Page 55 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

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Scionand I stared unseeing at each other over a small fire, the only sounds that of the forest, the crackling flames, and our heavy breathing.

Sleep had so far evaded me. Nevertheless, several hours of silence had done almost as well at replenishing my energy. The same could not be said for Scion.

I looked up at him across the fire. His color had returned, but that was about the only normal thing about him. His expression was dark, almost defeated rather than his usual mask of anger. I itched to ask what he was thinking, but wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“So, she’s in Underneath,” I said to break the tension.

“Not yet,” he corrected dully. “On her way there.”

“Whom do you suppose is traveling with her?”

He made a strangled sound, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “Who the fuck do you think is?”

There was no need for me to respond; we both understood the situation perfectly: It was clear that Lonnie had joined the rebels. The only question remained if she had done so willingly or if Ambrose had forced her.

“At least they’re not going to Nevermore,” I said without enthusiasm. “Our theory is wrong, then. He isn’t trying to kill her during a hunt.”

Scion’s face twisted into a bitter scowl. “I have no doubt that he still intends to kill her, just not in Nevermore.”

I didn’t disagree with him. All I wanted was to chase after her immediately, but I felt stuck in place with no clue where to begin. Worse, going to Underneath wasn’t an option for me. My only consolation was that it would take days to reach Underneath by boat, so she was hopefully not in any immediate danger. More importantly, if she were hurt, I’d know.

“Who the hell is the last heir of Elsewhere?” I asked, remembering the last thing the snake had said.

Scion shrugged. “I don’t know…could it be your father?”

I shook my head, even as I said: “Perhaps? But I don’t think I’ve ever heard Gancanagh called that before.”

Scion flinched when I mentioned my father’s name, like he was afraid the monster himself would appear in the forest with us. I rolled my eyes. King Gancanagh was powerful, but not that powerful. Otherwise, I was sure we’d have met by now.

“Whoever the heir is, it doesn’t matter,” Scion said. “That sounds like something Ambrose would care about. All I care about is finding Lonnie before he does something to her.”

I nodded, pleased he was at least admitting out loud that he was worried for our mate, regardless of what he chose to view their relationship as. “It would be fastest for you to travel to the Hedge, and try to head them off, rather than searching for a ship we have no good way of finding.”

Scion looked up at me sharply, his eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, ‘fastest for me to travel to the Hedge.’”

“What, do you not agree? It wouldn’t take you more than a day to reach the Hedge, and then you could wait for the ship to arrive.” I cocked my head, thinking. “I suppose it might be difficult to cross the border, but I have no doubt you?—”

“Shut up for a moment,” Scion snapped. “Why do you keep saying ‘you?’”

I scowled darkly. “Do not try to tell me you’re going to fuck off again and not go after her. I’m getting really tired of playing this game with you, Sci. Don’t call her your mate, fine, but now you can’t deny that she’s at least your damn wife.”

He visibly flinched at the word “wife” but didn’t correct me. “Only technically, and I’m sorry?—”

“I wish you would stop apologizing. It’s quite disconcerting, you know,” I smiled, trying and failing to make a joke. “I don’t think I’ve heard you apologize once in the last thirty years, and now it’s all you can do.”

“I don’t understand why this doesn’t bother you,” he said sharply. “If you would just react, then?—”

“Then what? You could confirm to yourself what a bad person you are?”

“Perhaps!” he said a bit too loudly. Overhead, a flock of birds startled and took off into the air. “If it were me in your position…”

I ran a hand through my hair, so exasperated it was hard to form a coherent sentence. “Youarein my position, you stubborn fucking bastard. I don’t have any more right to her than you do.”

His mouth became a thin line. “I’m not going to debate this with you. Just tell me why you’re talking as if you’re not going to come with me to Underneath?”

I raised a surprised eyebrow. “You cannot be serious, Sci, you know why I can’t go.”

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