Page 84 of Beneath the Flames
“Do you think it has something to do with Maren?”
“She’s a human, Nico, not a Fae.She doesn’t have magic, and she definitely didn’t cause mine to strengthen.It was probably adrenaline.My desperation to save us forced my magic to submit, that’s all.”
Or at least, that was all I could think of since I really had no idea how I’d done what I had.
Nico’s mouth twisted to the side, clearly skeptical, but he didn’t question me further.
“So, now what?”he asked instead.
“I told Maren we’d begin the next task at moon rise.”
“So soon?”
“I’m running out of time, and we can’t afford to waste any more.The next task I gave her will likely take a long time, and I’m hoping in that time she may start to fall for me.”
“Why don’t you just tell her how toreallybreak the curse?”
“Don’t you remember what happened to the others?”I asked him, anger coating my words.
Once upon a time, Nico used to cower beneath my anger, but now he challenged me instead.Fear no longer entered his eyes, and he didn’t back down, even though any Fae in their right mind wouldn’t question the Prince of Eroth.
That was why I felt it in every cell of my being when he said, “I do remember.Doyou?”
It was like a punch to the face, and I flinched, unable to hold it back.Of course I remembered.
One does not kill and forget.
“The truth isn’t an option, Nico, so drop it.”
“I’m just saying—”
“I know what you’re saying, and I want you to drop it.The hope of Maren breaking the curse was very small to begin with.She despises me.I tore her away from her home, her life, and brought her to a place where she will inevitably die.She’s not going to fall in love with me, especially if I tell her about the others.”
Nico’s expression fell, his shoulders drooping, perhaps finally understanding that there would be no breaking the curse.Yes, there was something different about Maren.I would be humble enough to admit that.But it wasn’t enough.
She wasn’t enough.Not for this.
“I like her.”Nico’s soft voice ripped through my thoughts, and a pang squeezed my heart.
I couldn’t let him get more attached, as much as it hurt me to crush his spirit.“Well, you shouldn’t.You know how this will end, Nico.”
Nico didn’t cry very often, even for being such a young Fae, but I didn’t miss the shine of tears filling his eyes.I’d never been one for physical affection, but I couldn’t stop myself from pulling him into my arms, trying to comfort him after just destroying his hope for something better.
His little arms wrapped around my waist, and he sniffled into my stomach.
“I want you to promise me something,” I said after a few moments.
His head moved up and down as he nodded.
“Before the last petal falls, before Eroth falls, before I—” The words caught in my throat, as if it were just now hitting me that my death was swiftly closing in.I fought against the panic shoving bile up my throat, clearing it so I could get the words out.
“Before the end, I want you to promise me something.”Nico’s head tilted back to look at me.“I want you to leave Eroth.Its fate is not yours.Go to Siris or Aeros.You’re still young enough.Hopefully they’ll accept you without judgement for being a Dark Fae.”I swallowed back the tears inexplicably filling my eyes, making my throat tight.
Why am I crying?I’m a prince!
Nico pulled away from me, outrage replacing his own tears.“What?No—”
“I need you safe—”
