Page 16 of A Lick of Flame

My head still throbs a little in time with my heartbeat. I sit up and look down at myself, at all the blood, bright red against white. My nightclothes are ruined. No amount of tallow and soaking will remove the stains.

What a silly thing to think at a time like this. Who cares about stains?

It happened again.

I clamber to my feet and wash my face in the nearby basin of water. The water tinges red. Then I hastily remove the soiled garment, grabbing one of my dresses from the trunk. I look down at the mark on my shoulder for the tenth…no, twentieth time since coming home yesterday. It can’t be ignored. Not anymore. My episodes – for lack of a better word – can’t be ignored, either. I don’t think the beastfae was making it up. I think he might be right. I am tethered to the baby dragon, and she to me.

It's what’s causing my head to ache and my nose to bleed. It’s causing me to lose consciousness.

Mother Trinity and the others were so afraid yesterday. They thought that I had died. Not to mention the children; I gave them such a fright with my terrible screams.

I’m not sure how I managed to hold them back just now, only that I did. It took every ounce of strength I possessed.

It must be true…all of it. The fae wasn’t lying. As crazy as it sounds, unless I travel to his kingdom to find some witch in a forest I don’t remember the name of, I’m doomed. Little Raila, too. My eyes fill with tears as I quickly dress. I can’t stand the thought of Raila dying because I was stupid enough to put us in a situation like this. None of this is her fault. I should have listened to my gut. I should have left well alone. I had to go and poke my nose where it didn’t belong. I’ve made a mess of things. I need to fix it. I have no other choice.

What about the orphanage? Of Mother Trinity and the other sisters? We’re shorthanded as it is.

I huff out a breath as I slide my feet into my shoes. I’m no use to anyone right now. I’ll just cause everyone to worry. I’ve had two episodes since leaving the caves yesterday. That’s two in a short space of time.

I need to go back. I need to speak with the fae. There is no other way.

I swallow thickly as I open the wooden trunk once again, taking out a cloth bag. I pack a few items of clothing inside. Then I grab my oilskin coat from the hook at the back of my door. It isn’t much, but it will have to do.

I open my bedroom door and find Louisa standing there, her hand poised to knock. Her eyes widen, moving first to the bag on my back, then to the jacket in my hands. Lastly, she spots my nightclothes where I left them lying on the floor.

Her eyes narrow, then lock with mine. Her mouth falls open for a few beats before she gets herself together. “It happened again, didn’t it?”

I nod. “Yes.” I look down the hallway, swiftly pulling her into my bedroom and shutting the door.

“Why? What’s going on, Maya? You have to tell me,” she whispers.

I shrug. “I don’t know. I—”

“You know, you just won’t tell me,” she insists. “I can see it written all over your face. You’ve never been much of a liar.”

“Fine, I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell the others. You have to swear it.”

Louisa nods. “I swear.” She takes my hands in hers and squeezes once before letting go. “You know you can trust me.”

I lick my lips and tell her a much shorter version of the events. Although her eyes go wider and wider, the further I get into my story, she doesn’t say or do anything until I finish.

“I need to go and find the fae,” I end on.

“You can’t go. Then again, what choice do you have?” Her eyes flick from left to right as her mind works. “So, you’re going to go with him to the beastfae kingdom to find this witch?” She sounds incredulous, and I can’t say I blame her. I sounded the same not so long ago.

“I’m going to hear Orion out, but…” I chew on my lower lip. “It looks like it may very well end up that way. You can’t tell Mother Trinity; she’ll worry too much about me.”

“I have to tell her something,” Louisa insists.

“You can tell her I had another episode and that I am seeking help from a healer in the next village. That I am of no use to the orphanage in my state. I will be back as soon as possible.”

Louisa’s eyes fill with tears. “What if you don’t come back? What then?” A single teardrop falls, sliding down her cheek.

“If I’m not back before the next full moon, you can tell Mother Trinity the truth, but not before.” I keep my voice firm. “Hopefully, I will return before then, as good as new.” I force a smile.

“I still can’t believe that you’re mindbonded – for lack of a better word – to a baby dragon.” She shakes her head, her mouth agape once again.

“Yes. It would seem so.” I slowly unbutton my dress, revealing the mark branded into my skin.

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