Page 173 of Curse of Darkness
“Both curses?” Baylor’s head whips toward me.
Lucere’s cheeks heat. “It’s none of your business.”
Baylor stares at her intently.
But she’s right. It isn’t his business.
“Baylor, with me. Take a moment to compose yourself, Lucere. Take the time you require, but do remember that you’re needed in the command tent.”
“Imerys.” Lucere sits on the edge of her sister’s trundle again, shaking her by the shoulders. “Imerys, please.Wake up. Don’t leave me here alone. Please don’t leave me all alone.”
Tears stream down her face, and I gesture Baylor outside the tent in order to give the Queen of Ravenal some privacy.
The harsh line of his shoulders looks like it’s taken a blow.
“She didn’t mean it. You’re not a beast. Nor an oathbreaker. You did your best.” My voice softens. “And… Imerys’s curse can be broken.”
Baylor stares into the distance, his face like stone.
And then his golden eyes shift to mine, blazing in their intensity.
“I need to wash this blood off,” he growls. “Then I’ll report to the war tent.”
* * *
Thiago and Erisare surveying the field, but the others wait for me in the command tent.
“Vi.” It’s a quiet word.
I look up as Thalia advances upon me, clad in a gorgeous red gown that sits off her rounded shoulders. Everyone else is wearing leather and armor, but she merely sniffed and said that if Evernight was going to end, she was going to go down looking as glamorous as usual. Her only concession to the occasion is a pair of magnificent, knee-high boots, the likes of which I still don’t have a pair myself.
“What is it?”
She takes my hands in hers, far more solemn than I’ve ever seen her.
“You have to set them free,” she says quietly.
Everyone in the tent stills as her statement drops into the room.
“Thalia, no.” I know how much she fears this. The Old Ones were once gods, and while they may fight the Horned One, there’s no telling what they will do once they’re free. I’ve been trying to keep that option at the back of my mind. “I can link the powers of the Hallows. I can—”
“Die,” she says simply. “You can die. And you will, you know.” Tears suddenly gleam in her green eyes. “I know you, Vi. You will throw yourself at the Horned One with all your strength, and you will die because it will not be enough.” She suddenly dashes away a falling tear with a laugh. “You make decisions so swiftly, and they’re not all good decisions, but this one time you’re holding back—”
“If I release them, then the Father of Storms will come for you.” Can she not see what I’m trying to do?
Only as a last resort, I promised myself.
The Mother of Night can do what needs to be done. I trust her. I’ll free her. And the Erlking still owes me a boon, since he didn’t kill Malakhai. But the others?
Thalia swallows. “I know. I’ll never be able to set foot on the seas again. I’ll hear him singing to me every night and with my magic gone, I won’t be able to sing back. He’ll invade my dreams. He’ll never let me escape him.” She suddenly straightens. “But it is a small cost to save the life of my friend.”
Tears wet my eyes. “And Baylor and Lysander? Because they’ll be affected too and—”
“Do it,” Baylor growls, pushing away from the tentpole he’s been leaning against. He offers me a sad smile. “We’re stronger than you think, Vi. And this time, we’re not alone. If the Grimm One howls for us to join him, then maybe we’ll howl back this time. Maybe we’ll hunthim. We’ll have you on our side, after all.”
“And Death,” Finn says, leaning back in his chair.
“I will break apart the Seelie Alliance. I will break apart Unseelie. Don’t you see? It’s not just me! I will bring ruin down upon the fae and the lives of everyone I love!” I shake my head. “There has to be some other way.”
