Page 94 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Faxon? Can you hear me?” There was an edge to my voice, a quiet ruthlessness. Part of me wanted him to answer, to recover, so he could end his pathetic life with the knowledge I was the one who decided it. Another part of me wanted him to go quietly, never realizing the full extent of how he’d broken me. He was lying on the ground in the fetal position with his eyes closed. He didn’t answer, and I glanced up at Rainier to see what he thought, but he turned away from me, his hands on his hips as he started to pace.

Mairin knelt next to me and whispered, “His aura is different. I can barely see it; I don’t think he’s truly there.”

“Can you tell me if it changes? I’m going to try.” She nodded as I placed my hand back on his head, ignoring the heat from Rainier's stare.

I didn’t know what to focus on as I tried to heal him. I thought of our home and Elora. Our horses and the creek next to our house. I thought of Ravemont, the bow he gifted me, everything I could think of that might mean anything to him. I could tell the difference between normal wounds and what the mindbreaker had done, confirming to me that Cyran did, in fact, have one in his employ. My divinity struggled, and it felt almost like wading through mud. The toll was much higher than other times I’d healed people, the mindbreaker’s work making mine more difficult. My head started to pound, so I pulled away, attempting to muffle a slight grunt of pain. Rainier’s eyes met mine, and he seemed angrier than I could have imagined. Based on how he reacted when I spread myself too thin with his soldiers, I couldn’t imagine he would approve of me doing it for Faxon.

“It’s a bit better, but barely. I don’t know if you’ll get much out of him.” Mairin had knelt beside me the entire time, keeping an eye on us both.

“Thank you, Mairin.” I rubbed my temples and grimaced, readying myself to stand before I decided to try one more time. “Faxon, can you hear me?” After a few moments, I stood, searching for Rainier, who still paced angrily nearby.

Then Faxon reached out and grabbed my ankle, causing me to yelp.

“Emma?” His voice was a croak, weaker and raspier than the last time I’d heard him speak.

“Do nottouchme.” I pulled my leg away from him as I glared, a thick feeling of repulsion sliding through me, the sulfurous taste solidifying on my tongue. I felt Rainier at my side, his hand on my lower back, steadying me.

“You have white eyes.” Faxon’s voice didn’t sound quite right, and I gaped at him, confused.

“Do you know where you are?” He peered at the people surrounding us, taking in all the faces looking down on him before he hung his head, staring at the ground.

“On the precipice of war.” He didn’t move.

“Oh, gods.” I turned to Rainier, frustrated, before I lowered my voice. “Mairin saw his aura. I don’t think he’s going to be of any use.”

“Meeting expectations as usual, Faxon.” He gave me a small grin as he rubbed my back. I saw Faxon’s eyes track the movement.

“I suppose she’s yours?” He was crying, emotional as he considered the two of us, and I felt nauseated. He struggled to sit up, and I watched as Rainier only stared down at him. “I always suspected she spread her legs for you.” His eyes moved back to me. “I loved you, but you wouldn’t let me. You made me do all of this. You never let me in.” He started to sob, slumping over.

I heard some quiet grumbling around me, and I was glad the group was a small one. The words didn’t sting as much as he had intended. I’d always belonged to Rainier, as he had always belonged to me. I knew that now. Knowing Rainier's love only proved that what Faxon had felt wasn't love; it was a sorry imitation on its best days.

“You don’t break the people you love, Faxon. I was just a pretty prize that came along with an estate, and it has always chapped your ass you never got to run it. You can go straight to hell with any talk of love between us. You never loved me. Do you even know what love is?” My voice was quiet and lethal. Rainier watched me, affection and sadness in his features, and he squeezed my hand before kneeling in front of Faxon. I froze, but he surprised me.

“Why waste what valuable time Emmeline has allotted you? Help us undo what you've done. Where are they holding Elora?”

“Time is catching up to us.” More nonsense.

“Do you know where your daughter is?”

He merely cocked his head, confused. “She is not the prophecy.”

“Answer the question!” My head was pounding.

“She will die before the Beloved will rise.” His voice grew louder as he struggled to his feet. “You will be covered in her blood, and it will stink of your curse. Your curse. Your curse. Your curse. Your cur-”

Rainier walked slowly around Faxon, pulling both of his arms behind his back. He didn’t struggle, falling backward slack without another word.

“What do you want to do, Em?” Rain was quiet, and he watched me with sad eyes. My chest was heaving after what Faxon said. I didn’t know what a mindbreaker could do or what could have caused him to say those things. I couldn’t help it as I let out a sob.

“Why? Faxon, why did you do this to her? To our family?”

“It had to be done. She is safe—I made sure of it. From you. She’s safe from you.”

I didn’t think. Sick and horrified by what his mad mind insinuated, I stepped forward and put my hand on my husband's neck, feeling his heartbeat and forcing it to slow. I watched his knees buckle as he fell. Then everything turned black, and I fell too.

Chapter 31

Iwokeupina familiar position, with a familiar scent wrapped around me and an ache in my head. “I passed out again, didn’t I?” Rainier’s arm around my waist pulled me tighter. I glanced down and realized it was Bree we were riding on, and I felt a small comfort at the fact.

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