the tag that was attached to the present. On the back was an inscription.
My Dear Ava. Happy Birthday, With All My Love.
I’m leaving this in your capable hands. I will not need it when I embark on my next journey.
Use it well when you find who you are.
What did she mean? I unwrapped the paper. Inside was a threadbare book with crinkled edges and a cover that was nearly falling apart.
Hemlock’s beloved anthropology book. She’d had this for decades. It was a massive title of supernatural history, from the beginning of the supernatural races until now. I opened the book and saw that Hemlock’s handwritten notes were scrawled all over the margins. A leather bookmark was placed in the middle of the tome. The broken spine nearly caused pages to fall out.
This had been her most prized possession, and she’d given it to me. She thought she wouldn’t need it on her next adventure. Her intuition had been right… but she hadn’t guessed that next adventure would be death.
Crushing grief split my insides open, wrecking me from the inside out. I bent over, sobbing as I fell out of my chair. I clutched the book to my chest, bending over to wail my grief.
This was the last present she’d ever give me. Because she was dead. It struck me now, harder than it had before. I’d never hear her voice again, experience her gentle touch, or feel her guiding light. Hemlock was gone because she’d associated with me, because I cursed everyone I came in contact with. I sat there and wept, sobbing as the world caved in.
Eventually, I noted someone else had entered my suite. Thin arms reached out to wrap around me as I clutched the gift with trembling fingers. “Ava.”
Abigail. The angel girl knelt beside me, abandoning her own wheelchair to hold me. My voice trembled as I asked, “Why did you come?”
“Kallie let me out of the dungeons some time ago,” she said quietly. “I’ve been waiting for when you would need me.”
I felt guilty about that, too. I’d locked my lady-in-waiting in the dungeons and left her to rot after accusing her of being the spy within the palace. I’d said such horrible things to her. And why? Because she was an angel, Esther’s sister, and the niece of Doctor Taurus?
I knew better than to judge someone based on who their family was, but I’d done it anyway because I needed someone to blame. That festering hatred had cost me Hemlock, because I’d accused Abigail without reason, and left the real traitor to run free. Alistair wouldn’t have gotten the chance to hurt anyone if I had investigated properly, but I’d allowed my emotions to get the better of me, and my mistake had taken my professor’s life.
“You shouldn’t be helping me. What I did to you was unforgivable. You should cast me aside and forget about me, like I did you.”
“I could never do that. You’re my princess, and I’m your lady. I’m sworn to serve you, and I always will.” Abigail wiped my tears away. “You made a mistake, but you did what you thought was best. Now we can work together to mend our mistakes.”
I sniffed. “I’m sorry. I hope the dungeons weren’t too terrible.”
“It wasn’t pleasant, but I wasn’t in there very long. Kallie let me out once the truth was revealed about Alistair.” She shrugged miserably. “I felt I deserved it. As your lady, I’m supposed to be aware of potential threats at all times. A feeling in my gut told me there was something off about Alistair, but I didn’t listen to it, because I had no evidence to present. I was foolish. My time in the dungeons was just punishment for not informing you of my suspicions sooner.”
“What happened in the past doesn’t matter now, because we can’t change it. I just… don’t know what to do now.”
Abigail stared at the floor. “I don’t think any of us do. Things continue to get worse, in the world and here.”
“What’s happened?”
“News has spread of a rebel camp of a few thousand supernaturals hiding in the woods not far from here. They fled The Mission and wanted to join our cause. They were close enough to our soldiers stationed outside the shield that we could’ve sent aid, but the Emperor ignored all requests for help, and he didn’t send any Elves in to defend them.”
