My human flew at me, kissing my face, my jaw, my chest.
“Can we do this later?” I asked, thoroughly interested but entirely distracted by the fact that I was still leaning against the Queen’s bed.
“Right. Yes. Of course.” Aveen scrubbed her tears before standing on unsteady legs. My own refused to follow. “Aren’t you coming?” she threw over her shoulder.
When I tried, my legs gave out like a newborn foal’s. Aveen’s smile lit my soul with so much joy, I felt as if I could fly. If only my leaden limbs felt the same. She helped me to my feet, taking the bulk of my weight as we stumbled toward the door. “Princes,” she muttered. “So pathetic and weak.”
I’d like to see how she fared after wielding so much black magic.
We made it down the stairs and out into the barren wasteland of the Forest, through the gates without issue, and crossed all the way to the cliffside path where she would push me to my death. Delightfully, if her grin was any indication.
And then I saw the Queen.
35
Stick to the plan,I wanted to shout. Instead, I remained silent. It wasn’t clear how much the Queen knew or didn’t know. Offering excuses could lead to incriminating ourselves. Right now, all we had to worry about was the fact that Aveen had entered the Forest without the Queen’s permission. A problem easily solved the moment she pushed me off the cliff.
“You were free, and yet you returned. Why?” the Queen said. Although she glared at the two of us, she sounded genuinely baffled. It was no wonder. The witch had never been able to comprehend the depth of true love. It made you reckless and foolish. But it also made you strong and courageous.
“I love your son,” Aveen said simply.
Don’t get stuck chatting.Kill me already.
The Queen inhaled, lips tugging into a deep frown. “You know the penalty for crossing the Forest.” Her dagger appeared, sending my heart rate spiking. If she heard, she didn’t show any indication. “One life,” she said.
“Rían,” Aveen said without looking back. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my little viper.” It was the first time I’d said those words to anyone since Leesha. And now that I was whole again, completely in control, I meant them.
Aveen whirled and shoved me off the cliff.
I heard my mother’s indignant shriek. My heart clattered against my ribcage as I plummeted toward the churning water far below.
I died with a smile on my face.
* * *
I awoke with a start, face-down in briny water, and managed to flip myself so I could choke out a handful of salty coughs. I stared up at the clouds, still smiling. The cliffs towered above, monstrous and jagged. Black and white birds swirled and swooped, diving into the sea and returning to their nests in the stone.
That’s when I saw a dark shape rocketing toward the crashing waves.
A woman with golden curls flying and skirts billowing, doing nothing to slow her down.
Aveen.
Had the Queen pushed her? Had she fallen? Had shejumped? I tried to shout her name, but my voice had yet to return, so all I could do was breathe as she plummeted faster and faster. Too fast. Too far. No hope of survival. I tried to move my arms, my legs, but they were as flimsy and useless as the seaweed drifting past.
I was forced to float there and watch the woman I loved slam into the waves and disappear into the dark depths. I scanned the surface, hoping beyond hope that she would emerge unscathed, but the longer she stayed under, the more apparent it became.
Aveen was dead.
Feeling slowly returned to my limbs, and I couldn’t stop myself from swimming toward the spot where I’d last seen her, even though I knew there was no hope. And then I saw her in a cresting wave, golden curls spread as if atop a watery pillow, neck at a wrong angle, blue eyes reflecting the clouds above. Clouds she couldn’t see.
Merrow popped their heads from the dark expanse of sea, but none offered any assistance. I hooked my arm across her chest, dragging her limp form toward the shore, trying my best to keep my darkest thoughts at bay.
The moment my boots sank into the sand, I brought us both to her cottage in Hollowshade and carried my love into the bedroom where we’d made love only a few hours ago. Where we’d made plans. Where we’d hoped.
I pressed the heel of my hand against my scarred chest, an unending ache spreading to my very soul.