Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 702(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 468(@300wpm)
Tristan grabs my arm and hauls me up. I expect violence, but he pats me on the back and allows me inside the carriage.
The medic glances my way, their bright green eyes hopeful. “Sit here,” they urge me as Tristan shuts the carriage door behind us. “I do think we caught him in time. The state of his leg is questionable, but he will live.”
Whether Sylvan can still stand my presence once he wakes up, or not, I will be there to offer my aid. In any capacity he wishes.
I take hold of his lovely slender hand and place my nose and lips inside the cool, sweaty palm, hoping that a part of him will be aware of my presence. I promised loyalty to the Lord of the Nocturne Court, but it’s my tiny prince who truly has all of it.
Chapter 43
Sylvan
My mind is filled with fuzzy darkness, but it’s pleasant, like a comforter filled with warm wool. I can hardly feel my body, sunken into a bed so soft—
I sit up with a gasp, my eyes flying open.
“Hawk?”
Everything around me is a blur, but when a large, dark shape moves at me, and warm arms smelling of sun-kissed rock close around me, I know I’ve succeeded.
“Sylvan! You’re awake!”
My body is quite numb, but I hug him back as much as my limbs allow. I smell him, kiss his shoulder as my eyes regain focus.
We’re in an unfamiliar bedroom, but the massive moon is high up in the sky, and the blue-black decor tells me we are most definitely in the Nocturne Palace. The bed I’m in could fit three elves, the canopy has kelpies frolicking in the waves embroidered over dark green silk, and a table next to me is filled with vials and boxes used for salves.
I kiss the side of Hawk’s face, too overwhelmed to comprehend it all. “I lived?” I ask, but Hawk only hugs me tighter. He’s shaking so much I feel compelled to comfort him, even though it’s me who’s in a sickbed.
“I’m so sorry! I don’t remember any of it. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I know, my love. But you recognized me. It was enough for me to help you.” It’s all coming back to me, and I’m dazed when I remember that I didn’t flee from those crystal teeth. I’ve never considered myself brave, but now I know that for Hawk, I’d be ready to do anything. Even sacrifice my shadow. All it takes is a gentle pull of my fingers to confirm that I have none left.
Hawk kisses the top of my head, exhaling as he rocks us back and forth. “Your cousins, they helped you, like I asked,” he tells me, and I take in the rest of the room. It’s not nearly as refined as my old quarters, but if we are to stay, there will be time to decorate the place up to our combined taste. Wherever this room is, I just hope it is far away from my mother’s residence.
I let myself melt into Hawk’s warm body, resting my cheek on his shoulder. “I… can’t feel my leg,” I choke out, afraid to look under the covers.
Hawk’s face reflects pure terror, and he lifts the comforter. I remember flashes of the crunching noises, and the pain that came with them, but when I open my eyes, I realize my leg is still attached to the rest of my body.
Hawk shifts on the mattress and flicks my toes where they stick out from the black cast. “They’re not cold. Maybe you just need to change position,” he offers before leaning down to kiss my foot.
I laugh out loud, even though there’s nothing funny about my situation. I run my fingers over the cast, understanding the salves under it must be making my injured limb numb. Which is for the better because I would be in a world of pain without them.
“No, I think it’s just the cast. I… thought I lost my leg,” I say with a sigh of relief. “How about you? Are you not hurt? Are you no longer overheating? How long have I been out?”
Hawk stretches his body alongside mine and kisses my face so tenderly that if I were in any pain, it would have been instantly diminished. “You’re crazy! You promised you’d get yourself to safety. I almost killed you! I—I could have eaten you along with your shadow,” he tells me as his voice trembles. But he doesn’t seem angry that I broke my vow and once again kisses my head. “Your leg won’t be the same. The medics did what they could for the bones but not all of them healed right. You’ll need to use a cane. But I’ll carry you wherever you want to go.”
I have to take a deep breath to absorb the unfortunate news. “What matters is that we both live. I couldn’t leave you. Not when I still had hope. You are where I belong, my only future. Though it is a shame that I’ll no longer be able to join the circus as vault master.” I don’t want to make light of the issue with my leg, but Hawk needs this. I don’t want him to feel guilty over something that wasn’t his fault.