Page 42 of A Blaze of Fire
I watched Alec’s mouth move but couldn’t hear the words coming out of his mouth. There was a shrill ringing in my ears and a heaviness in my gut. I squinted and tried to focus on his face, which swam before my eyes.
“Violet!” He shook my limp body, boneless as a rag doll.
Everything spun with that shake and I felt the contents of my stomach churn violently. “Alec,” was all I could murmur before I collapsed in his arms.
Then, I remembered no more.
18
ALEC
“Did you see her?” Jon whispered, turning his face to the side as one of the healers in their party tended to his wounds.
We’d arrived at the next town, just barely. Thanks to Violet, everyone survived.
“No, I didn’t see her,” Cael grumbled. He leaned against the far wall of the inn’s common room wearing his usual surly expression.
“She was incredible!” Jon said, awestruck and amazed.
“She’s the real deal,” Branwell agreed. “She’s the one we’ve been waiting for! She’s the—”
“Don’t say it,” I snapped. “Be careful what you say around Kazimir,” I whispered, thankful he was occupied securing our rooms. “Anything you say will get back to the King.”
“But she’s the—” Branwell tried again, but I cut him off with a pointed glare.
“She’s not anything. She’s just a halfling who ended up with the orb,” I said. We all turned to the sofa where Violet lay unconscious. “She’s not anything,” I repeated. The words tasted sour in my mouth, but hopefully my declaration would keep her safe.
Violet had done the impossible. She breathed fire from her mouth. Besides me and Rook, there were three other witnesses – the fire elementals who’d faced off with the wraiths. There would be no stopping the rumor mill once we returned to the castle.
Just then, Kazimir returned with our room keys. His face was drawn and exhausted. “Like always, we pair up. Two to a room, and we take shifts guarding the loot. Any questions?”
Jon raised his hand. “Can I share a room with Lady Violet?”
My incredulous gaze whipped in his direction; my eyes sharp as I drilled holes into his head.He wants to dowhat?
“Wait, I want to share a room with Lady Violet!” Branwell cut in. “I can tend to her wounds better than he can!”
“What about me?” Conner blurted. “I was there too, ya know! I want to be there when she wakes up!”
“Enough!” Kazimir shouted, slamming a fist on the wall. “No one is staying with Lady Violet except—”
“Exceptme,” I interrupted before he could say anything to the contrary. I was worried Kazimir would want to interrogate her when she woke up, so Vi’s safest bet was to stay by my side. “Rook and I will stay with Lady Violet like always. That’s why we’re here. The rest of you can continue with your usual duties.”
I didn’t miss the glare Kazimir aimed my way, which I studiously ignored. More than anyone else, he was the one I needed to protect Vi from. He wouldn’t think twice about killing her. If he ever found out she was his daughter, well … it’s best not to think about that.
I grabbed a key from Kazimir and looked at the room number, then turned to Rook. “Bring her to room two-thirteen.” I watched as the burly guard gently picked Violet up from the sofa and headed toward the stairs that led to the bedrooms. I handed him the key when he passed.
With a scowl, Kazimir turned and walked outside the inn. Once Rook and Violet were out of earshot, I turned to the rest of the group, my gaze full of determination. “I know what you allthinkyou saw, and what you think she is. But you’re wrong. Just leave her alone anddo notstart any rumors, or else you’ll have me to deal with. And I’m already not that friendly to begin with.” Without bothering to wait for questions, I followed the path Rook had taken up to the second floor. I found him standing sentinel outside the door.
“She’s beginning to stir.” With a slight bow, he let me inside.
The room was small and looked almost identical to the one we’d slept in last night. Two narrow beds separated only by a flimsy nightstand, along with no windows and zero charm. Vi’s eyes fluttered open as I approached the bed closest to the wall where she lay.
Hearing my footsteps, she called out, “Alec?”
Knowing my name was her first thought upon waking warmed something inside me. “I’m right here, Vi.” I knelt beside her bedside and brushed her hair to the side. “How are you feeling?”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “I feel like I was run over by a truck. A really big truck. What happened?”
