Page 67 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Life is a show, Aelia,” Caiden said, sliding into the seat next to me. Lucius and Amolie took the seats across from us.

“The horses are fed an enchanted grain. They will not tire for days. I am having one of my men take Arion to the camp.” He wrapped his hand around mine.I didn’t know how we had fallen back into touching each other so easily again, but it felt nice.

“Thank you.” I gave him a reassuring smile.

He pushed in closer to me. “Do you know where I got the enchanted grain?”

“You are a magus. I assume you can enchant anything.”

He shook his head, chuckling to himself. “I got it from Baylis.”

I perked my head up. “What?”

“You didn’t know your sister was a scientist?” he asked, cocking his head to one side.

“I knew she met with the farmers of the kingdom. She must have worked with them to develop such a hearty crop.” Maybe I didn’t know as much about my sister as I thought.

Caiden let out a sigh. “She was quite something.”

“She still is,” I said before laying my head on Caiden’s shoulder.

Shadows ringed my eyes. The steady motion of the sleigh lulled me into a dreamless sleep. As I drifted off, Caiden kissed the top of my head, and I burrowed myself farther into his warm embrace.My heart chafed at the feeling of the kiss. Torn between my need to be loved and the inevitable heartbreak that would follow.

The trip seemed endless. We passed the time by playing cards, telling old stories, and singing. On the third night, we stopped at an inn in the human province of Leighton. I stretched, arching my back, relieved to be free of the sleigh for a moment.

The inn had two suites available. Amolie and I split a room while Lucius and Caiden shared the other.

“How are you feeling about the revelry?” Amolie asked as we lay in bed, listening to the wind rattle the windows.

“Hesitant, excited, sad, a million different things and nothing simultaneously.”

“Do you want to use?”

“I want to use every hour of every day.” I picked at my fingernails.

“For what it’s worth. I’m proud of you. I know this isn’t easy.”

I squeezed her tight, inhaling the sweet scent of sage seemingly baked into her hair. “I knew this day would come. I wish I had gotten sober sooner.”

“You weren’t ready, Aelia.” She stroked my back. “I feel bad for enabling you for so long, but I didn’t know how to help you.”

“You couldn’t have helped me, Amolie. I was determined to kill myself slowly. I had to come to that realization on my own.”

“You deserve happiness too, Aelia. Don’t forget that. Don’t let your past control your future.”

A sigh escaped my lips. “I wish I could.”

The beauty of the Woodland Realm took my breath away. Towering, ancient trees with twisted branches and luminescent foliage formed a canopy filtering sunlight into a kaleidoscope of dappled hues. Their leaves glowed an otherworldly radiance, casting a gentle, ambient light bathing the forest floor in a surreal glow. The fragrance of unseen blossoms floated in the air, carrying hints of sweet nectar and the untold mysteries of the arcane. Birds sang to one another. Magic flowed like water here. I could feel its presence in every living thing.

The forest held an ancient history, one that extended beyond recorded accounts. Legend said the forest birthed the Alder King to serve as its protector.

Our camp lay in the middle of the forest, near the river. Other courts arrived and could be seen setting up their tiny tent villages as well. A market set in the center of the camps provided goods and services for weary travelers.

In the distance, a giant sycamore tree rose from the earth like a castle on a hill.

“The Alder King’s palace,” Caiden said, noticing me staring at the mighty structure.

“I’ve never seen something so grand.”

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