Page 61 of The Sunbound Princess
“Of course not. But?—”
“No buts,” he said, slashing a fiery hand through the air. “You didn’t just make something when you created me. You madesomeone.” His eyes softened. “That’s powerful magic, Princess. Only a queen could create someone as magical as me.”
Tears pricked my eyes. A watery laugh spilled from me as I pulled him into a hug. His warmth seeped into my clothes, banishing the chill leftover from the uncomfortable night.
“Thank you, old friend,” I whispered.
“Any time, Your Highness.”
A scuffling sound made us spring apart. Helios darted in front of me as we whirled toward the barn’s entrance.
“Who’s there?” I called, my voice in danger of cracking. “Show yourself!”
Nikolas stepped between the broken barn doors, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. His face was haggard, and his voice was rough as he said, “It’s me. Please, Ezabell, you have to come. It’s Dain. He’s sick.” Nikolas drew a shuddering breath. “I… He’s dying.”
My gut clenched. “Is this a trick?” I demanded, distrust mounting. “Where is he?”
Nikolas dropped to his knees. “I’m not lying to you, Bel.” His words tumbled forth in a desperate-sounding rush. “I found an inn not far from the clearing. Thank the gods, because for a minute I thought I’d lost him. I don’t know what else to do. But he’s elfkin, a-and the two of you are connected. I don’t know if you can help, but we have to try.” Anguish covered his features. “I swear to you, I’m telling the truth. He’s dying.”
Tension stretched between us. Helios looked over his shoulder at me, his face inscrutable.
Nikolas coughed—a wet, ugly sound that echoed through the barn. His eyes were red-rimmed, his face white as chalk. With shaking hands, he unbuttoned his shirt.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, alarm building.
He pulled the two halves of his shirt wide, and I forgot how to breathe. Glowing yellow light spread over his chest, tracing the path of his veins like vines climbing a tree. As I watched, one of the tiny rivers climbed a slow path toward his neck.
“It’s the curse,” Nikolas said hoarsely. “Please, Ezabell. We have to save Dain.”
Chapter
Sixteen
NIKOLAS
Ihalf-ran, half-stumbled down the road with Ezabell at my side. Helios kept pace with us, his body shining as brightly as the rising sun.
Viraxes’s curse burned in my veins. Every heartbeat sent more fire shooting across my chest. I’d expected to die when it flared to life shortly after Dain collapsed. But the magic had spread more slowly, as if the curse wanted me to suffer watching Dain die before it finished me off. The burn had intensified through the night.
And yet, it…eased now. Not much, but enough to notice. It had to be my proximity to Ezabell. Hope crested over the waves of despair that threatened to claw me under. If being near her worked for me, it would work for Dain. Ithadto.
“How did you find me?” Ezabell panted, the ends of her red scarf fluttering.
I met her eyes. “You’re not as invisible as you might think.” When her expression went perplexed, I gestured to the path. “You drift left on the road, leave deeper prints when you’re angry, and your right boot has a little nick in the heel. It was enough.” And I’d been catching rabbits for a long time.
She stared. Then she focused on the road, which was little more than a dirt track. “How much farther?”
“Just ahead,” I said, pointing to a cluster of thatched roofs tucked between the trees. “I was lucky to find a village. If I hadn’t…” I stopped, unable to speak my worst fear aloud. Nearly living it had been bad enough. “I would’ve carried Dain all the way to Saldu,” I finished.
Helios streaked into our path, forcing me to stop to avoid slamming into him. His jacket swirled, his chest blazing like a bonfire before reappearing. “If you hurt her?—”
“I’d die first,” I said, meaning it. “I hurt Ezabell once, Helios, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
He blinked, clearly startled that I’d used his proper name.
“No harm will come to her,” I said. “I vow it.”
His lips thinned, and I braced for him to fling an insult. But he looked at Ezabell. “I’ll be close by,” he said, then streaked away.
