chapter seventeen
PHILLIP
Luna gave me a watery smile and squeezed my hand. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Surprise me.”
She nodded, swallowed thickly, and grabbed her broom. “I’ll be back soon. Stay—”
“Inside. I know.” I watched as she pulled the door closed behind her, the night taking his mistress.
I knew Aura’s toxin couldn’t hurt Luna while they were bound. Maybe it wouldn’t even affect her after their bond was severed. But what would hurt her, would be the sight of me growing weak, and then sick, and then dying.
That fear was already shining in her eyes.
She cried. Luna actually cried. I never imagined someone so strong could crumble like that. If I was going to die, it wasn’t going to be here, in her house or in her arms. I couldn’t do that to her. I knew Luna. She’d say to hell with the spell and she’d take care of me until I was gone. And then she’d spend the rest of her life in pain, filled with regret.
She would be bound to Aura forever. Miserable.
I couldn’t let that happen.
She had to stay focused.
At first, I thought she was being overdramatic about seeking revenge for my brother. Personally, I thought he deserved the punishment he got—maybe not the nature of his death, but he angered two half-fae witches. What did he expect?
But I didn’t play the twins against each other. I didn’t do anything more than go looking for my missing brother. And I couldn’t even remember how I even knew he’d ended up in Virosa. My memories were a jumbled mess thanks to Aura, but in the end, I was innocent in all this and Aura poisoned me anyway.
I wasn’t her first victim, nor would I be her last.
When I saw the vision in the sleep walk of all the people she’d killed, when Luna led them from their graves, I was sickened.
So, I would do as I said. I’d enjoy one night with her and then I’d leave.
I had to. I had to protect her.
It was selfish of me to even want tonight, but if I was dying, I wanted to live a few extra moments with her. Even if only for a few short hours, until the sun rose and she slept.
My sleeping beauty.
Luna returned with a chicken, carrying it by its feet. She’d wrung its neck, and the head flopped to and fro with each of her steps.
Ember meowed, clawing at the dead bird. “Don’t you dare, or I’ll boil and pluck you next,” Luna warned.
Ember sat, pouting as Luna slung the chicken onto the cutting board. “Be back with some water.”
She was trying to act as if nothing was bothering her, but I could see the creases around her mouth, the tension in her shoulders.
I felt it, too.
LUNA
A few hours later, we were eating chicken and a mixture of cooked vegetables, staring awkwardly at each other across the candlelit table. “What was your childhood like?” I finally asked him.
He finished chewing and wiped his mouth. “Typical, I suppose. William and I were always in trouble when we were kids. As princes, we could get away with more than most children could. As we got older, the competition between us got more intense. I loved my brother, but he had his faults. Not that I didn’t.” He took a drink of water. “I’m still angry with him for going to Virosa without telling me. Not that it does any good to be angry.”
“I wish I could reverse time,” I mused.
“You should work on that power,” he smirked.
How could he possibly joke at a time like this? Death was looming over him, his scythe sharpened and ready.
“What about yours? What was your childhood like?” he asked.
“Awful at times. Magnificent at others. We didn’t have a parent to guide us into our powers, so I set quite a few things on fire when my temper got the best of me. But people knew I’d set it. Most people at the palace avoided me if they could. They were scared of the fire I held. Not that I blamed them. I didn’t know what I was doing, and had no control when my magic began to manifest.”
“They should’ve been scared of Aura.”
“At the time, their fear of me was well placed. My power over fire and wind were difficult to hide. For a long time, people didn’t fear Aura because she only manipulated water and earth. She couldn’t burn them to death. But things have changed. People must know what she’s capable of now. That midwife the other night knew about her garden and the toxin contained in the roses.”
“Did you ever try to stop her?”
I blew out a breath, contemplating his question. “You must understand, Phillip, that for a long time, she hid her deeds well. She always loved roses. Probably because our mother did. When we were small, the woman who raised us took us outside and told us about our mother’s garden. She told us Mother spent more time outside than in, when she could afford the luxury. I merely thought Aura had inherited her joy of gardening from her.”
