Page 39 of Beneath the Flames
He gave a single nod.
“Does the curse preventyoufrom leaving?”
Again, another nod.
Pieces were slowly starting to fit into place, and yet there were still so many missing ones.He was giving me answers, but not enough, not the ones that really mattered.
“And there’s no way to save Eroth?”I purposely didn’t ask if there was a way to savehim.He didn’t really seem like he deserved to be redeemed at this point, but it was saddening to know an entire kingdom would cease to exist.
This had once been a home to someone other than Rhydian and Nico.
Nico…
Before Rhydian could answer, I blurted, “What about Nico?Is he cursed too?”
At my question, a deep sadness entered Rhydian’s eyes, an emotion so human I almost forgot he was a Dark Fae.
“No, Nico isn’t cursed…not like I am.But he’s been here with me since he was very young, and he refuses to leave now.”
“Is he your brother or something?”I asked, unsure what their relationship was.
There was a tiny lift to the corner of his mouth as he said, “He might as well be.”
“If he’s not your sibling, where are his parents?”
That infinitesimal smile instantly disappeared, his brows lowering over his eyes as he looked back at the fiery flower.
“They’re gone.”
“Dead?”
His shoulders lifted.“I don’t know.They left several years ago to search for a way to end the curse, like so many others have, and they never returned.”
My heart throbbed at the thought of Nico growing up without his parents and instead having this kidnapper and murderer as a parental figure.
Rhydian lifted his chin.“I’ve taken care of him the best I can.I may not be his family, but I consider him mine.I’d do anything for him.That’s why I—”
He slammed his mouth shut.
“Why you what?”
“Nothing.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath.“And here you were doing so well actually talking to me.”
“Nico is the reason why I’ve done the terrible things I’ve done, all right?”he snapped, then turned away to stalk over to the windows.He kept his back to me, though I could feel his anger radiating all the way over here.
Was he upset because he felt remorse and wanted to save Nico, or was it because I had reminded him of what he was deep down?
“The others that you’ve brought here…” I began, unsure how to ask the question.“Carrow mentioned them too.Who were they?”
Rhydian sighed.“They were the last vestiges of hope I had left.”
“What happened to them?”When he didn’t answer, I added, “Carrow made a comment about them preferring him over you.What did he mean?”
His gaze was furious as it snapped to mine.“It means Carrow is a monster.”
That didn’t really answer my question, but I feared I was pressing too many buttons.Maybe I could ask him more about this later when he wasn’t so on edge about the Prince of Nefaroth being here.
