Page 416 of Alchemised
Her eyes ran down Helena’s body, stopping at her stomach, and she froze.
Helena’s chest clenched. “You know, right? Kaine said he was in contact with you.”
Lila nodded slowly.
Behind them, Kaine dismounted.
Lila’s head snapped up, as if she hadn’t noticed him until that moment. “What are you doing here?”
Without warning Lila lunged towards him.
Helena had to throw herself between them, pushing her back. “We escaped together. Lila, don’t hurt him, he’s not Undying anymore.”
A savage light came into Lila’s blue eyes. “Really?”
“You’re not going to have any more luck killing me now than you have at any point in the past, Bayard,” Kaine said. “Lose any more limbs, and you won’t be much protection for that little Principate of yours.”
Lila gave a snarl like a wildcat, looking ready to tear out Kaine’s eyes.
“Stop, both of you,” said Helena, furious that they’d managed to ruin the reunion in less than a minute.
Lila stopped trying to assault Kaine and simply glared at him. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you weren’t really going to die saving her in the end.”
“Shut up, Lila,” Helena said sharply. “I brought him here. If you want to be angry that he’s still alive, then you’ll have to be angry at me.”
Lila looked at Helena, disbelief and then despairing resignation sweeping across her face as she stepped back. “Fine. I’ll keep my mouth shut. Put that monster of yours away, Ferron. I don’t want it near Pol.”
“Go on in,” Kaine said to Helena. “Don’t worry. I knew already that Bayard and I weren’t going to be having a joyous reunion.”
He turned to Amaris and led her towards the stable.
Helena watched them disappear inside and then looked back at Lila, feeling suddenly drained. She somehow thought there’d be enough joy to last an evening at least, but it already felt spent.
It wasn’t that she’d expected things to be simple; a sea of loss surrounded them. She couldn’t begin to imagine how Lila felt towards Kaine after all this time. Still, she hadn’t expected to need to legitimise something as intensely personal as her relationship with Kaine so quickly.
“Lila, if you hurt him, I will never forgive you,” she said.
Lila just shook her head. “You could do so much better.”
“No. He’s what I need, and he’s what it took to save you.”
She could see a multitude of objections rising to Lila’s lips.
“Come inside,” Lila said instead, looking away.
It was only when they were in good light that Helena realised that Lila was still wearing manacles. Not the full suppression that Helena had worn, but enough to keep her resonance weakened.
“He never took those off?” Helena said.
Lila looked down with a grimace. “He did for a while, until I nearly ripped out his talisman. When I woke up.” She shook her wrist. “It’s been a long time now.”
Helena looked around. The house was small and visibly lived in. There was a kitchen, a table, and a bed in the far corner, mostly hidden behind a curtain. It seemed so ordinary for Lila. A world away from the Institute and Solis Splendour, the shining paladin armour.
Helena found herself at a loss.
“Have you been here this whole time?” she finally asked.
Lila shook her head. “No. Back when Ferron thought he’d find you soon, we were just across the river in Novis. It was later that he brought me and Pol here.” She gave a wan smile. “He’s sleeping, do you want to see him?”
