I staggered upright, then nearly keeled over. At Lachlan’s look, I waved him away. “Don’t worry about me.”

He hoisted me into his arms, clutching me to his chest as he strode toward the tower. “Of course I worry about you.”

“You shouldn’t.” I looked up into his handsome face, my heart breaking. “You really shouldn’t.”

“I know.” His voice sounded rough, and he did know. He could already feel the effects of the curse. Of course he knew. “I can’t help it.”

“That’s the problem.” I wanted to rest my head against his shoulder, but I knew that I shouldn’t under any circumstances.

Exhaustion tugged at me, a soul-deep ache that demanded I rest. I needed his help now, but I couldn’t take more than the bare minimum. I couldn’t take what I really wanted.

My gaze flicked to his lips, then away.

Definitely not.

Lachlan climbed the steps to the tower two at a time, sweeping through the doors and ignoring the looks of the people in the great hall. I could feel their gazes burning into me, each of them ravenously curious. I made sure not to make eye contact. I had as many questions as they did—there was nothing I could say to them.

Lachlan reached his quarters a moment later and lay me in the bed. It felt divine, my aching bones sighing at the welcome of the soft mattress. But the location…

I looked up at him. “This is your room.”

“Ah—” He looked briefly surprised, as if he hadn't realized and had just brought me here on instinct. “You’re right. It is. But I’m not staying.”

I blinked at him. It was the first time I’d ever seen him look anything close to embarrassed.

He stood abruptly and went to the door. “Get some rest.”

“What are you—”

But he was gone, and exhaustion was already pulling at me. Whatever had happened back on Wyre had sucked the strength from me, and the only solution was to sleep.

Didn’t matter if I didn’t want to—my body was making it clear. Within minutes, I was out.

Lachlan

 

* * *

 

This is your room.

Eve’s words echoed in my head.

Idiot.

Why had I taken her there? I hadn’t planned on anything other than laying her down to rest. For that, I should have taken her to a nearby guest suite.

Instead, I’d brought her to my room, instinct driving my motions. That was exactly the kind of thing I wasn’t meant to do. I was supposed to be putting distance between us, not putting her right in my bed.

Frustrated, I dragged a hand through my hair, then reached for the flask in my back pocket. As I palmed it, I remembered that there was no point. It would do me no good. I could no longer rely on that crutch to suppress my emotions.

I just had to feel the damned things.

Terrible.

I had no experience with that. Not anymore.

Annoyed with myself, I shook away the thoughts and found Kenneth in the library, where he usually was at that time of night. Despite his broad stature and warrior’s eyes, Kenneth had a fondness for books.

My second looked up when I entered, his gaze brightening. “Any luck?”

“Yes. We have more information.” It had been deadly trying to get it, but we’d be nowhere without the photos I’d taken. I drew my mobile from my pocket, pulled up the photos, then handed it to him. “Can you read that?”

He squinted at it and zoomed in on some of the carvings. “Old Norse. Kind of. Slight variations. Those, I can’t read. But I can decipher the Norse bits.”

“Will it take you long?”

“A few hours to do it all.” He tilted the device. “A lot of it isn’t legible—at least, not to me. But I should be able to get something helpful.”

“Good, make it a priority.” I explained to him what we had just been through, along with what we were looking for. Not that I had much idea, but it might provide some guidance.

“I can do that.” He turned to the table and picked up his pen, already into the job.

I was grateful to have a second like Kenneth, skilled and loyal. But as I turned to go, his voice stopped me: “This was left for you at the front door.”

I looked back, and he handed me a sealed envelope. I pulled it open and read the short note in a too-familiar hand:

 

* * *

 

Give me time.

 

* * *

 

Garreth.

I blinked. What the hell was he doing writing to me?

“What is it?” Kenneth asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“The man who delivered this…did they see him?”

“Wasn’t a man. Courier service from London. The fae one.”

“Send someone there to see if they can get information on who sent this.” Even as I requested it, I feared it was pointless. Garreth would cover his tracks. Still, we had to try.

But what the hell was he up to?

I tucked the note into my pocket and left.

As I made my way out into the main part of the castle, I realized that my bed was occupied. I certainly wasn’t going to join Eve there, even in sleep.

I went to the chair in my living room instead, resisting the urge to check on Eve. She deserved privacy, and I needed to keep my head in the game. Every time I looked upon her, it threatened the little sanity I had left.

In fact, as I settled into the chair in front of the cold hearth, I realized that the curse was rising within me. I could feel it like a stain upon my soul.

It was time for another potion.

Quickly, I drew one from my pocket and gulped it down, feeling the rush of magic through my veins as it went to work.

What a pair we were, Eve and me. Both of us relying on potions to keep going, fighting what we were and what we wanted.

But I could see no other way. This was it for us.

Eve

 

* * *

 

I woke feeling much better…with the exception of the fact that I couldn’t breathe.

I gasped, barely able to drag air into my lungs, and opened my eyes.

Ralph stared down at me, a flaky chocolate croissant gripped in his little hands. His big arse pressed into my chest, restricting my breathing.

My gaze fell to the croissant, and my stomach rumbled. “Is that for me?”

No. He took a big bite, letting the crumbs fall all over my neck.

“Ack! Get off, you little monster.” I shoved him away, and he rolled to the side, protecting his treat with his furry body.

With the two-ton raccoon off my chest, I could suddenly breathe again. My gaze landed on a tray of breakfast pastries near the door, and I realized where Ralph had got his croissant.

“I see you found the good stuff.” I rose, feeling a hell of a lot better than I had the night before.

I needed my strength for my bedside vigil.

“Of course you did.” I turned back to him and spotted him leaning against the pillows, shoving the pastry into his mouth. “Have you seen Lachlan?”

He shook his head. Came right to this room a few minutes ago. Might have heard him out in the main room, though.

Damn. I ran my hands through my hair, trying to flatten it, and vowed to hold my breath if he got too near.