“It’s possible that Carmen is still alive and trapped somewhere near Wexford. For some reason Deri thinks Nora may be the key to set her free.”
James’s gaze drifted once more over my shoulder, I assumed to the large oak at my back. Or perhaps to nothing at all, after everything I had given him to think about. Silence settled between us. A long minute passed when he pinched the bridge of his nose as though fighting off a headache. “This is not what I expected,” he said. “If you would have asked me yesterday about any of this, I would have laughed outright. Now, I would be a fool to believe otherwise.”
It was a lot to take in at once, and much more than James had originally agreed to. Though I hated the idea of traveling alone, in good conscience, I had to offer him a way out. “Mr. Roth, there is no loss in honor if you choose to turn back now.”
He looked like I had just slapped him. “I will never stop, not until Nora and Lord Fitzalan are safe. Whatever awaits us, so be it.”
“Even the loss of your life?” I raised a brow in question. “You’ve seen the madness Deri can cause. What you haven’t seen is how she can spread disease with a single touch. And if Carmen is real, she will be a hundred times more dangerous than Deri.” I hesitated before pushing to the end. “According to the legend, it took four full-blooded Tuatha Dé to subdue the witch during her bloody rampage. For all of our sakes, I pray to God that she isn’t real. Or if she is, that King Bres stripped her powers when he imprisoned her. Otherwise I am not sure we will prevail.” I lifted my chin a fraction of an inch as if death did not scare me. Nor the death of those I loved most in this world.
James considered me for a moment, right before he did the most astounding thing. Putting a hand on my shoulder, he pulled me into an embrace. “We have an agreement, Miss Kilbrid, and shall continue together even if the devil himself awaits us.”
My head rested against him, and I found the closeness oddly calming. There was nothing romantic about the gesture, nothing more than two people in need of comfort.
“The devil it may be,” I murmured into his chest.
A low rumbling sound came from the direction of the inn. James dropped his arms and stepped back awkwardly. “That must be the London coach. We best be off if you’re ready.”
My emotions felt too raw to leave just yet. “Go ahead. I need a few minutes to collect my thoughts.”
He nodded. “I’ll saddle the horses and then find that cat so you can heal it. No sense leaving it to suffer with Deri’s imprint burned into its brain.”
Alone, I stared at the stream and attempted to drown my fears in the clear water that flowed over a bed of moss-covered rocks. Henry and Nora will be all right... Deri will die... Carmen will... That fear was too big for the stream, so I shoved it away into the far reaches of my mind. When it tried to creep forward, I pushed it back and set another thought directly on top of it.
James no longer hates me.
We had spent so much time at war, I was relieved to finally be at peace. It seemed surreal and altogether freeing that he knew my true identity. And after hearing his story, I could even sort of understand his initial hostility toward me, as I had been guilty of a similar crime, despising all of the English peerage based on my family’s experience with just a handful of nobles. In time, I had overcome this bias for the most part. I wondered if James could do the same and overcome his views on class in order to have a future with Nora. I prayed he could, for both of their sakes.
A branch snapped in the clearing.
“I’m coming, Mr. Roth.” Pulling my gaze from the river, I turned to leave.
Julian Stroud stood behind me.
Startled, I stumbled back without thinking. “What are you doing here?” The man belonged in London, along with his misguided belief that our shared goddess blood fated us to be together.
His mouth bent to a sneer. “I came to offer you my services, but from what I’ve just seen, you are well tended to.”
In a flash, I recalled the unease from the road. “You followed us!”
“Of course I did.” Julian drew closer, anger burning like coal in his eyes. “And now you’ve some explaining to do.”
Water seeped into my boot. Altering my course, I began to skirt along the bank when my heel snagged on something. I fell backward, catching myself against the enormous oak tree.
“I’ve nothing to say to you.” I straightened myself, while eyeing the path on the far side of the clearing.
Julian loomed in front of me. “You’ve plenty to say, Selah, so I suggest you start talking. Let’s begin with what just happened between you and Mr. Roth.”
Power instinctively shot to my palms. “Don’t push me, Julian. I’m in no mood to be trifled with.” Only a week had passed since he’d grabbed my arm and been severely burned in the process. I doubted he would act so foolhardy again.