Page 409 of Alchemised
“You promised we’d run away together,” she said. “Remember?”
He dipped his head. “Why is it that I have to keep all my promises, but you never seem to keep a single one of yours?”
She shook her head, tilting up her face so their foreheads touched.
“The first promise I made to you was that I’d be yours for as long as I live. I’m keeping that one.”
HELENA’S ROOM WAS IN RUINS, her clothing nothing but ash. Fortunately, Kaine had travel clothes ready for her. Sturdy, neutral-coloured riding clothes. She dressed carefully, trying not to worsen the burns on her back.
The hallway was soaked with water, reduced to charred ruin, but the iron remained like the bones of a beast.
Atreus still lay on the ground where Kaine had left him, his eyes closed. They opened at the sound of approaching footsteps, his head lifting. He looked between Kaine and Helena and laughed.
Helena gripped Kaine’s arm before he could react.
“I want to talk to him alone,” she said.
“No.”
“He can’t do anything to me. Just wait here.”
She felt Kaine’s eyes on her as she walked towards Atreus. Atreus watched her approach with equally piercing interest.
“I didn’t make my offer to you,” Atreus said when she got close.
She knelt beside him. “You know he won’t ask.”
He looked away from her. “Then consider it withdrawn.”
Her chest clenched in dread. She was tempted to beg, but she knew that Atreus wouldn’t care about her humanity or humiliation.
“I’m going to escape regardless of what you do. Refusing will only kill him.”
Atreus looked past her, towards Kaine, who stood watching them.
Longing like hunger shone in Atreus’s eyes as he stared at his son. She wanted to speak, but waited. Finally Atreus broke the silence.
“I only realised how much he resembled her when I returned. I’d never noticed it when he was a boy.” His eyes were straining, struggling to make out Kaine from the distance. “I never understood why she wanted a child so much. I would have adopted an heir from another family in the iron guild if need be. I should have been enough for her.”
Helena watched him pityingly. He was pathetically jealous.
“He’s all that’s left of her now.”
He finally looked at her. “Can you really save him?”
“Yes, if you truly want him to live.”
He didn’t answer immediately. Her heart dropped like a stone. If he wasn’t completely willing, the bond would fade away, and Kaine would slip away just like Luc had.
“Enid was my life,” he finally said. “If she were here, she’d tell me to save him. I never could say no to her about anything.”
Helena reached out and bent the iron away. He rose slowly. He did not look at her or Kaine, but turned and walked into the house.
WHEN THEY ENTERED THE DRAWING room, Atreus could not tear his eyes away from the cage. Had he not seen it? Or simply never stopped to wonder at its purpose?
“How long was she—?” His fingers trembled as he touched the bars. He sank to his knees, as if intending to crawl inside to occupy the same space.
“Four months,” Kaine said, his voice dull. His eyes were darting around, the way they always did inside that room.
