“As do I.” Kieran grinned, and his sister rolled her eyes.
“Sounds like you and Poppy have that in common,” Casteel said, wiping his fingers on the napkin. It said something about his relationship with Kieran’s sister that he’d called me that in front of her. “She also has a fondness for sharp, deadly objects.”
“I do,” I confirmed.
Vonetta grinned. “Yet another reason to like you,” she said. “So, what do you think of Spessa’s End so far?”
Finishing off the last of the sandwich, I then told her how I hadn’t been aware of what had happened to Pompay and Spessa’s End. “I’m amazed by what has been done here—the homes are so much nicer than what most people have in Solis. And the gardens? There is nothing like that there. After seeing Pompay, I expected nothing but ruins.”
“Solis sounds like a really cruddy place,” she stated.
Casteel snorted. “Understatement of the year, Netta.”
“There are nice parts, but so very few people have access to them.” I picked up a plump strawberry. “And there are good people there. Scared individuals who don’t know any other way to live than what they were born into.”
She nodded as she brushed several braids back over her shoulder. “Hopefully, that changes soon.”
I agreed, and the conversation moved on from there. Casteel asked about Kieran and Vonetta’s parents. I learned that her mother was named Kirha and that Vonetta planned to travel home to see them soon. Their mother had a birthday coming up. They talked about how many new homes they felt would be completed in the next couple of months, and Vonetta mentioned a few people that she knew were interested in settling here. She asked about the potential for electricity, which led to a conversation about power grids and lines that sounded like a different language to me. I learned that Vonetta’s role in Spessa’s End was like one of a Rise Guard, and the way Vonetta and Casteel traded insults made it clear that the three of them had grown up together. The friendship between them was so real, that it made me fiercely yearn for the same thing—made me think of Tawny. She would love Kieran’s sister.
Vonetta then asked about how I’d learned to fight, and minutes ticked away, the sandwiches disappeared, and throughout the afternoon, there was never more than a few minutes where some part of Casteel’s body wasn’t in contact with mine. Whether it was his arm resting against mine or his knee, or him messing with my hair, tucking it behind my ear, or fixing the sleeves on my borrowed tunic. The constant contact, the small touches here and there, made it all too easy to forget that we were pretending.
And it was hard not to notice, at least for me, how different Vonetta was toward me compared to the others. It could be because she was Kieran’s sister and Casteel’s friend, but the wolven in general had entirely different reactions toward me. They weren’t distrustful, and while I did briefly open my senses to Vonetta when I caught her staring at me strangely, all I felt from her was curiosity.
“So, the whole static charge thing,” Vonetta brought back up after Kieran had cleared the table. “I want to see if it happens again.”
My brows lifted, but I was also curious. I extended my hand, and a moment later, Vonetta placed her palm flat to mine. She frowned slightly. “Do you feel anything?”
“No.” She sounded disappointed.
“I only felt it once,” Kieran remarked, letting an arm dangle over a bent knee. “Actually, come to think of it. What does she smell like to you?”
I drew my hand back, twisting toward Kieran. “That’s right. You said I smelled like a dead person.”
“I didn’t say you smelled like a dead person,” he countered. “I said you smelled of death.”
“How is that different?” I demanded.
“That’s a good question.” Casteel turned his head, brows lifting. “You’re really smelling her, aren’t you, Netta?”
I looked to find Vonetta’s head close to mine. “Please don’t say I smell of death.”
“You don’t.” She drew back. “But there is a unique scent to you.” Her dark brows knitted together. “You smell…old.”
“Um.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I’m not sure if that’s any better.”
Casteel dipped his head, and I felt the bridge of his nose along the side of my neck. “You don’t smell like that to me,” he murmured, and a shiver curled its way down my spine. “You smell like honeydew.”
Oh, my gods….
“I’m not saying she smells like mothballs and stale peppermint candy,” Vonetta said, and Kieran laughed. “It’s just… I don’t know how to explain what I mean.”
