Page 16 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

I sucked in a breath, managing to keep my voice even despite my trembling hands. “Let’s go.”

Bael cleared his throat, and glanced toward the door. “We could wait another moment.”

He was the one who’d insisted on waiting for Scion, and though I felt sure that after our conversation earlier that he was not coming, I had to admit Bael’s certainty lit a tiny spark of hope in my chest.

Now, after an hour, that spark had been well and truly doused.

“Is waiting any longer going to matter?” I asked, bitterness lacing my tone.

He opened his mouth to reply, but stopped as the sound of distant footsteps down the hall made everyone tense. My heartbeat sped up in excitement, and I turned toward the door.

Aine stepped into the room, dressed as if she intended to travel in a long, woolen coat and heavy leather boots. Tan, with a slim figure and honey-brown curls tied back in a long braid, her expression was set in a tight, determined, line.

My momentary excitement fled, leaving me emptier than I’d been before. My eyes flicked to Bael, hoping for some understanding or reassurance, but he stood just as stunned and wide-eyed as I did.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Are you not leaving tonight?” Aine replied primly.

“Yes,” I said slowly, “and you are leaving tomorrow.”

She took another step forward, letting the light from the hall flood into the small room. “My mistake. I was under the impression that there was an open invitation to travel to Aftermath.”

“Why would you want to travel with us?” Bael demanded.

“I wouldn’t,” Aine said bitterly, “but the alternative is worse. Anyway, you know I’d be useful.”

Bael cocked his head to the side, assessing. “I know youcouldbe useful. Whether you will is an entirely different matter.”

Her face flushed with anger, and her voice grew sharp as she retorted, “I will be. I have no desire to be hidden away any longer.”

Bael paused, assessing his sister before shrugging. “Fine.”

“Wait.” I reached out and grabbed his arm, trying to convey my misgivings with my eyes alone.

As far as I’d seen, Aine had never once done anything one might consider useful. She’d been at the palace when it was attacked, and as far as I’d heard, had done nothing to stop it. More concerning still, Aine had not acclimated well to losing her comfortable palace lifestyle. She had suddenly taken on many traits I might have associated with her mother, Raewyn: sulking, ordering everyone around, and making snide remarks at every possible opportunity. Even pompous Gwydion was handling the upheaval better than his sister.

I longed to unleash a diatribe of complaints, but instead, I only said: “I thought you were unwilling to use magic?”

“And we thought you didn’t have any magic,” she snapped. “Things change.”

Bael looked like he might already be regretting his decision. “She’ll use her abilities…correct?”

“Correct,” Aine ground out.

“Then there’s no problem,” Bael said.

I was not so sure about that. “But?—”

“Leave it, little monster. If Aine is willing to come, we’d be foolish not to let her.”

I snapped my lips shut. Neither of them seemed inclined to share precisely how Aine might be useful, which might have swayed me. Still, I supposed I would have to trust that Bael knew what he was doing—at least for the time being.

“Right,” Siobhan said briskly. “Shall we go, then? Or are we waiting on any other royal relatives?”

Bael and I looked at each other, and foolishly, the last tiny shred of hope lit once more within me “Is it worth waiting any longer?”

He sighed, giving me an almost pleading look, before rolling his eyes into the back of his head. After a moment, his face twisted into a grimace. “No, you’re right. We should go.”

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