Page 104 of A Legacy of Storms and Starlight

“Why won’t you help him?” Zylah sobbed, pressing a hand over her heart as she watched the roots twist and thicken.

“Zylah, listen.”

Something in Holt’s voice made Zylah pause. She held her breath. Closed her eyes. She knew what she was listening for. The sound that had sent her to sleep on so many nights in Virian. The heart that had held hers gently. That had asked her to stay.

Silent.

Raif was gone. And the moment Holt sensed the recognition in her face, he evanesced them back to the cabin, where hands grabbed at her shirt, and they evanesced away.

Away from Jesper. And away from Raif.

Chapter Forty-One

“Marcus is coming for her,” Rose said through a broken sob, the moment they arrived at the safe house.

Zylah stared at her hands, tears mingling with her bloodied fingers. Silent. Raif’s heart was silent. He was gone.

“How long?” Holt asked.

Rose pressed a hand to her stomach, wiping at her tears. “Tonight.”

Zylah was shaking. It couldn’t be real. He couldn’t be dead. His scent still lingered in her hair and on her clothes where he’d touched her, held her. She pressed a hand to her heart against the sharp ache that made her want to curl up on the floor and never move.

Holt swore under his breath. “Saphi. Gather as many supplies as you can. I’ll be back with the rest of her things.”

“Where are you taking her?” Zack asked.

Zylah didn’t care that they were talking about her as if she wasn’t there. Raif was gone. And she hadn’t told him. Hadn’t told him how much he’d saved her these last few months in Virian. How he’d made each day easier for her. How she loved him. Her breath caught in her throat, and she clutched at the necklace he’d given her. She hadn’t deserved it. His love. Any of it. And now he was gone.

“She isn’t safe here,” Holt said quietly.

Zack was on his feet, and despite how filthy he was, how his face was crusted with blood and one eye barely open, he stood tall as he looked up at Holt. “I’ll go with her. I can protect her.”

“No,” Zylah demanded. No one else. She’d been right. Shewasa curse.

“I’m not leaving you.” Zack was on his knees before her, his hands resting on her arms.

“I tried to leave.” Zylah’s voice came out as a whisper, tears streaming down her face as she took in how badly his face was bruised. “Before I came to see Father. I should have stayed away.” She wiped at her face, willed the tears to stop. “You said it yourself, I’m not your sister. Just look at what my being here has done. WhatI’vedone. I’m leaving.”

“It isn’t safe for her here until we can deal with Marcus,” Holt murmured. And then he was gone, back to the tavern, Zylah presumed.

Zylah pressed her face into her hands. She felt arms around her shoulders and someone sobbing. It was Rose. Gods. The Fae had just lost her brother. Zylah rested her hands over Rose’s, and they sat in silence together.

“None of this is your fault. But especially this,” Rose said quietly, her head on Zylah’s shoulder.

“I loved him,” Zylah whispered. She had to say it out loud. For someone, anyone to hear it. Saying it out loud made it real.

Rose brushed a piece of Zylah’s hair back and tucked it behind her ear. “He knew. We all do.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Zack said again. He hadn’t moved from his spot in front of her, and like this Zylah felt safe. Loved. But she didn’t deserve it. She was a curse to all of them.

Zylah took a deep, steadying breath. “Stay with them. Help them. Whatever comes next, Zack, there’s nothing left for you in Dalstead. But you’ll have a family here.”

Zack held her hand, and that was all Zylah needed to know he thought she was right. He wouldn’t be able to keep up with her; he’d learnt that so many times as a child. Her friends would look after him. And he knew Holt. Gods, Zylah had no idea how long they’d known each other, how much more time she might have had with them all, and the thought sent another sob shaking through her.

Rose’s arms tightened around her, soothing her. Zylah let the tears fall. She’d had so little time with Raif. And it had been snatched away from them. All the plans he’d described to her, the places he wanted to show her, all gone. She prayed to Pallia that it was all a bad dream, that she would wake up at any moment. That he would stride through the door, that insufferable grin of his spread across his face…

The three of them huddled on the floor together, silent, only the sound of their breathing filling the space. Zylah didn’t know how long they sat until Kopi’s soft call broke the quiet and Saphi brushed aside the glass bead curtain.

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