Page 54 of The Tracker's Rage
I nodded once. “I must begin by explaining that we came to Elf-hame in search of you,” I said, realizing that I was speaking very formally, like I’d swallowed an English professor.
The Prince raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
“A farmer who delivers goods to the Vine Tower told us where to find you,” I continued, “and we headed this way on borrowed ponies, hoping to find you and gain an audience with you, all on the slim chance that you might remember me.”
“I do remember you very well,” he said, his eyes glinting. I got the feeling he knew more about me than our chance encounters should have afforded him, but that was unlikely.
“I am glad you do.” I inclined my head to express gratitude and relief. “What we wish to request from you is not for us, but for others back in our realm who are ill. You see, Damien needs Bitterthorn to craft a cure to save them from sure death.”
“Bitterthorn?” Prince Kalyll said, his deep voice rising a couple of octaves with surprise.
He sounded as incredulous as if I’d just asked him to exchange his armor for a lace bustier right before going into battle against barbed dragons. It took him a moment to sober up. “It is no trifle you ask for, Antonietta Sunder, but on my honor and for the deed you have done for us today, I will listen to you further and, based on your answer, will determine the righteousness of your request.”
So, with my heart in my hand and hopes for Aaron and Josh’s happiness and Liliana’s life, I told Prince Kalyll everything.
* * *
THE SEELIE PRINCE GAVEus exactly two Bitterthorn leaves. No more, no less.
Ten hours after we arrived in Elf-hame, we reappeared in Damien’s basement. The place was absolutely dark until he snapped his fingers and the candles around the room came to life.
No one was there, and the basement was spooky, but after being in the Fae realm, being back felt good. Safe.
“I will get started working on the cure right away,” Damien said, moving around the room, gathering utensils for his work.
“Here?” I said. “Aren’t you worried Stephen will send someone to destroy it again?”
“I added additional reinforcements to the house. They’ll get a big surprise if they return.”
I guessed there was no point in arguing with him. He knew what he was doing better than me. Besides, this was for his daughter, so I knew he would fight to the death to protect her only chance left at life—or death, whichever way vampires saw it.
“It’s been a long day,” I said, heading upstairs. “Call me when it’s done.”
“Toni,” Damien called when I was halfway up the steps.
I glanced back over my shoulder.
“Thank you for your help,” he said with a slight bow.
I shrugged. “After what you did with the reapgrubs, I don’t think you needed me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Eric said that when he saw your meetings with Prince Kalyll in your mind, they seemed... charged with something.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“The Fae have their own magic, Toni. They are especially talented in seeing the future. Perhaps, he knows something we don’t.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
Damien shrugged. “Could be, but I wasn’t wrong in letting you do the talking, was I?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean he would have said ‘no’ ifyouhad done the talking.”
He smiled, a rarity for him. “Fair enough. I should have something in two or three days .”
Wow, that was fast. I breathed a sigh of relief for Aaron and Josh, but still felt impatient to bring them the good news.
I found my Camaro parked outside and felt great relief when I sank into the driver’s seat and smelled its familiar scents of leather cleaner and lavender air freshener. Rosalina and Jake’s scents from this morning also lingered, making me feel at home even more. It was almost 11 PM, and my stomach rumbled from hunger. Damien had offered me a granola bar from his granny bag, but at the time, the reek of the reapgrubs’ blood had still been too fresh in my memory, so I’d turned it down. Now, I wished I’d wolfed it down.
