Yes, I’d felt those things. “I wouldn’t hurt her,” I said stiffly.
“Not intentionally, Prince, but Aura’s intentions are quite different from yours, and you are under her control, whether it feels like it or not.” Malex tossed me the used rag. “But there is a way, if you truly want to help her and protect her.”
“And I’m sure that you’ll jump to tell me, so I’ll be out of the picture and you can move in.”
“She owes me a favor,” he said with a wicked smile. “What do you think I’ll ask for? Your heart?”
Shaking my head, I threw the towel into the basin. “You wouldn’t hurt her like that. She’d hate you for it. Besides, you need her power, which means you need her on your side. But why? You’re a fae prince. Won’t you inherit your own kingdom one day? Why are you so fixated on Luna and the Kingdom of Virosa?”
He smiled. “The fae are immortal, young one. My father will never die, and so I won’t inherit anything from him. He built a palace for me, but it’s nothing but a hollow shell of marble and gold. I want to feel alive again. Needed. Wanted. Revered.”
“And you think Luna can make you feel that way?”
“Maybe,” he answered, shrugging. “It’s worth a shot. I have nothing but time. I hate Aura, so Luna is the obvious choice between the two. And Virosa is a beautiful kingdom. The fae love all things beautiful and luxurious.” He toyed with a strand of Luna’s hair before standing abruptly.
“Is she immortal?” I asked, flicking my eyes to Luna.
“No. She’s part human, so she will die, but her life will be long unless someone snuffs it out prematurely.”
“And that’ll only happen if she severs the bond with Aura.”
“Yes,” he answered simply.
I suddenly wanted him to leave. He was obviously playing some sort of game with Luna, and I wondered if he was as friendly with Aura as he pretended to be with Luna. Maybe he was like my brother, choosing to pit the sisters against each other in order to take their kingdom.
Instead, he took his fine, pale green coat off, laid it across a kitchen chair, and rolled up his sleeves.
“Staying?”
He smiled. “I think I will. Thank you.”
LUNA
I remembered falling asleep with Phillip near the hearth, but I distinctly did not remember Malex being in my cottage. He smiled as I stood up, greeting me with a, “Good morning, Princess.”
Phillip was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. He looked healthy and strong. Was he okay? How would I know if Aura grew a heart and healed him? We stared at each other for a long moment. Did he know what was happening to him? Did Malex tell him while I slept?
I shot Malex a questioning look and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.
Unfortunately, Phillip noticed. “What was that exchange about?”
Swallowing thickly, I straightened my skirts and walked toward him. “There’s something you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ve been poisoned.”
“Did you poison me? Or was it him?” he yelled, dropping the apple he was holding. It fell to the floor and rolled to my feet.
“It was Aura,” I said exasperatedly. “She must have asked you to smell her roses while you were at the palace. They contain a toxin. She controls when it’s released and in what dose, but every dose...” I trailed off, not wanting to continue.
“Every dose is what?” he asked.
I pinched my eyes closed. “Every dose is lethal.”
He looked like I’d punched him in the stomach. His mouth dropped open and he blinked rapidly. “How long have you known?”
“Just since last night.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that? What about you?” he aimed at Malex.
Malex’s jaw ticked in irritation. “I’m the one who told her last night. We knew you smelled like Virosa, but didn’t realize what she’d done until you got sick. The cold sweat on your forehead and the wracking cough are the first signs that the poison has taken hold.”
“How long do I have?” Phillip asked shakily.
I shook my head, tears filling my eyes. A knot, large enough to choke me, formed in my throat. “I don’t know. Only Aura does, and only she can stop it.”
“Why can’t you?” he shouted in frustration. “You’re her opposite.”
“I’ll try, Phillip, but I don’t know how.” I turned to Malex. “If I kill Aura, will it save him?”
He folded his arms in front of him. “It certainly couldn’t hurt.”
Phillip gave Malex a hate-filled glare and pointed out the window. “Isn’t it time to crawl back to your cave now?”
Malex stood up, brushing imaginary lint off his impeccably pressed shirt. “Apparently, I’ve worn out my welcome.” Malex smiled slightly and nodded toward Phillip. “He gets braver when you’re awake.”
“What does that mean?” I asked the two of them. They stared at each other from across the room until Malex finally yielded, taking his jacket and folding it over his arm. Malex walked to me and placed a cool kiss on my cheek. My skin didn’t tingle so I knew he hadn’t left his mark, but I could feel the anger radiating off Phillip just a few feet away.
When Malex closed the door behind him, Ember jumped onto the counter beside Phillip. He picked her up and stroked her fur, and she pinched her eyes closed and purred contentedly.
“I’ll stop this,” I vowed.
“You can’t promise me that, Luna. You don’t know how, and there might not be time for you to figure it out.” His voice was hollow.
A tear fell from my eye. Then another. Then another, until I was shaking with rage and sadness and helplessness. There wasn’t a worse feeling in the world than being helpless.
Phillip sat Ember down and took a few steps toward me. “You don’t have to go after Terigon until tomorrow, right?”
I brushed the tears away. “Right.”
“Then, let’s enjoy each other tonight.” He took my hand in his. “Let’s have dinner – breakfast, I mean – and then let’s talk. And if you want to kiss, I’d love that, too.”
My heart was being cleaved in two. “You’re giving up.”
“No, I’m enjoying each minute of my life. Whether it ends tomorrow, the next day, next week, or when I’m seventy, I want to remember this night with you.”
chapter seventeen
PHILLIP
Luna gave me a watery smile and squeezed my hand. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“Surprise me.”
She nodded, swallowed thickly, and grabbed her broom. “I’ll be back soon. Stay—”
“Inside. I know.” I watched as she pulled the door closed behind her, the night taking his mistress.
I knew Aura’s toxin couldn’t hurt Luna while they were bound. Maybe it wouldn’t even affect her after their bond was severed. But what would hurt her, would be the sight of me growing weak, and then sick, and then dying.
That fear was already shining in her eyes.