My expression darkened as I remembered the moment I first realized how sinister her gardening hobby really was. “It wasn’t until William died that I saw what she was doing. That day, I looked at all the bushes, arranged in perfect rows, pristine and thriving, and I knew she’d killed more than just him.”
I paused to think about my answer to his original question. In all honesty, I was a coward when I realized the truth, and decided to flee instead of fight. Putting distance between myself and her was the only thing I could think of after William was torn apart. “No, I didn’t try to stop her, Phillip. I should have; but instead, I left the people of Virosa to suffer at her hands.” I chose self-preservation, and in doing so, was no better than my sister.
“We want to see the best in the ones we love,” he said quietly.
“I guess we do, but I never imagined that she could be capable of so much horror. She was the beautiful one; the one who was always happy, who could sing like a songbird and dressed in bright, lovely colors. She was the one everyone would stop and smile at as she passed. Their eyes didn’t dart away from her. I guess when the outside appearance doesn’t match what’s inside, it’s difficult for people to imagine someone can be capable of evil.”
“She and William weren’t so different, after all,” Phillip added. “He was the golden son. Nothing he did was wrong, even if it was. And I was just a shadow, heir to nothing, until the fateful day he failed to come home. Only then did people take notice of me. Unfortunately, I had hardened myself against their games by then, much to their chagrin,” he said ruefully. After a moment of contemplative silence, he asked, “If the spell works, do you plan on killing her?” His deep brown eyes clashed with mine.
“Now, more than ever. Yes.” If I killed Aura, her roses would wither. Maybe their toxin would dissipate as well.
He filled my almost-empty glass with more wine. “Why do you float when you sleep?”
I laughed. “Aura doesn’t, in case you were wondering. I think it’s due to my power to control the air, and maybe unconsciously, I make myself as comfortable as I can.”
“What about the moon? How does the moon make you feel?” he asked.
I smiled. “Whole? It’s a strange feeling, really. The sun makes me feel empty and weak, but the moon fills me with strength and makes me feel complete. I’m sure the opposite is true for Aura.”
“Your father must have been very powerful. I mean, since you only inherited a small part of his abilities. He must be terrifying.”
I smiled. “I’ve often wondered who he is. According to the woman who raised us, he was a very bad man. Evil to the core. She was terrified of even speaking about him, and refused to give us his name in case it somehow called him to us. But if we only hold a sliver of his power and he’s as evil as she said, maybe that’s what’s wrong with us. And maybe we’re better off not knowing who he is.”
“Luna,” he said, drawing my attention. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
I took a sip from my glass. “You’re biased because you like me. But there are a thousand people in Virosa whose opinions differ.”
“Did you ever think that if you sever the bond, you’ll be putting yourself at risk? If people are as afraid of you and Aura as you say, you might be putting yourself in danger.”
I shrugged. I didn’t care. Much.
“I don’t want to see you hurt…” He gritted the last word. His hand stiffened and he dropped his fork, clutching his stomach and bending at the waist as he shoved his chair backward. He let out a cry, his face contorted in pain.
I was at his side in an instant. “What’s wrong? Your stomach?”
His cheeks puffed with every strained breath. He paled and as the spell passed, I could see it took a lot of his strength with it. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“I don’t want to go—”
“You need to lie down,” I insisted.
I slung his arm over my shoulder and hefted his weight, walking him to my bedroom. He sat on the bed with his head hung low.
“I’m not ready to go yet,” he mumbled. “I don’t want to die. We haven’t had enough time.”
“What’s enough time, Phillip?” I asked. “I’ve felt more alive in the few days you’ve been with me than I ever have in my life.”
“Me too,” he said, falling back onto the pillow, exhausted. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” I said.
His breaths became slow and I panicked. Not now. Please, not now. Not yet. He let out a low snore and I released a breath, squeezing my eyes closed with a silent prayer. He’s okay. He’s just sleeping.
I combed his auburn hair with my fingers and held his hand all night. When the sun rose and my body weakened, I asked Ember to watch him while I slept.
Before I fell asleep beside him, Malex showed up. He settled on the stool in front of my writing desk, offering, “Relax, Princess. I’ll guard you both.”
“Thank you,” I mumbled, as sleep took me away from Phillip.