Page 43 of A Blaze of Fire
I frowned. “You … You don’t remember?”
She shook her head and winced, grabbing the back of her head as if it hurt. Probably from where she headbutted my face. “No, I don’t.”
I helped her sit up and sat at the edge of her bed. “Well, don’t worry too much about it. All that matters is that you’re fine.”
“I kinda want to know, Alec,” she chuckled and rubbed her head with a grimace. “All I remember is jumping off your horse and running toward the wraiths. Then everything is blank.” She gasped. “Oh my gosh, are the others okay? Did they make it?”
I rolled my eyes. “Jon, Branwell, and Conner are perfectly fine. Don’t worry about them. Worry about yourself.”
“What about the wraiths?”
I sighed. “They’ve been taken care of.”By you, I added in my head. But she didn’t need to know that. At least not yet.
She exhaled loudly and then lay back down gingerly as if every bone in her body hurt. “Well, whatever happened, I don’t want to go through it again.” Spent, she stared at the ceiling.
I wanted to comfort her. Run my fingers through her hair, caress her cheek and tell her everything would be okay. But no. That wasn’t me. I wasn’t the one for her. That was Ansel’s job.
I restrained myself and looked away. “Don’t worry, Violet; you won’t have to go through that ever again.”
* * *
The restof the week went by without a hitch. Kazimir and the rest of the group collected taxes for the King while I found secluded, quiet places where I could train Violet when she felt up to it. She was getting better at controlling fire, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of that burst of power she had the other day. Maybe it unlocked something inside her.
Their tax collecting duties fulfilled, we returned to the castle with everything in tow and not a scratch on us. Other than a few shuddered memories, the others had stopped talking about the wraith attack.
“I’ll give our report to the King,” Kazimir declared. “The rest of you should go relax before you’re summoned.” He pointedly looked between me and Violet before departing, leaving us standing in the castle’s foyer.
The others dispersed quickly, not having to be told twice that they’d gotten some free time.
I turned to Rook. “Take her back to her room. Make sure Rosemary gets her something to eat.”
“Yes,” Rook said with a bow.
“Wait!” Violet interrupted before Rook could usher her away. “Where are you going?”
“I have an errand to run,” I said, short and simple. “I’ll be back soon.”
She looked at me suspiciously but nodded. Surprisingly subdued, she followed Rook toward her room.
Once they were out of sight, I started toward the other side of the castle to Ansel’s bedroom where I knew he’d be anxiously waiting for news. I may be cruel, but I wasn’t cruel enough to torture him much longer. When I arrived, I knocked on the door twice and waited. It didn’t take long for him to answer.
His door swung open, and he looked disheveled and wide eyed as he stared at me. “Is she back?” he asked with undisguised hope shining in his green eyes.
I nodded. “She is, but you know you can’t see her. At least not yet,” I said slowly so he would understand.
“I got your message that something happened,” he said in a rush, worry laced in his words.
I glanced around the hallway before pushing him toward his room. “Let’s talk inside,” I said, pointing to my ears and mouthing,There might be someone listening. I closed the door behind me and walked further into my brother’s decked-out bedroom. Nothing but the best bells and whistles for the Seelie representative.
After the incident with the wraiths, I’d sent a messenger to Ansel to let him know what happened before the inevitable rumors made their way to the castle. He needed a heads-up for the shit storm that was about to follow.
“How is she?” he blurted. “Is she ill? Hurt? What are the others saying?”
“Ansel, relax, man,” I stopped him. “She’s fine. She drained herself and was down for a day or two before she regained her energy. After that, she was brand new. As to what the others are saying … well, I’m sure you already know,” I mumbled the last part.
“Word came just the other day from the village,” Ansel revealed. “They’re already talking about her nonstop. By now, I’m certain it’s made its way to the King’s ears.”
“I’ll handle it when the time comes,” I asserted.
