Page 71 of Turret

It was the same explanation Quinn had given me when he’d first told me of his affliction, and like before I felt ashamed I hadn’t been strong enough to bear his burdens, forcing him to carry more than his fair share, despite my wanting nothing more than to support him.

“So he’s wanted to leave his post for years.” My tone was hollow.

Briar hesitated before nodding. “He only had your best interests in mind, for the worse his condition became, the less he felt he could adequately protect you. He wished to be released immediately, but I needed to find a replacement, a process that took quite some time, for I can’t trust just any man with my sister’s protection. I figured that despite his fading sight, you were relatively safe considering you often remained in your bedroom. Little did I know that within a week you would be trapped in an enchanted tower together, extending his time as your guard far beyond what he felt himself able to perform.”

My defense swelled. “He’s more than capable. I’ve never had a more loyal guard.”

“I don’t doubt his loyalty,” Briar said. “But it wasn’t just his condition I was concerned over: during our meeting, he was candid about his feelings towards you. I admit I wasn’t at all surprised; I’d begun suspecting his devotion ran deeper, and I’d been vacillating between whether his feelings would make him a better guard or provide an unnecessary distraction.” He tilted his head. “Which was it?”

“The former,” I grumbled. “Trust me, he never allowed his feelings to sway him from his blastedduty.” Something I still resented him for.

Briar relaxed and even had the audacity to chuckle, unfazed by my responding glare. “I know that displeases you, but I can’t tell you how relieved it makes me.” His good humor quickly vanished. “But Quinn still needs to be replaced, Gemma.”

My resistance flared. “You can’t replace him. Despite what we feel for one another, he’s never wavered in fulfilling his duties.” I chose to not mention the kiss I’d managed to steal; Briar had no need to know of such things, but by his knowing glint I wondered if he suspected.

“His loyalty is not in question, Gemma. The man is now completely blind and thus cannot be charged with your protection any longer.”

No one had expressed the situation so bluntly. Hearing the words caused my suffocating despair to rise, making me feel I was trapped in my room once again, confined in a situation impossible to escape.

“Then we must heal him,” I pleaded. “We can’t leave him like this.”

The pity that filled Briar’s eyes gave the answer I didn’t want to hear long before he responded. “His curse has no cure. I’ve been studying it while you’ve been away, for I suspected your feelings matched his own and you’d desire to create a life with him. And while I don’t object to those wishes, I’m unable to help him the way I know you want him to be helped.”

No. My desperation rose. “Every curse has a countercurse. Please, we must cure him.” I couldn’t accept any other outcome.

“His curse is different, for it was cast several generations ago. I’m afraidthatwould have been the time to break it, but with the original caster dead and with them all knowledge of the curse…I’m afraid it cannot be broken.” His tone, while soft, did nothing to soften the cruelty of his message.

His words invaded my mind, forming unbreakable bars that kept me trapped within my hopelessness.Quinn will stay blind. The words haunted me, even as my heart refused to accept them.

Briar was saying something, words I didn’t hear; he seemed to be attempting to soothe me, but how could I possibly be comforted at a time like this?

Whatever composure I’d been able to maintain by a fragile thread snapped. I hurried from the room, ignoring Briar’s call for me to return, my mind eclipsed by a single purpose: find a way to help the man I loved. It didn’t matter that Quinn doubted a cure existed, or that Briar had already tried and failed. I wouldn’t rest until I overcame the impossible and found a way to return Quinn’s stolen sight.

* * *

Tears burned in my eyes,blurring my vision as I walked blindly through the corridors. I had no set destination, I only knew that I needed to escape the study where Briar had presented Quinn’s horrible fate with far too much calmness, resigning himself that nothing could be done.

Resistance swelled. Every curse had a countercurse, thus I wouldn’t rest until I’d discovered one for Quinn. I simply couldn’t accept that he’d remain forever trapped in a world of darkness, a far more cruel prison than those I’d ever endured. Whether I’d been confined to my bed or within the tower’s walls, at least I’d been able to see, whereas all Quinn knew now was a world of constant…nothing.

The exertion from the emotions of the day coupled with the physical exertion quickly became too much, forcing me to slow. I slumped against the wall, where I fought to steady my sharp breaths and regather my strength. Gradually, my breathing slowed and my tears faded enough for me to take in the familiar corridor my frantic wanderings had led me to. The apothecary I’d been spending several hours in each day sat at the end of the hallway, beckoning me.

Some of the anxiety cinching my heart eased. Herbs were not only familiar, but when properly used they could work wonders, create miracles,heal, all of which I desperately needed. It didn’t matter my earlier attempts had failed, I was determined to succeed now.

My mind seized hold of this purpose. The familiar scent of earth and herbs assailed my senses as I stepped inside. I took in the familiar shelves laden with jars, the dried herbs hanging from the rafters, the mortar and pestle resting on the table, and especially the shelves of worn books containing knowledge and promises of healing.

I wasn’t sure where to start, but I couldn’t bear to do nothing a moment longer. I set to work, mincing and mixing herbs until my fingers were stained green and I’d read so many pages of various remedies I became cross-eyed.

Outside, the sun drifted across the sky, measuring the hours as they melted away. I worked through both lunch and dinner, driven by a need deeper than I’d ever before experienced. My arms ached from all the chopping, pounding, and stirring, but I pressed on. My exhaustion gradually overcame me, yet I couldn’t stop, driven by my love for Quinn and my need to somehow find a way to help him.

My hands shook as I minced rosemary, ginger, marigold, and kava together, but I quickly lost my precarious hold on the bowl; it slipped from my hand and shattered. I stared at the broken clay and the herbs scattered across the stone floor before I released a choked sob and knelt on the ground to frantically pick up the broken pieces, somehow feeling that if I could but repair the bowl, I could also repair Quinn.

My tears made it difficult to see what I was doing, so I didn’t notice Quinn’s silent approach. I should have known he was near; he’d likely faithfully stood outside the door the entire afternoon the moment he’d discovered where I was after he’d realized I was missing from my room.

He crouched in front of me to rest his calloused hand over mine trying to pick up the broken pieces, causing the ones I held to slip from my fingers. My gaze snapped up. Despite not being able to see me, he somehow looked directly at me. “Gemma.” Concern puckered his brow at the sound of my sniffle. “Are you crying?”

It only took him two tries to reach out his gentle touch and stroke my tear-streaked face, his worry for me stronger than his reliance on his sight. His concern deepened as his thumb ran over my wet cheek, catching my tears.

“Why are you crying?”

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