Smolder (Crown of Fae #3) - Sharon Ashwood Page 0,31

to Eldaban. I’m not abandoning him now.”

“Family doesn’t matter once the infection begins.” Morran’s features tensed, as if he were in sudden pain. “I’ve seen it time and again. Unless the victim is born with strong magic, there is little hope.”

And Fionn had no magic of his own. “Can you heal him?”

“In time, but I’m not strong enough. Not yet.”

Not until Morran was completely whole again, and that was beyond her abilities. Tears slid down Leena’s cheeks. Morran brushed them away with his fingers, his face set in granite lines.

“I will stay here,” he said. “I will do what I can to foil Juradoc’s plans. In my current state, it’s my only means of striking a blow for the fae. And I promise to help your brother if I am able.”

“Tell me one thing,” she said.

“Anything I can.”

“Fionn said he was being sent on a special mission. Do you know what that is?”

Morran released his breath. “Juradoc was rambling about finding a fae named Barleycorn, but I do not know all the details.”

“Fionn is no spy. What could he possibly do?”

“The Shades corrupt their victims to make them ruthless, obedient soldiers. You just saw the evidence of that.”

Leena didn’t want to believe it. “I can be just as ruthless if it brings him back to me.”

Morran gave a low laugh. “I’ve heard tales of the fearsome Kelthian women.”

“I do not jest.”

He grew serious. “I believe you. You are a daughter of your tribe, with your magic and your medicines.” He waved a hand toward the scatter of possessions littering the wagon’s floor. “You honor who you are with every choice. That’s what brought you here to save him. And me.”

“Absolutely,” she said with a lift of her chin.

He gripped her shoulders. “That’s why the Shades win. They use our love and our hope against us. If you stay for your brother, Juradoc will find a way to twist both of you to his ends.”

His words frightened Leena, and that made her angry. She shook him off. “I’m stronger than that.”

“Are you? Fionn will betray you. Blood and thunder, so could I. If you fall to Juradoc, so falls the Flame. Run while you can.”

She stiffened her spine. “No, I don’t run.”

Morran cupped her face in his hands, his eyes soft with grief. “You’ve shown me great compassion and care. You deserve the same. Live, Leena. Faery needs your light.”

She couldn’t move except to fold her hands over his. “Don’t you and Fionn need it, too?”

“The risk is too great. We will be coming to an oasis soon. From there, you could make it to the Serpent River and the safety of Kyleen. I’ll help you get away.”

Leena’s skin crawled hot with foreboding. “But can’t you let me heal you as much as I am able? You might get more memories back.”

“I’d rather you were safely out of Juradoc’s reach.” Morran’s expression darkened. “There is a reason he didn’t send guards to drag you away.”

She froze. “What?”

“He has no appetite for ordinary punishment. He will demand you dance again tonight. This time, it will be a battle to the end.”

11

They made plans before Morran slipped away. Then Leena sharpened her knife and hid it in her dancing costume. After that, she wound her mother’s chatelaine inside the length of fabric she used as a belt.

Morran’s visit had given her time to consider the Mother’s orders. Leena’ decided those orders were delivered without a full understanding of the situation. Morran had improved, and no healer destroyed where there was a possibility of a cure—even if that instinct led to bold disobedience. The Mother had trained her priestesses to trust a healer’s intuition above all else. Leena embraced that wisdom.

But she would keep the poison with her. There was no telling when any weapon might come in handy.

“I agree with allowing the prince to live if you’re uncertain,” Kifi announced. “It’s hard to change one’s mind later.”

“I’m glad you approve.” It was impossible not to sound a tiny bit sarcastic. Fretting about the matter had given Leena a stomachache.

“I am less pleased that you intend to run and take me with you,” Kifi said with a disapproving glare. “My quest is to stand in the presence of the Mother of Cats. This is my pilgrimage.”

“We can still go to Tymeera. In fact, we should go to the temple to warn them.”

The feline’s whiskers twitched. “Very well. That would be an acceptable outcome.”

Leena hated leaving Fionn. She’d come to save her brother, only to