“I think I understand.” Casteel sat back.
“You do?” I questioned.
He nodded. “Your blood tastes old to me—old in a way that it’s rich. Powerful for someone who is not full-blooded Atlantian. It’s probably the bloodline.”
Vonetta tilted her head. “And what kind of—?”
A sudden, loud crash from outside interrupted us. Shouts of alarm rang out, and all three of them were on their feet in a matter of seconds.
“Sounds like that came from up the street where the houses are being worked on,” Vonetta said as I rose to my feet. Casteel was already out the terrace doors, Kieran following quickly behind him.
I trailed them out into the late-afternoon sun. We didn’t have to go far. Alastir rushed down the dirt-packed road, carrying the limp form of a small wolven.
Beckett.
I already knew he was in pain. I could feel it pinging against my skin, hot and sharp. I swallowed hard.
“What happened?” Casteel demanded.
“Beckett was being—well, he was being Beckett.” Alastir’s face was pale as he gently laid his nephew down in a patch of grass. The wolven’s growl ended in a whimper. “A piece of the roof collapsed, and he couldn’t move out of the way quick enough.”
“Shit,” Casteel grunted, kneeling beside Beckett.
Emil appeared behind Alastir. “Where is the Healer?”
“Talia is in the training fields,” a mortal woman said. “Someone was injured during practice.”
“Go and summon her. Tell her to come as soon as she can,” Casteel ordered one of the wolven. The man took off, shifting into his wolven form in a blur of speed. “It’s okay, Beckett. We’re getting help.”
Beckett’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and his mouth hung open. The whites of his eyes were stark against his dark fur. My senses stretched and pushed at my skin, and I tensed, trying to prepare myself as I opened up. Burning, acute pain rolled through the connection, stealing my breath. It was throbbing and endless, painting the soft grass in shades of red and soaking the sky in embers. This was definitely no minor hurt.
“I think his back legs are broken,” Alastir said, his hands trembling as he placed them on the ground. “He needs to shift. He needs to do it now.”
“Oh, no,” Vonetta whispered.
“If he doesn’t, the bones will start healing before we can straighten them.”
“I know,” Casteel said as I severed the connection before his physical pain overwhelmed me. “Beckett, you have to shift. I know it hurts, but you have to shift.”
The young wolven whimpered as he shuddered.
“He’s in too much pain.” I stepped around Vonetta.
“He’s too young,” Kieran said in a low voice, to no one in particular. “He won’t be able to do it.”
My gift hummed, demanding to be used as it guided me toward the wolven. My fingers tingled with the urge. Vonetta caught my arm. “Don’t get too close, Penellaphe.” Concern clouded her pale eyes. “An injured wolven is a very dangerous one, no matter how young.”
“It’s okay. I can help him.” I stepped to the side, slipping free of her grip as I searched out Casteel’s gaze. “I can help him.”
Casteel was still for a half a second and then nodded. “Come to his back. Beside me and away from those teeth.”
Aware of Kieran shadowing my steps and us gaining an audien
ce, I lowered to my knees. Beckett’s rear legs were twisted at awful, unnatural angles. Beckett growled, lifting his head and kicking out with his front leg, both weak attempts to warn us off, but I knew he could strike a lot more quickly.
“Can you do it?” Alastir whispered. “What you did in New Haven?”
I nodded.
“If you can help him and he’s able to shift,” Casteel spoke low and fast, “that’ll make it so much easier for Talia.”
“Okay,” I said as Casteel angled his body so he would have to go through him first if the wolven reared. “I’m not going to hurt you, Beckett. I promise.”
Lips peeled back, revealing canines sharp enough to pierce skin and strong enough to crunch bones. I tried not to think of that as I placed my hand on his back. Opening myself up again so I could monitor his pain, I swallowed back the bile crowding my throat. His pain…it made me want to throw up. I started to drum up warm, happy memories—
Something… something different happened the moment my fingers sank into Beckett’s soft fur.
