The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,92

she said.

“Eve will be here shortly to—she’ll have a healer with her.” Avian didn’t have magical powers, so Everly couldn’t act as our healer today. Not with Ashleigh in the tent. Thankfully, we had a backup. “He will ensure we mend.” Roth could use his voice compulsion, and Ashleigh would never know it.

“I don’t need a healer, I really don’t,” she said, stroking the ring Craven had given Leonora. A nervous tell. What had her worried? “I meant what I said. I need to leave soon. I’ve been gone from my—palace far too long. Yes, my palace. That isn’t weird. That’s normal. I definitely need to return there.”

For once, I had no desire to rip the ring from its chain. In that moment, I liked that she bore Craven’s mark. With a single glance, others would know: hurt her and suffer the Destroyer’s wrath.

“I’m not going to punish you, Ashleigh.” Not now...not ever again? “I know you aren’t Leonora.”

She gasped. “You do?”

“You do not bear her memories. Two people with different experiences cannot be the same.”

“I...you’re right. Of course. This is goodbye, then.”

Why did she wish to leave? Had I scared her with my cruelties on the battlefield?

I think the fissure in my chest cracked wider.

“I would like you to stay with me the rest of the night, Asha. Will you?” It was the closest I’d ever come to begging. I needed to be her guard tonight.

She yawned. “I’m worried about my dr—I just want to return to the palace. I like it there. But don’t worry, I don’t need you to fly me. I’m not tired.” Another yawn. “Not even a little. You won’t have to hurt yourself further.”

Why this insistence? “It’s dark outside. I don’t want you walking the campgrounds without an escort.”

“One of your soldiers can escort me, then.”

Before, she’d been terrified of the avian. Now she wished to brave their presence in order to escape me? “Let me rephrase. I don’t want you walking the campgrounds without me as an escort. I trust no one else with your safety.”

Confusion glowed in those emerald eyes. “But—” She thought for several seconds before her expression firmed with determination. “Do you remember the dragon eggs you stole from me?”

I swallowed a groan. Noel and Ophelia still guarded the four eggs on my behalf. “Yes,” I said, cautious. I didn’t wish to deny the request I knew was coming, but I couldn’t comply, either. I couldn’t give her back the eggs, allowing her to raise another dragon army. History would surely repeat itself then, past Leonora becoming present Ashleigh, all of the Avian Mountains soon to burn to the ground.

How many times could one kingdom rebuild before it just...stopped?

“Say the dragons were to hatch,” she said, plucking at the furs. “Not that it could actually happen or anything, but let’s say it could. No, let’s say it did, even though it definitely didn’t. And won’t. Ever. What would you do?”

I could not, would not lie to her, whatever the consequences. There was enough bad blood between us. Hardening my resolve, I told her, “I would slay the dragons for the good of Enchantia. When they rampage... I cannot describe the screams, the odors, the death toll without making you sicken. Survivors will be unable to recover without the aid of magic. Food sources will vanish in a few days’ time, leaving those survivors to starve. That’s how Leonora was able to kill me twice before. She weakened me with destruction and hunger, then stabbed me in the heart.” If not for Noel’s warning, I would have already tried to smash the eggs. Not that it would do me any good. Dragon eggs could be as hard as iron.

Tension stole through Ashleigh, bit by bit. “Well,” she said with a deadened tone. “I’m ready to return to the palace now. By the way, I’ve begun remembering some of Leonora’s memories. You were right. I’m her, and she’s me.”

My blood iced over. The transformation had begun, then. Soon, she would be the Leonora of old, Ashleigh no more.

The pressure intensified, my two-week timetable dropping days left and right.

The tent flap lifted. Everly and Roth strode inside, one after the other. The sorceress wore her avian illusion again, and Roth wore the face of a new fae, as we’d planned.

The pair stopped and took in Ashleigh’s position on my lap.

Roth arched a brow. Everly grinned.

“Princess Ashleigh,” I said, “I’d like you to meet... Roe. A healer.”

“Oh, yes. Healer. That’s him.” Everly hiked her