Page 40 of Black Hearted
“Yes, you will.” Her eyes filled with tears.
I frowned. “Nellie, what is it?”
She pulled the blanket over her face, and my chest squeezed. “If you just tell me whatever it is, I’m sure we can work it out.”
There was a long moment of silence before she ripped off the blanket, fat tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t have an aunt, okay? All I had was my nana, and now all I have is you.” A sob tore from her throat, and she yanked the blanket back over her face.
My heart shredded into a hundred pieces. She lied? For a moment I wondered why.
But the answer became obvious almost immediately. She knew I wouldn’t have taken her all this way if I’d known she was an orphan. I might have left her in Buttercup Village with Elida and Evander—if they would have taken her.
All I have is you.
Her words caused my chest to constrict painfully. I thought carefully about what I should say to her to not cause any further pain.
“Nellie, I’m going on a dangerous mission to rescue someone, and I can’t bring you along.”
“I know,” she wailed under the blanket, her muffled sobs racking her chest.
I’d never felt like this before, like someone had ripped my heart out of my chest. She was not a relation or even someone I knew well, but I had grown so fond of her that I couldn’t bear to see her so distraught.
Reaching forward, I gently pulled the blanket down, and her red, teary-eyed gaze met mine.
“But I promise to come back for you,” I told her, and I meant it.
She sniffled. “You promise?”
I nodded. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the rest of my gold coins and set them on the bed next to her.
“I’ll ask the queen if you can stay here while I’m gone, but just in case, I want you to have money for food or lodging.”
She peered down at the small bag of gold coins next to her, her eyes wide. “I can’t take that. It’s yours.”
I shook my head. “It’s yours now. Don’t spend it all on sweets.”
She grinned at that, and I leaned over to give her a hug.
If someone had told me a week ago that I’d bond so closely with a young Fall fae girl, I’d have thought they were mad. But in such a short time, Nellie felt like family, and now I had a hard time imagining her not being here.
In truth, I felt a sense of relief knowing I wouldn’t be droppingher off with a relative and saying goodbye forever. I’d have to figure out what to do with her long term—I didn’t know what the future held—but for now, she’d be safe here.
After wishing her goodnight, I grabbed my satchel. Inside was the broken Shadow Heart, a note for Lorelei attached to the vial, and the three faestones—Isolde’s intact dagger, as well as the remains of Aribella’s and Dawn’s, which Stryker had melted down.
Straight from Nellie’s room, I headed for the queen’s study. When I arrived, there were two guards flanking the door. They patted me down before letting me enter and checked my bag. When they spotted Isolde’s dagger, they insisted on taking it in themselves.
I reluctantly handed over the satchel but made sure to keep it in my sight.
When we entered the room, the guards pulled all the contents out and placed them before the queen before leaving.
“Will the Fall and Winter Court rulers be joining us?” I asked. I’d learned that the monarchs of the Fall and Winter Courts, along with their families, were also taking refuge in the Spring Palace. Yet, I hadn’t encountered any of them.
Queen Gloriana shook her head. “No. They’re busy enough supporting their displaced subjects. I’m sure you noticed the tents outside the city gates as well as how crowded the city is right now.”
I nodded. Seeing the hopeless looks on so many faes’ faces since entering the city had definitely hardened my already steely resolve to find Lorelei and end this once and for all.
“Besides,” Queen Gloriana went on, “I didn’t think it wise to let them know there was an Ethereum lord in the palace.” Shearched a brow at me, her gaze dropping to my chest, where my black heart beat. “I didn’t want to risk it. That heart of yours is far too tempting.”
