Page 117 of The Forsaken Heir
I flinched back. “What the fuck is that?” Could it be poison? Something to make me talk?
Freddy sighed, a mixture of irritation and impatience. “It’s a healing potion. Come on. Bottoms up.”
We locked eyes. If there was one thing I was sure I was good at, it was reading people. Knowing when someone was lying or holding back was crucial in negotiations, and this man’s eyes betrayed no hidden agenda or ill intent.
“Fine,” I muttered.
Freddy tilted the bitter liquid onto my tongue. Swallowing, I let out a grunt of pain as the potion went down, burning like the strongest alcohol I’d ever consumed. Before it had even hit my stomach, a pleasant warmth spread through my body. I couldn’t hold back the moan of pleasure as the miseries and aches in my body faded.
“It won’t heal you completely,” Freddy said as he dug into his bag. “It’s just enough to take the edge off, but nothing more. I don’t want Bastien to get suspicious. I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s fine,” I said, and with some of my newfound strength, I stood rather than letting myself hang, sighing in relief as some of my weight was taken off my shoulders and wrists. “Anything is better than before.”
Freddy rose again, a water bottle in his left hand and a sandwich in his right. At the sight of the water, my heart skipped a beat, my desert-dry palate desperate for moisture. The food sent my stomach into a twisting and painful cramp.
“Here. Hurry,” Freddy said as he put the bottle to my lips.
I gulped greedily at it, groaning with delight as the cool water slid down my throat. When Freddy held the sandwich up, I had to force myself to be careful and not bite his fingers in my rush to consume the food. Ham, cheese, and bread had never tasted so good. When it was gone, he gave me the rest of the water. The whole time, he continued glancing over his shoulder toward the door.
“No offense, but if Bastien comes back, I’m going to have to hurt you. I don’t want to, but I can’t let him think I’m helping. I’ll need to make it look like I came to have a go at you. Got it?”
“Sure. Fine,” I mumbled.
Once I was done with everything, he tucked the empty bottle into his bag and shouldered it again. With that little bit of kindness, I could feel myself growing stronger again. More resolute. When Bastien came back, I’d be able to hold out. I’d wanted to believe it was possible even before Freddy came, but deep down I’d begun to think it was less than likely.
“Thank you, Freddy. Why are you?—”
“You’ve got to stay strong. Got it? Just a little while longer. Okay?”
I frowned. “Uh, okay. What happens in a little while?”
“I have a plan. That’s all I can say for now. Don’t break, Aurelius.”
Without another word, he slipped out the door, leaving me alone, renewed, refueled, and with an even brighter glimmer of hope.
27
BRIELLE
“Idon’t like this,” Delphine hissed.
We were making our way through the forest, following the dozens and dozens of members of the Hikshil tribe. It appearedeveryonehad come out for the ceremony—elders, children, even women carrying babies. From what I could tell, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event. A shifter going into the Wellspring to dream walk.?
“What else can we do, Delphine? If we don’t have these fae on our side, there’s no hope. None at all.”
“I think she’s right,” Vincent said.
“Who is? Me or Elle?” Delphine asked.
Vincent was looking off through the trees, a really goofy smile on his face. “Sahalie.”
The guy was smitten already, and they hadn’t exchanged two words.
“Right about what?” I asked.
“That the only way to get all the fae on board is to see what the wellspring says. They sort of worship the thing, right?”
“More or less,” I said.