The tingling sensation in my palms ramped up as if static danced over my skin, and my hands heated. The wolven twitched, whimpering quietly as a muted glow appeared between my fingers, peeking through the strands of fur before washing over my hands.
My lips parted. “Uh…”
“That’s not normal,” Casteel observed, a dark eyebrow raised. “Right?”
Out of the corner of my eyes, I registered Emil’s mouth drop open. I saw the same reaction from most of those around us. Alastir rocked backward, paling even further as he stared at me. Whispers and gasps echoed around me.
“Well,” I heard Vonetta say. “I think you forgot to tell me something, Kieran.”
I don’t know what Kieran said in response. I heard Casteel whisper my name, but I shook my head as Beckett’s head lowered to the grass. I could feel his pain lessening. “It’s working, but I’ve never seen it do this before.”
“You mean you’ve never seen your hands glow?” he asked. “Like twin stars?”
“They’re not glowing that brightly,” I denied.
“Yeah, they kind of are,” Kieran murmured, and Emil nodded when I looked up.
“Okay. Whatever,” I muttered. My hands were glowing brightly now. “I’ll freak out over that later.”
Beckett’s breathing steadied, and the whites of his eyes became less visible.
“Sweet gods of mercy,” someone murmured.
“Princess?”
“Hmm?” I focused on Beckett. Emotional pain was harder to cut through and whatever release I brought was incredibly short-lived, but physical pain took longer to ease. I believed it had to do with all the important nerves and veins, and physical pain almost always carried an emotional anguish with it, especially if it was as intense as it was for Beckett. Easing his pain was two-fold, but the throbbing was dulling, becoming little more than an ache. He only needed a few more moments.
“Poppy,” Casteel called, and this time, I looked over at him. Sunlight glinted off the curve of his cheek as his gaze swept over me, around me. “You’re glowing. Not just your hands. You.”
Chapter 29
Good gods, I was.
A silvery glow radiated out from under the sleeves of my tunic.
“You look like moonlight,” Casteel whispered, and it wasn’t the sunlight reflecting over his cheek. It was me.
The fur thinned under my fingers, replaced by clammy skin as Beckett shifted into his mortal form. I lifted my hands, rocking back on my rear as Vonetta swept forward, draping a blanket she must’ve grabbed over the boy’s waist. His legs…they were a mottled, angry shade of red and violet, but they were straight and no longer twisted.
Aided by Alastir, Beckett sat up, his pale, sweat-slick face quickly gaining color. Someone was talking. Maybe Casteel asking if he were in pain? Beckett didn’t answer as he stared at me, eyes as wide as saucers.
“Am I still glowing?” My hands weren’t, but maybe my face was? Because it felt like everyone was staring at me.
Casteel shook his head and then looked down at Beckett. “I think…I think you healed his legs.”
“No.” I glanced down at my hands—at my normal, flesh-toned palms. “I can’t do that.”
“But you did,” Casteel insisted.
Beckett still stared at me. So did Alastir. And Emil. And everyone else.
“I can’t,” I repeated.
“Can you move your legs?” Kieran asked, and when Beckett continued to do nothing but stare, the wolven leaned over me and snapped his fingers. “Beckett. Focus. Can you move your legs?”
The young wolven blinked as if he were waking up from a spell. He drew his left leg up, wincing, but then extended it with little trouble. Then he repeated it with the right. “I… I can move them. There’s pain but nothing like before. Thank you.” Astounded eyes met mine. “I don’t know how to repay you. Thank you.” Before I could tell him there was no need for repayment, he twisted at the waist toward the Prince. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen. It’s not anyone’s fault. I wasn’t paying attention—”
“It’s all right.” Casteel placed his hand on the boy’s slim shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize. You’re okay, and that’s all that matters.”
“I know.” His eyes glistened as he fought back emotion. “I should’ve—”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Casteel repeated.
