A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 2)

“We’ve got nothing to lose.”

“Sadly, no.” I reached out and took his hand. “It’s going to work, though, Hannon. I can feel it.”

“Did you sing to the leaves?”

“Sable did. I think she was saying gibberish words, but that probably doesn’t matter.”

His brow knitted with a thoughtful look. “That plant is like a child.”

“Yeah, it is.” I mixed the brew, took a deep breath, and handed it over to my brother.

I dropped my hand to Father’s forehead, his skin clammy and too hot. I could very well kill him with this new elixir. His early death would be on my hands. But if I didn’t take a chance, he’d only have a few days to a week left anyway. The kids had said their goodbyes already, and now it was my turn. Hannon had said he’d be the one to administer the medicine, because I couldn’t bear to see Father die if I was the one who’d killed him. There was no antidote I could offer. There was no way out. If this elixir was too potent, there was nothing I could do to fix my error.

I took a moment to think back on the good times, when he’d been happy. We’d never truly gotten along, Father and I, always quarreling about something, but we loved each other as a family ought to. This house needed its leader. Its parent.

“It’s going to work,” I told Hannon again, feeling it in every fiber of my being. “That plant is of the dragons, and a cornered dragon is more powerful than a demon, any day. It will save the day, just you wait.”

I straightened up and ran my fingers through my hair. I hoped it worked, at any rate. I was running out of answers.

“I’ll be in the living room,” I said softly.

I closed the door behind me and gathered what I’d need to do the shopping. After that, I might go set some traps, anything to stay busy. I couldn’t let my mind wander. If it didn’t drift toward the aching hollow of Nyfain’s absence, it dwelled on my father and the others who were dying of the sickness.

Sable and Dash sat on the couch, their faces long, not speaking.

“It’ll be okay,” I said, tears stinging my eyes. “It’s going to work.”

The more I said it, the less I believed it.

Guilt tore at me. Maybe I shouldn’t have tried this. Maybe I should have chased Nyfain into the castle and demanded more information on the crowded everlass before attempting such a rash experiment.

Regardless, it was done now.

Hannon came out of the room with a drawn face. He held out the empty tin mug, showing us. He’d gotten Father to drink all of it, so there was nothing left to do but wait.

I nodded and slipped out the front door. I wouldn’t be waiting at home.

The afternoon sun was bright and warm, winter’s chill starting to recede. Villagers traveled the lane, one laden with a sack of bread and another pushing a small cart of grain for her goats. I smiled in hello and received confused frowns in return.

At the market, I looked over my shopping list before deciding which stall to visit first. In front of the stand of lettuce, I caught sight of a familiar face. His orange-red hair glowed brilliantly in the sun, like a firestorm around his freckled face. James, my first boyfriend. My first love.

Or so I’d thought.

He glanced my way, and his pale blue eyes widened. He turned, and it was the first I’d noticed his lanky frame and lack of grace. His black T-shirt hung off his narrow, bony shoulders, a brown belt cinched his trousers around his waist, and his skinny arms swung at his sides. He kind of flopped his feet out when he walked.

“Hey, James,” I said when he neared, expecting the punch to the gut that I usually felt in his presence. This guy had torn my heart out and thrown it in my face, right before asking for a goodbye bang. I was still pissed I’d given it to him, crying the whole time. Begging him to please reconsider.

But now…nothing.

Is this your doing? I asked my animal, having opened myself to her—just a crack—upon returning home. She hadn’t communicated with me at all. I got the feeling she was giving me the cold shoulder.

Leaving the dragon so we can carry on with this hollow, meaningless life? she replied. No, it is not. That was your doing, you goat-faced cumsplat. Just wait until you can shift. Then we’ll see who wears the pants in this relationship.

She was clearly still quite angry…and colorful.

I don’t feel anything for James anymore. Is that because of you?

James who? That red-headed git stopping in front of us? Why would you feel anything for him? I can’t even feel his animal. He’s subpar, at best. He couldn’t protect us if his life depended on it.