Page 91 of Crown of Ellova: Vol 1

We spend our last day at Quartzridge by the sparkling lake, the four of us lounging in long, woven chairs, sipping on cold juice, and enjoying the sun. Nueena’s sisters splash in the water nearby; Kaylena’s happy screams join the chorus of singing birds and several musicians’ soft melodies. I sit next to Nueena in an attempt to keep some physical distance from Leon. Nueena and Tavien both eye us with concern, having noticed the tension.

“How was the Airvell Spring?” Tavien asks cautiously.

“Collecting blutells went well. The bag is in our room. The part where I almost killed Leon did put a damper on the day, though.”

Tavien reaches out and takes Nueena’s drink to prevent her from spilling it everywhere right before Nueena sits up so quickly her chair shakes.

“What?” she demands.

Leon sits up as well. “She did no such thing. The crown thought I was attacking her and reacted; it was not her fault. Something I keep trying to tell her.”

Nueena and Tavien glance at each other before Tavien narrows his eyes at Leon. “Why, exactly, did the crown feel you were attempting to do her harm?”

Leon looks briefly offended at Tavien’s tone but is quick to explain we were just having fun and I was never in any real danger. Nueena relaxes, lying back down and taking her drink back from her Zemra.

“Well,” Nueena says, “this does prove the crown will protect against even perceived threats.”

The crown needs to make up its fucking mind. Does it want to protect me or kill me?The way everyone’s sympathetic eyes slide to me tells me it’s clear they all had the same thought.

We have one last meal before we will travel back to the High Palace.

Lazalai sees us off and I can no longer escape her presence. “Will you stay a few moments after our royal family leaves?” Her signature happy disposition is not there and her question implies it was not a suggestion.

I have no choice but to agree.

“I’ll see you back at the palace later tonight,” I whisper to Nueena, who nods, and I hand the enchanted bag of blutells to Tavien so he can get them to the apothecary.

“I’ll stay with you,” Leon interjects, visibly displeased with his instruction to leave with them.

I shake my head. “You have work to do with Tavien.” Leon opens his mouth to argue but must think better of it and nods instead.

Lazalai and I wait for the last of the party to disappear before we turn to each other. “Let’s walk, my dear.” She loops her arm withmine. “I’m not sure what is going on, but you’ve been avoiding me, and after a century of adamantly avoiding romantic entanglements, you have Leon following you around like a lost pup. I’m worried about you.” She stops and faces me when we reach a low balcony overlooking a lush garden. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, just overwhelmed with all the coronation preparation.” I smile at her. “I would come to you if it was something you could assist with.”

She rubs her temple. “Della, Iknowsomething is wrong. I can sense it. I won’t demand honesty if you will not freely give it. I know much of your loyalty and life lies with the High Court, but you have a home here too. You’ve made vows to this court, and to me.” She takes my hand. “I’m here if you need me.”

“I know. I’ve always known that.” Guilt mixes with affection for my Guardian. “Thank you for everything.” I pull her in for a hug, unwilling to add to the lies, but I have no truth to offer her.

She pulls away and with a mischievous grin asks, “So which court is Leon from?”

“He’s a healer, and we are not together. Or not in the way you think. He’s working with Tavien and only here for a short while. Once he is finished, we will part ways. I really must be getting back to them.”

“You might want to let him know that,” she says, her eyes kind and her words sympathetic.

“What do you mean?”

“He looks at you the way Tavien looks at Nueena, just with more open longing. It’s sweet.” She reaches up and cups my cheeks. “You deserve to be happy for whatever time is offered. Don’t let the ending ruin the beginning.”

To assuage my own guilt, I stay with Lazalai most of the evening, reminiscing on our past and all the current court drama, knowing that I have at least completed my task of acquiring the blutells and that Tavien and Leon can make progress while I’m here. When I finally return to the High Court, the royal wing is empty. As I lie in bed, the moon is high in the sky before I hear the library door open. I hold my breath, waiting to see if Leon will joinme, but then his bed creaks when he sinks into it, and my heart follows.

Maybe this is for the best, but my bed has never felt so cold.

The early-morning sun is bright and spilling through the windows as I take deep breaths through the sharp pain in my abdomen. After slowly making my way to the bathing room, I strip off my stained nightgown, drop it to the marble floor, and pull down one of the large shells, letting the hot water flow out of the wall into the small bathing pool in one corner, next to the large green translucent windows.

I pour in fragrant oils and dried sea foam from the Meridia Cove tide pools.

Large bubbles cover the top of the water as I sink into it, twirling my hair around the crown in a twist. Some falls back in my face but I do not have the energy to fix it. The warmth helps to ease the pain crawling up my spine.

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