Addison

I rouse from sleep, thanks to a hand on my shoulder gently shaking me. Blinking my eyes a few times, I get the person in front of me into focus. Wes. I must have fallen asleep at the healer’s by his bedside.

“You’ve been sleeping a while. You started mumbling and when I touched you at first, you smacked me away. Were you having a nightmare?” he asks.

It takes me a moment to remember my dream. I was running through the Pine Forest in search of Oliver. No matter where I looked, I couldn’t find him. I was even able to find his small building, high up in the trees, yet he wasn’t there. I ran as far as I could go, until my eyes were stinging with tears, and my breath was coming in shallow pants. Never did I find him.

An ache forms in my chest. I reach my hand up to gently rub it, in hopes of easing it away. It doesn’t work.

“Addison?” Wes’s hand gently shakes me again. I look over to him. He reaches up and brushes a tear from my cheek that I hadn’t realized I shed. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “Yes. Only a dream.” I shake my head and try to gather myself. This isn’t the time to fully analyze what I’m feeling. Not when I’m sitting in front Wes, who is still recovering. Thankfully, I didn’t accidentally send him any of my thoughts.

“I get to go home today.” The smile he’s giving causes me to smile in return. He ended up needing to stay here for two nights, due to an infection in the wound that developed.

“That’s great news.”

“It is. I have to take it easy for a bit, but can start walking in small intervals.”

“I’ll be there to help you, should you need anything.”

“It’s fine if you can’t be. One of the apprentices can come by and assist.” I narrow my eyes at him. Why is he saying this? Did something happen when I wasn’t visiting him?

My eyes rove around the room, finally landing on a petite woman with short auburn hair. She’s slender and very pretty. I see her glancing in Wes’s direction.

“What exactly went on when I wasn’t here?” I ask.

“Nothing. I’ve been laid up in bed.” He’s telling me the truth, I can sense it, but there’s more here. Maybe the other woman has developed a crush on him.

I stand and walk toward the woman in slow, measured steps. When I reach her side, she tenses. I hold out my hand. “I’m Addison Azure. I don’t believe we’ve met.”

She quickly takes my hand and curtsies. “Your Highness.” I withdraw it, watching as she stands. She’s almost the exact height as me. “I’m Larise.”

“You’re learning to be a healer?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“And you have a special interest in Wesley?”

Her eyes widen. “No, Your Highness. I’m only here to tend to his wound and learn all I can about helping the sick and injured.”

“You’re saying he’s only a patient to you and nothing more?”

She doesn’t answer immediately, and it’s at that moment, I know she has started to develop something for him, even if it is one-sided. “Yes, Your Highness.” She’s lying, but I decide not to push her further. Yes, I’m jealous, however I would be a hypocrite to chastise her, when I have feelings for another man—feelings I have no business having.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Larise.”

She curtsies again. “You as well.”

When I make my way back to Wes, he has a cocky smirk on his face. I raise an eyebrow in question. He laughs and it’s a good sound to hear, given how injured he was when he was first brought in.

“Are you ready to leave?” I ask.

“Yes, I most certainly am.

“Good.” I call the healer over and ask her to drop by his home later with all of the supplies he’ll need to care for the wound.

Wes leans one arm on me and limps by my side as we walk from the healer to his home. We take it slow. Even though I know he’s feeling better, I notice sweat beading up on his forehead as he walks the short distance home.

“I should have asked Elliott to come help get you home.”

“No,” he states firmly. “I can do this. I need to start gaining the strength back in my leg.”

“She’s going to bring the salve by tonight that she’s been using to help accelerate the healing.”

“Good,” he grates out in a strained voice.

It doesn’t take us long before we reach his home. I open the door and help him to his couch. After I close it, I go to the kitchen and get him a glass of water. I can’t imagine the pain he’s feeling and can tell he’s easily overexerted. When I take a seat beside him, I notice how pale he has become. The color of his skin is a stark contrast to the black fabric of the couch.

“I think you need to rest a bit. I’m going to run home and grab some clothes to stay the next couple of days with you. Will you be okay while I’m gone?”

He nods. “Yes, I’ll be fine. The walk home tired me out. I’m going to rest and then would like to get up and move around again when you return.”

“Sounds good.”

I lean over to kiss his cheek, but he turns and ends up kissing my lips. Even in his exhausted state, he reaches up to palm the back of my neck, bringing my body closer to his. I am kissing him back, but it’s not with the same passion. The dream of this morning is still fresh in my mind. I can’t help but think of Oliver while Wes has his lips pressed to mine.