Beckett exhaled roughly as he fisted the blanket lying over him. He bent his left leg once more, sucking his lip between his teeth. Maybe his legs hadn’t been as injured as we thought they were.
Casteel rocked back as his gaze flicked from me to Alastir. “You think you can get him to the training fields? You can take one of our horses. I want Talia to look at him.”
Alastir blinked, dragging his gaze from me. “Of course.”
Sliding an arm under Beckett’s shoulders, Emil helped him stand. He took a tentative step while holding the cloak to his midsection, smiling in relief when his legs held his weight.
“Thank you,” Alastir said to me.
I could only nod. “I don’t think he was as badly hurt as we thought.”
“Yes,” Alastir said, but he didn’t sound like he believed me.
Rising then, Casteel turned to the others. “Beckett will be fine. The Healer will take a look at him.”
The people, a mixture of wolven, Atlantian, and mortal nodded, but there was a thickness to the air, and it settled over my skin like a coarse blanket. I didn’t dare look up as Casteel ushered the group away. It was palpable. The crowd’s emotions. Raw and unfettered. I closed my eyes, trembling with the effort it took to keep my senses locked down, but it was no use. I split open, and the whirl of spinning emotions poured into me. Shock. Confusion. Awe. More shock. Something extremely bitter. Fear. Why would anyone fear me?
“Poppy.” Casteel touched my shoulder, jolting me. “Are you all right?”
I opened my eyes, letting out a ragged breath of relief when I noticed that it was just him—him and Kieran and Vonetta. I didn’t dare look too far. If I did, I would never be able to close myself down.
“You really left some pretty big details out when you told me about her,” Vonetta said, and I almost laughed at how annoyed she sounded.
“I…I don’t know how that happened—how I healed him or started glowing.” I craned my neck to look back at Vonetta. “I can relieve people’s pain with my touch, but only temporarily.”
“And you can read emotions,” she said, obviously knowing enough about my bloodline. “You’re an empath.”
I nodded and looked to where Casteel knelt beside me. He was looking over his shoulder to where the others had gone back to the house. “But I’ve never done that before,” I said, and Casteel faced me. “I honestly don’t think he was as badly hurt
as we feared.”
“His legs were completely broken,” Vonetta said. “They were smashed and twisted.”
“I�
�” I shook my head. “That’s impossible.”
“It’s really not. The empaths could heal.”
“Did they glow?”
“Not that I know of,” Vonetta said. “But they were all gone before I was born.”
“It could be the Culling.” Casteel’s brows knitted as he placed a hand on the grass. “And you’re on land that has been reclaimed as Atlantia. You’re on Atlantian soil. That could impact your abilities.” His eyes met mine. “And it could be my blood. What I’ve given you stays in you.”
I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. “Your blood is making me glow?”
His lips twitched. “I don’t think my blood is the sole reason why you glowed like moonlight.”
“It’s not funny,” I snapped.
“I’m not laughing.”
“You’re trying not to laugh,” I accused. “Don’t even deny it.”
Casteel laughed then, holding up his hands. “It’s just you look…adorably confused, and now you look adorably violent.”
I shook my head at him. “There is something so wrong with you.”
He arched a brow and then looked to where Kieran and Vonetta stood. “Can one of you check on Beckett? See how he’s doing?”
“Of course,” Kieran answered as I pushed to my feet.
“I’ll go with you,” his sister said, giving me a little wave. “I’m going to have so many questions for you later.”
I had many for myself.
I watched them start down the road and then turned to Casteel. Beyond him, I saw that the others had return to repairing the section of the roof that had fallen. “They were scared of me. Not all of them but some. I could feel it.”
Casteel’s lashes were lowered, shielding his eyes as he looked down at me.
“Remember Alastir being concerned about what some of the older Atlantians would think if they realized what bloodline I descended from?”
“I do.” He took my hand, leading me to where his horse remained.
“Do they think I’m—what did he say some called the empaths?”
“Soul Eaters.”
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire Page 42