Page 134 of Between Fear and Favor

When I’d become the Beloved and used my newfound divinity to bring Elora back from the dead, I’d stolen her from the eternal lands. To choose between my daughter and the Three Kingdoms—between my daughter and the rest of the world—was my penance for such an action.

But, in my heart, there would never be a choice.

I held out my hand.

Chapter 60

DEWALT

“You should go after her,”the woman said from beneath Raj’s desk. I had her hair wrapped in my hand, tilting her head back to look up at me. A smirk curled up the edge of her lip, eyes cold. A scar graced her skin, from her hairline down to her chin—puckered and pink and new. Her hand tightened around the back of my leg, squeezing nearly to the point of pain.

“I don’t think I will, no.” I grunted as her other hand shifted higher, firm pressure against my balls.

“You think she’d miss these?” she asked, and I pressed my dagger against her neck even harder. My breath hitched as she adjusted her own blade.

“Not as much as you’ll miss having your head attached to your body. What the fuck are you doing here? Who are you?” I demanded. I was lucky to have seen her shadow move beneath the desk as I’d gone into the room. Locking it behind me as I’d pretended to make myself comfortable, I had ensured Nor’s safety by the skin of my teeth. Refusing to let myself imagine what could have happened if she’d burst into the room, I shifted my weight. If I could twist, kicking the woman’s other arm out from beneath her, this sneaking bitch would have to catch herself, ensuring the safety of my balls in the process. I was too nervous to send an impulse down her fucking arm; the sharp edge of her blade was far too close for comfort.

“Aida,” she whispered. She closed her eyes, inhaling a shaky breath. “I mean no harm—the opposite of it, really. Raj was—I was...I was his, and he was mine,” she finished.

I blinked down at her, jaw going slack. She’d been presumed dead—a victim to Raj’s defense before he died. I’d planned to investigate it further, but hadn’t had the opportunity yet.

“I need something of mine to stop them. That’s why I’m here.”

“You killed Raj,” I said.

Her exhale was sharp, and her grip on me loosened. “Itismy fault, but I didn’t kill him. I swear it.” Her hand twitched, and her over-bright green eyes darted up to me in plea. “Believe me. You have to help—so I can stop the ones who did kill him. Before they do much worse.”

“Where have you been? If you didn’t kill him, why did you run?” I demanded.

She dropped her dagger, placing her hand in her lap. I loosened my grip on her hair, but I didn’t let my guard down.

“I had to get them away from the children. From Marella and Jesper. They—I couldn’t have them on my conscience too. I need to stop them.” A sob burst up from her chest, and her eyes watered. “Those children must hate me. I-I’m the reason their father is dead, and I—” She coughed, choking on her tears. “Are they all right? I mean, of course they’re not?—”

“Stop.”

Her hair was a mess, dark strands so wild they appeared to be floating. I jolted when I realized theywerefloating, and my own scalp began to tingle. Remembering she was elven, just like Nor, I frowned. My songbird might not have known how to protect herself using magick, but Aida likely did. I didn’t know shit about her other than that she couldn’t be trusted. Shocked by how lightweight she was, despite her height, I wrenched Aida to her feet. I looked over her body for blood she might have spilled in the attempt to use her magick to attack, but found none. There was no explanation for what I’d seen.

“What are you doing? Explain your magick. Who are you trying to stop?”

“My sisters,” she said, eyes widening as she stared, gaze drifting above me. “They’re going to take Nara’s Cove...what is happening?” She lifted her hand above my head as if she were about to touch my hair. Lifting into the air as if caught in a steady breeze, both of our hair stood on end.

I let go of her, and I watched as a loose piece of parchment slowly lifted from the table beside us. “Gravity,” I said. “Something is...” Pulling one of my daggers from my bandolier, I stepped backward. There was almost a bounce to it, my body lighter than it had been moments ago. “Is this your magick? Theirs?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Perhaps it’s something my sisters—no, I don’t know how they could?—”

“Explain now,” I said, gesturing toward the chair with the tip of my blade. My arm felt different—less heavy—and each movement I made was slower. Something strange was happening, and she had to know why. Aida moved slowly, and her steps seemed weightless.

“They’re strong—and powerful. And fucking greedy—always seeking more power. Out of fear, probably. I no longer want that.”

“But you did once? Is that why you were with Raj? To get more power?”

“I came to live in Vesta because I wanted more power, yes. That...changed.”

“Because you fell in love with Raj,” I replied, dully. I didn’t want to believe her sob story. She refused to acknowledge my words as insult.

“Because I fell in love with Raj,” she agreed. “He knew everything, and I wanted out.”

“Out of what?”

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