Gently, I ease away from him and smile. “I’ll be back before you know it.” I help him to lie down then go to the stone walkway to get back to my home.

The entire time I’m away from Wes, my mind drifts to thoughts of Oliver, and what I’m going to do. Wes is safe. He’s a good man and fighter. He would always protect and love me. Yes, the spark is missing, and the fact is I don’t love him. I know I shouldn’t be comparing the two of them, but at this point, I can’t help it. I don’t know what to do.

Back at Wes’s home, I find him asleep on the couch. He’s gained some color back, which is good. I drop my belongings inside and quietly leave once again. It’s approaching lunchtime and I’m starving. There will be enough food in the royal dining room to feed twenty people. I can easily grab some food for us and bring it back.

As I start gathering food, my mother comes into the room with a large basket. She places it on the table and puts a napkin on the bottom of it. “Here. This will help you carry everything back.”

I shake my head. “You’re always one step ahead of me.”

“I knew you would need something for the food.”

We both start packing it, and once it’s full, she lays another napkin on top. Then she reaches to her hip to undo a belt I hadn’t noticed until then. It’s made of worn, brown leather and is holding a short sword on one side. She steps behind me and secures it to my waist.

“It’s not the most fashionable, but it will do. And no one will question you wearing it, given who you are and your reputation.”

“What do I need this for?” I ask.

She steps around me to look me in the eyes. “You’ll find out soon enough. But I can tell you that no harm will befall you. That’s not to say you won’t venture out and need the sword for protection of sorts.”

“If something is going to try and kill me, I want to know.”

“Your life won’t be in danger, Addison.”

I reach for her arm. “Whose is then? You have to tell me.”

“You know I can’t.” I’m shaking now. Not from fear, but from the unknown. My mom won’t give me all the details, but she wants me armed. I wish she could tell me everything.

“You can’t tell me anything else?”

“Only to trust your instincts. They will guide you.” I groan and grab the basket from the table. “I know you’re frustrated, but I’d rather send you out with a sword than nothing at all.” She reaches up to gently glide her finger along my forehead. “Don’t forget all of your gifts. You are especially blessed and will need them from time to time in life.”

Looking down to the sword now resting on my left hip, I say, “Thank you. Although, depending on what happens, I might be angrier at you when I get back than I am now.”

She laughs. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were, but I have a feeling you’re going to be grateful.”

It’s hours later when a loud knock reaches us in Wes’s bed. I had helped him to the bath and then into bed so that he could rest his leg more. The knock comes again, but this time the door opens. I jump from the bed and rush out of his room. Sam and Nick are standing before me, their breath coming in pants.

“Where’s Wes?” Sam asks. His copper hair is falling haphazardly over his forehead. I don’t miss the white bandage wrapped around his forearm where the trelktik bit him.

“He’s in bed,” I reply. “He only came home this morning.”

“Okay, never mind.” They both turn to rush back out the door.

“Wait! Where are you going?” I can’t help but wonder if this is when I’ll need the short sword my mother gave me.

“One of our lookouts came in to say there is a group of people walking along the border of Azure and Pine. We’re going to investigate. Word has it one of them is Sage.” I gasp but try to hide it. It doesn’t work. Sam’s eyes soften. “Don’t worry, Addi, we’ll protect you.” At least he doesn’t think my sudden intake of breath is for another reason.

“I don’t think we have to worry about him. He did save my life the other day.”

Anger laces his features. “He shouldn’t have had to. One of us should have been there.”

I ignore his comment. I don’t know when they are going to realize that Oliver isn’t the enemy. “I’m coming with you.” I rush to the kitchen table and grab the leather belt with the sword still in its scabbard. I have it around my waist in no time.

Nick speaks up. “Addison, you can’t come. Wes would have our heads.”

I stiffen. “You think I can’t handle myself? That their people will get a jump on the two of you and whatever other Elite are coming with us?”

“Not at all.”

“Then I’m going.”

“Fine. Have it your way. You better keep up, and if this gets back to Wes, we had nothing to do with you coming.”

I laugh as I walk by him. “Remember who you’re talking to, Nick. I’m not your average woman. And leave Wes to me.”

He looks me up and down. “No, you’re not.” His assessment of me earns him a slight smack on the chest.

I’ve grown up with Sam and Nick. We joke a lot. Much more than I do with others in the Elite.