Page 122 of Unraveled
Emotion clogs my throat as I tighten my arms around Ash’s shoulders and bury my face in the crook of his neck. A mild scent of blood lingers on the dark fabric of his clothes, which are torn and tattered from the torture he endured.
Now that we’ve left Penumbra, all my emotions barrel into me. The betrayals, the lies, Harper’s death...
“Are you alright, Monster?” Ash’s voice is tired. He tightens his grip around me as we head toward the courtyard. Thousands of grimoires circle around us, carried by the same golden enchantment he used when we escaped Hedrum. Nera isn’t far behind and also carries her fair number of books with her. Their power, especially when combined, leaves me in awe every single time.
“I should ask you that question...” My chest squeezes when I spot Finley’s carriage by the gates. Empty and tilted on its side. Did he survive his gunshot wound? Should I care? “When youleft, you told me to not trust anyone but Naheli. Did you know Finley?—?”
On our way out of the library, Nera had been worried about Finley and the fact that he wasn’t there with us. It was me who told her what happened. Both siblings have been quiet ever since.
“After Hedrum, with the strixes’ party and the mirror incident, I suspected something was wrong with Marlena. I didn’t think Finley would be involved with Skye, but he was acting particularly off when I left that night, like he knew I was about to get attacked.”
When Finley begged Ash not to go looking for Nera that night, did he already know Morla was waiting for him, hiding under the guise of a scientist?
“He told me to tell you he was sorry, that he didn’t see how else to save Marlena,” I say, even though I don’t want to tell Ash what else Finley said before I left for Penumbra. In the end, he betrayed us all, and we almost died. But, I’m also not a petty person at heart.
Shame churns deep in Ash’s features as he avoids my gaze, nodding. “I’m sorry you had to find out what he did when I didn’t come back. After Skye betrayed me, I don’t have an excuse for how I let this happen with Finley too. And you and Nera got hurt because of it.”
“It’s not your fault someone you trusted blindsided you.” I rest my hand on his cheek, shifting his face so I can look straight into his eyes when I say, “We were both betrayed by those we loved, and ultimately, believing people are good separates us from them. Finley betrayed us because he didn’t think there was a way out of this, but had he trusted you...”
My voice shakes as I think about Harper. Maybe her last moments in this world wouldn’t have been inside the machineroom. I wonder if she knew about the strix and the hybrids before everything happened.
“Is the bond going to make you chase after him?”
“Eventually...”Ash hesitates. “Though perhaps his actions fractured our bond long before I suspected him. It may be why I didn’t feel the need to chase after him, or to protect him, for the last few years. I’ll eventually find him, and he will have to answer for what he did to us.”
We go down to the courtyard, while the chilly breeze of the early morning hits my cheeks. I’m tired, but I can’t help but smile as the grimoires move over us and toward the castle. “You won. You destroyed the veil and recovered your grimoires.”
It had been relatively easy since I knew the way in and the schedules the librarians kept. The evening guard never suspected the fae king and his sister would come steal all the forbidden texts.
“Wewon, Monster.” Ash places me on the ground, and I’m already missing the warmth of his body as he steps away. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to set that librarian’s cloak on fire. But that was a wonderful distraction.”
“I gave him three warnings,” I huff.
“Please remind me to never make you that angry, or you might set me on fire... again.” Ash chuckles and reaches for my hand. When I face the castle, the air catches in my lungs.
From afar it was beautiful, but now, as I stand in front of the glorious stonework, it leaves me speechless. With the curse gone, some of the grime and lichen that had made a home on the stone has faded. The magical roses that previously climbed the walls are gone—withered and brown, shriveled into nothingness.
We step forward just as Nera lands behind us. She wears a dirty nightgown that has seen better days, the tattered edges streaked with mud and soot from the city, much like her paleskin. The grimoires she carried pour into the castle as a side door swings open and fae of all shapes and sizes rush out.
Some have wings, others shimmer with the light—similar to Ash and Nera. All of them clamor at us, their expressions alight with joy and reverence.
I stiffen beside Ash. How are they going to react to me, a hybrid in this place which not so long ago was cursed by one?
“Don’t be nervous, Monster. They’re mostly harmless—but I was told once that the fae want human pets, so I’d be careful if I were you.”
“Have I told you I hate you?” I glare up at him, remembering when I uttered those words at him.
“Once or twice.” His grin—with fucking dimples—could blind a person. “But it’s the other words you said back in that dump of a city that I choose to focus on.”
My cheeks warm because I know which words he’s talking about. We haven’t spoken about my love confession in the cave, and I don’t think we need to dwell on it. I spoke my truth and showed him how I feel. Just like he’s done for me.
“Your Majesty.” A tall fae is the first to reach us. He bows, giving us a clear view of his beautiful silver hair tied back with a black ribbon. He places his palm over his heart in a gesture of reverence. When he straightens, his ebony eyes shift to me briefly before they go back to Ash.
A small smile graces his thick lips. He doesn’t look more than thirty, but something in his eyes screams that he’s much older than even Ash. “You did it. You broke the curse and saved us all.”
“I didn’t break the curse. Mia did.” Ash turns to me. My stomach flutters. “I believe you’ve met Alaris, Mia?”
I gape at the cook and can’t speak. Of course, he doesn’t look like a bald mole anymore, but I never expected him to be a handsome man either.
