Page 86 of Tales of a Monstrous Heart
That any of this was over.
‘I can feel them.’ The confession left me so easily. Perhaps it was the closeness of him, the gentle nature to his hold or the understanding I knew I’d find in his eyes. ‘In those ruins, all I could feel was their pain. Just like those artefacts the council keep.’
I let my head tip up, swallowing down that sadness. ‘It’s like they’re still calling out for help, even after all this time.’
His gaze was so dark, patient and focused on nothing other than me.
‘I can feel it, too.’ His hand shifted gently to avoid those burns, to hold onto my fingers in firm comfort.
In that moment I didn’t feel so alone. Not while burdened with the grief of it.
I swallowed. ‘He should have told me.’ Understanding now why Hale hadn’t. Why would he? When he didn’t need to? I had no choice but to remain.
‘Perhaps he didn’t wish for you to be burdened with it.’
I smiled sadly at his effort to be convincing. ‘You don’t have to make excuses for him, Emrys.’
Those troubled grey eyes dragged over every inch of my face. ‘It’s not for him.’
Something sparked in my chest. No. It was for me. Trying to find a way to comfort me, to make it better – if only for a moment.
‘You should get some sleep. A scout will take us to the ruins in the morning.’ The words were gentle as he let me go, forcing himself to take a step back. Hands flexing into fists at his side.
‘Ruins?’ I pulled back in confusion, my fingers colder in the absence of his touch.
‘The Fairfax family moved their residence a century before the war.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘It’s connectedto the remains of that pit you found. So, the source could be there.’
‘Why would someone be trying to unsettle what darkness rests here?’ I wrapped my arms around myself, unsure why the mention of such things made my magic churn uncertainly in my blood.
He shrugged. ‘Fairfax claims to have no enemies.’
‘You don’t believe him.’
‘Everyone has enemies. You even made one an hour ago.’ His gaze sharpened with his words. Of course, Lord Percy.
‘He was hurting William,’ I challenged, knowing I was right, but that wasn’t the main point I needed to get to. ‘How did you get there so quickly?’
‘I rode from Paxton Fields, which gave me a great opportunity to see something we’d missed.’ He reached into his pocket, producing a charred piece of wood between his thumb and forefinger. ‘The west wing has been consumed by fire, which Fairfax claims is due to a maid’s carelessness with a candle.’
I took the fragment the shard from him, letting it rest in the centre of my palm. It didn’t crumble upon contact, but it did irritate my skin with the summoning still present in the wood.
‘These are magical burns.’ I turned the piece over. Magic burned down part of Fairfax’s house and, judging by Emrys’s lack of surprise, he already suspected such. ‘Why wouldn’t a lord report a magical surge?’ Especially when it was in connection to damage of his property, and especially in times when lords weren’t as wealthy as they pretended to be.
‘They don’t want anyone to know.’ Emrys observed.
Surges of this magnitude were reported often. Some fey were unable to contain their magic, the lack of elders forguidance causing them to become lost. Most losing control, causing deadly surges that could decimate entire villages. The Council hadn’t captured any such dangerous beings recently.
‘How do we know it wasn’t a rebel attack?’ I challenged.
‘He would have reported it. Lord Percy wouldn’t have hesitated and I’m certain Thean would be gloating about it.’
‘Not if they had a good enough reason to attack him,’ I corrected, holding the shard back out to him. There weren’t many fire-wielding beings left, their destructive nature put them top of the list for culling in the King’s opinion during the war.
Emrys took the shard from me, my magic warming my fingertips at the barest touch from him. As if curious, demanding his attention, too.
‘I found something else you might find useful.’ He pushed the shard back into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet pouch embroidered with silver ivy leaves. He held it out to me and I took it gingerly with confusion.
What spilled out of it was a long silver chain with a beautiful glistening crystal wrapped in detailed filigree made to look like vines with small thorns. The stone glowing ever so slightly with an iridescent light. My magic flared soft lavender at my fingertips in interest.
