Falling Kingdoms

“Perhaps her magic cannot reach that far. But legend has it that the seeds she possesses have the ability to heal even the more dire illnesses.”

“And who is this woman that she’d have such magic at her disposal?”

Emilia looked reluctant to say anything else.

“Well?” Cleo persisted.

“An exiled Watcher. One who left the Sanctuary many years ago.”

“A Watcher,” Cleo said with disbelief.

“That’s right. So you’re right. Fantasy, that’s all. Watchers don’t really exist. There’s no one out there spying on us through the eyes of birds, hoping for clues of where to find the Kindred.”

“I’ve never believed in such nonsense.”

“Which is why I hesitated in telling you any of this.” She wiped a fresh trickle of blood from beneath her nose. Cleo’s heart, which had all but recovered itself, began to hurt again.

“Emilia...” Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know what to do.”

Emilia’s expression held deep distress. “I—I never should have told you any of this. My story got away from me. I only meant to say that if you really don’t want to marry Aron, tell Father. Make him understand that you’ll die if you do. And if you fall in love with someone else, you need to spend as much time with him as possible because you never know when he might be taken from you. Follow your heart wherever it leads. Appreciate life, Cleo. It’s a gift that can be stolen at any time. No matter what happens to me now with this illness, I don’t regret a moment I spent with Simon.”

Cleo gritted her teeth. “You won’t die. I simply won’t allow it.”

Emilia exhaled shakily. “My head hurts very badly. I need to sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open any longer because of the ridiculous elixirs the healers had me drink. Good night, dear sister. Tomorrow will be better.”

Cleo held on to Emilia’s hand until she was certain that she had drifted off to sleep. After kissing her sister’s forehead, she left the room and entered the hallway on unsteady legs. Theon stood next to the door, grimness etched into his handsome features.

With the door open, Theon easily would have heard every word spoken between her and Emilia even if he hadn’t been trying to listen.

“Thought you might try to escape via your sister’s balcony again,” he said quietly.

“Not tonight.” She looked up into his strained face. “Did you know?”

He shook his head. “I knew my father cared about someone, but he wouldn’t say who it was. I figured he was involved with a married woman. Now I know.”

She hugged her arms around herself as she walked. The wall-set lanterns cast a flickering glow of light and shadow along the hall. “Do you believe any of what she said about exiled Watchers and magic seeds that can heal illnesses?”

“I don’t know.”

Cleo stopped walking and turned to face him. “You don’t? You mean, you think it could be possible?”

“My father believed in magic, in long-lost legends of the Watchers of the Kindred. He told me that those who exile themselves to the mortal world will have children that can also be touched by magic. Witches.”

“I’ve never believed real witches exist. Or Watchers.”

His expression darkened. “I never did either, and I’m not sure you should start now.”

“I wonder if those in the Paelsian villages themselves would know how to find this woman,” she said under her breath after a moment. “If I could get a name, a location, I could find her and I could speak with her.”

Theon was silent for a moment. “You aren’t really considering chasing after this, are you? It was only a story your sister told you.”

“If there’s someone who can help Emilia, then I need to find her.”

Theon looked concerned by the sudden determination on her face. “After what happened with Lord Aron, it’s not a good idea for anyone from Auranos to step foot inside Paelsia’s borders until this all blows over.”

She looked at him with alarm. “Do you think it will?”

He nodded. “It’s one of the reasons your father chose to act now in announcing your engagement. It’s a distraction.”

Her shoulders sank. “My future misery is being used as a distraction. How wonderful.”

“Like your sister said, you don’t have to marry him. Not unless you want to.”

“You make it sound like I have a choice.”

“Princess Emilia was able to stop her engagement because she loved someone else.”

“So you think I should fall in love with someone else?”

He didn’t respond to this right away. She realized that he was watching her carefully.

“Maybe you should,” he finally said.

Her heart skipped a beat. “And be as fearless as my sister if I fall for someone not suitable for a princess?”

“That is entirely your decision.”

Her gaze moved to his lips, as if she couldn’t help herself.

“I want to help Emilia,” she whispered. “I can’t lose my sister. She believes she’s dying—I saw it in her eyes. I can’t let that happen.”

“I know.”

“I need to go to Paelsia and try to find more information about this exiled Watcher.”

Theon’s expression hardened. Anything previously confusing in his eyes faded away. “Forget this, princess. Besides, you don’t believe in magic.”