Page 58 of This Midsummer Heart
“What?”
“Why do you care?” I repeat. I weigh my next words carefully as I take a long draught of hot tea. “You lived up to your parents’ expectations. You united dark elves and wood elves into one House. You were worthy of taking your father’s place as king—and are more worthy today than you were when you were crowned. The Blade of Hedril confirmed it. You cannot argue with an enchanted blade, now can you?”
Auberon shifts in his chair, as uncomfortable as he was when the dark elves of the fireswamp showed him deference as their king.
“I think you aren’t upset with me at all.”
He arches a brow. “Would you bet on that?”
I shake my head. “I don’t bet on much, when it comes to you. You wanted me to be honest,” I add when he flinches, physical pain etched into his face as if I had just delivered a blow. “I would bet that you’ve never been unworthy to be king of the dark elves. And whether you are still Houselord or not, your achievement still stands. The House of Elves is a union of all elves.”
“You don’t know that. We could be arriving in Nox to find everything in pieces.”
“I doubt it.”
“And why is that?”
“Because Robin outsmarted us both. I expect everything will be well in hand by the time we arrive.”
“I guess we’ll find out, in a few days’ time.”
“So we shall.”
We finish our tea in silence. For once, it doesn’t feel tense.
At last, the standing clock on the far wall chimes, informing us of the hour. “It’s almost time,” I say quietly, feeling the weight of what we are about to attempt. In an instant, I am twice as tired as before. “I’m going to ready Giselda.”
With any luck, my mare will be well-rested. What comes next is practically out of my hands. But with a little magic and the right timing, we just might be able to cross without any trouble from the chaotic tides.
I am halfway convinced of our success by the time I reach the paddock, glimpsing Giselda’s bright white through the rows of horses. I pause at our borrowed mounts, offering them scratches and words of murmured thanks for their help. Then they return to their oats, their meals and rest time well-deserved.
I am almost at Giselda’s stall when I sense something—a shift in the air.
The blade arcs towards my back, pointed to the space between my wings. I whirl, but it’s too late. The blade slices into one of my ephemeral wings, blinding me with pain as if it has struck one of my limbs.
As I fall to the ground, I barely choke out a scream. Giselda mirrors it, kicking at the door of her stall. My attacker looms over me, backlit by the setting sun. I reach for my magic to protect myself—
—and nothing comes.
Panic closes my throat long before her blade slices into me, the dagger driven upward in a cruel, gutting motion.
Too late, my magic sparks to life, surrounding her. But as my vision narrows, I realize it isn’t my magic at all.
Tendrils of darkness wrap around the woman, then swarm her. She barely has time to cry out before she falls to the ground like a ragdoll, her eyes still open and lifeless.
“Titaine,” Auberon shouts, falling to his knees by my side. He is trying to examine the wound, but I still his searching hands, twining my fingers with his. I just want him to hold on to me—just for a moment, I want to know I’m not alone. “Oh, gods, Titaine.”
My lifeblood pools around me, hot as the summer sun. My vision continues to narrow.
“Auberon,” I try, only to be cut off halfway as blood spills from my lips, choking me. It hurts to cough, the pain so intense I see stars.
“Titaine,” he says again, trying to free one of his hands. “Stay with me. Focus. Use your magic!”
But it’s too late for that. I always knew my magic would fail. Even now, it dances away from me, like the fireflies in the clearing.
The last sound I hear is Auberon’s bellow of anguish, his panicked calls for a healer, and I think,I should have told him.
I should have told him I loved him while I had the chance. Even if I thought it would never work—even if I weresureit would turn out the exactly the same—I should have told him I loved him, too. Not still. Not the same love as before.
