Page 82 of Sharpen Your Claws

“Do not blame him for your own misguidance,” Evera interrupted, surprising him. One might say she had stood up for him. “You did this and now we shall fix it, under a condition, of course.”

Alvina barked out a laugh. “And why should I make a deal with you?”

“Because Bloodbane will leave you to rot if you don’t, and you know you can’t handle this, not in your state, and not alone.” Evera stood proudly, her hands on her hips. “Release Nicholas and me from our bargain. We will not be forced to have children together. In exchange, we will defeat Fearworn for you and not share your stupidity with anyone outside our group.”

“Again,” he said. Battles hadn’t bothered him once. They did after falling for William, knowing he would be at Nicholas’ back, willing to throw his life away to protect him. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t lose William.

Alvina gnawed at her bottom lip. She didn’t want to make a deal, especially not this one. Her obsession with shades brought this upon them. Had she left Fearworn to rot, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Fine,” she snapped. “Defeat Fearworn and I’ll absolve you of your deal with Nicholas.”

“Good.” Evera smiled, then nodded at him. “Get the others. They should hear everything she says.”

Alvina scowled. “Others?”

27

William

Nicholasledthegroupto Alvina’s room, where Evera waited, more smug than ever. Alvina did not share her daughter’s mirth. The injured fae sat in her nest, curled beneath bloodied blankets. She snarled at their entrance, her hatred palpable, but didn’t dare to rise. Even William could surmise she was too weak to protect herself.

“You believe you can defeat Fearworn with these mortals?” Alvina laughed.

The mention of that bastard’s name brought about a cold sweat. William swallowed hard. His hands shook.

“Tell us everything that happened,” Evera demanded.

Alvina spoke of finding Fearworn’s corpse, bringing it to Faerie, and how he healed himself by draining the life force of the land itself. That was what caused Bloodbane to wither. William shared what happened in Terra: the missing patients and shadowed disciples capturing them. Alvina listened like he spoke gospel, so enraptured by the information that she made him uncomfortable. Nicholas hadn’t said enough about Alvina’s hunger for knowledge. No doubt she could repeat his every word, cataloguing it into her mind to find whenever she pleased.

“There were ten shadowed disciples who attacked me,” Alvina explained after he finished. “But I can’t rule out there being more. They were prepared, so they either knew this would happen or had prepared for Fearworn’s return. They’re still in Bloodbane. I can feel them, but I don’t know why.”

“What about the mortals? Do you know why shadowed disciples are bringing them here?” Henry asked from where he scribbled in his notebook.

Alvina gave him an approving look. Apparently, she didn’t dislike a mortal who took information as seriously as she did. “My best guess would be for Fearworn. His body healed by latching onto Faerie, but he never woke up. I always believed he used life force to open scars. This might be similar, using life to bring back life.”

“So my patients may be alive,” said William, uncertain if he was hoping they were. The shadowed disciples had them. They needed them alive, but potentially not unharmed. He brought supplies to help should they find any living, but he may not have enough and, as he learned in the war, breathing didn’t mean living. They could practically be walking corpses doomed to death, regardless of their rescue.

“Well, we at least know Fearworn isn’t up and about, otherwise things would be much worse,” Henry said.

“My biggest concern is that he will remain no matter what is done to him,” Alvina added. “He cheated death already. There is nothing to say he won’t cheat it again, especially here.”

“What if we take his remains to Terra? The magic there is weaker,” Evera suggested.

“We’ll figure that out once we find him and the shadowed disciples. Where are they most likely to be?” Nicholas asked.

“Likely where I left them at Sky Lake.”

“A good place for you to hide,” Evera grumbled. “There are cave systems there to hide in and the lake itself is far from prying eyes. Did you learn anything from your experiments?”

“Nothing I can say for certain. My findings are in the library.” Alvina waved a hand, clearly giving up on keeping any secrets. “Amos knows where to find them.”

“Should we have someone here to watch her?” he whispered to Nicholas.

“No, she isn’t going anywhere. Sorrows Well is the only reason she’s alive right now,” Nicholas replied.

Together, the group traversed to the library where Amos remained. He didn’t want Arden there most of all, based on how he watched the fae like a hawk circling a rabbit. Evera instructed her brother to share Alvina’s research. He wasn’t as reluctant as William expected. Amos tugged leather-bound notebooks from the shelves to lie across the table, though that was the extent of his help. He departed without a word, which William was grateful for. Amos had an unsettling air about him.

Henry took over the duty of reading Alvina’s notes. As a researcher, he deciphered them best and pieced together a picture of what to expect, though based on his grim expression, no one would like the answers.

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