Page 185 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“Very well, I’ve got two pieces of information I think you will find helpful. The first is your Captain Roderick was here yesterday. They were asking about the Court of Screams. I sent them to Honeyville. I assume you’d want to know.”

“Yes, thank you,” Caiden nodded.

She clicked her tongue.

“What?” Caiden asked.

“I didn’t know the Court of Storms had allied with the Woodland Realm.”

Aelia twisted her hair into a knot. “Was the Alder King with them?”

“Indeed. He is looking for something in the Court of Screams.”

She turned to him, eyes wide and wild.

“We have to go. Tonight, Caiden.”

“He needs to heal,” the healer chimed in. His brows furrowed. “And so do you. You can leave in the morning.”

Caiden couldn’t help but feel like he missed her already. She loved someone else now, and he would have to accept that.

“I know you want to help Tharan and find the Wells… I want that too. Please, do not leave without me. Besides, we don’t know if we need all our blood to unlock the Well.”

Her gaze softened on him and her face contorted with indecision. Was she feeling something long forgotten too?

Moments of silence passed until finally, she said, “Fine. We’ll leave in the morning. Is there a portal or are we hoofing it?”

The queen sighed, and her eyes shot to the ceiling.

“I do have a portal for my own personal use. I suppose you could use it. Since it’s for a good cause.”

Caiden smirked.

“You don’t do anything out of the goodness of your heart, Queen. What do you want in return?”

“Well, there is something the Court of Storms could help me with.”

Caiden shook his head.

“Of course there is.”

“We are expecting a drought this year. Our bees depend on flowers. I’d like you to send some of your citizens with the gift of rain to help if that is the case.”

“It is done.”

A blinding white smile cut her face in two.

“Excellent. You may use my portal in the morning.” The queen turned on her heel and promptly exited the infirmary, followed by her attendants and a buzzing of bees.

45AELIA

I tossedand turned all night thinking about seeing Tharan. He had come for me, just like I hoped he would. Worry settled like a blanket over me. What if he had already left for the Court of Screams?

As soon as dawn broke, I jumped from my bed and flung the blankets off Caiden. Seeing his toned body wrapped in bandages made my breath catch in my throat. I had put my feelings aside for Caiden when I erased his memories, but now that he had mine, I somehow felt closer to him. Everything I’d ever thought about him laid bare. There was something oddly freeing about it.

“How’s the ankle?” I asked. It was the only thing I could think of to say.

He rubbed his eyes.

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