Page 4 of Healing Elixirs & Wicked Crows

At his words, a memory flitted through my mind.The last time I’d seen her, she’d been young, her strawberry hair braided tightly.I remember tugging on it and finding myself on the ground, teeth rattling from impact.She’d loomed over me, eyes blazing with fury, commanding me to stay away.Oh, she’d been furious but all I’d seen was beauty, and being the curious boy I had been, I’d ignored her warning.Her image had never faded from my mind.In those early years of her absence, I’d almost unraveled under the weight of her loss.I no longer deserved to be in her presence.The things I had done.The things I would do, but I had to find her.I could endure the curse no longer.

"You're certain?"I asked.

"I'm certain.She lives just outside this village, right on the border of the magical barrier," Claude replied, lifting his tankard for a refill.

"Have you told anyone else?"I asked, pausing when a barmaid stopped to refill his mug.When she glanced at me, I shook my head.

"No.I've no need.What interest do I have in a seelie whore?"he replied with a frown, lifting his tankard to his lips.

Something settled in my gut at his movements.He was good, using the large rim of his mug to hide his expressions.Perhaps he’d had no use for the seelie before I'd shown interest, but now… at first chance, he'd inform the unseelie queen and claim his reward.I couldn't have that.

With deliberate movements, I stood, smiling down at him."Thank you for the information, friend."I turned to leave, grinning at the sound of his expelled breath.Poor creature.He thought the danger had passed.Swiftly, I slammed my dagger into the soft spot above his left ear, my movements faster than any mortal eye could track.

Claude's head slipped to the tabletop, cradled in his arms as if he'd drunk himself to sleep.Beneath the shadows in this dark corner, it could be quite a while before anybody discovered his true state.

I made sure the wound bled into the thick sleeve of his tunic before I tucked my bloody dagger beneath my cloak and left the tavern with my chin held high, moving in the direction he had indicated, toward my destiny, toward her.

The Game

ROSEMARY

Calm down, Rosemary.I silently chastised myself, drawing in a sharp breath while pulling my gaze away from his.My entire body had gone rigid, ice flooding my veins.With eyes squeezed shut, I forced deep breaths into my lungs.Yet when I opened them again, that stormy gaze was closer.A surprised squeak escaped me, and the unseelie's lips twitched as if suppressing a grin.Heart pounding, I took a tentative step back.

He didn't have horns or a tail, features common among the unseelie.This one had none of those traits, only disarming handsomeness that belied the danger lurking beneath.His gaze locked onto mine as he slowly stepped toward me, his grin widening with each stride.

I discreetly adjusted my hair, making sure my slightly tipped ears remained concealed beneath the sun-kissed strands of gold.My fingers brushed the familiar hilt of the blade at my hip.Though I avoided his gaze, his presence hummed in the air.I focused intently on organizing my cart, readying for the trip home.

Every step he made resounded through me, sending more ice through my veins as I struggled to maintain even breaths.My heart throbbed against my ribcage as I swallowed back terrified tears.Energy snapped around him as he stopped next to my cart, and I knew, without doubt, that I was going to die.

I'm so sorry I have failed you, Briar.

"My lady," he murmured, his voice deep but soft.Something about that voice sent a shiver down my spine, not of fear, but rather recognition.As if I'd heard him whisper my name in dreams I couldn't quite remember.I shook my head, dispelling the foolish notion.

I flicked my gaze to meet his as he leaned forward with regal grace.Quickly stepping back, I kept the hilt of my blade tight in my grip.His gaze fell to my weapon and returned to me, a slow grin spreading across his lips.

Time seemed to pause as we stood locked in each other's gaze.The market's final sounds faded around us as nearly all vendors had packed and left for the day.

"I'm sorry, but I'm already closed for the day.I have to go."My voice wavered but didn't break.

"Please," he murmured, hand rising slightly before retreating to his pocket."I understand you're upset.I mean you no harm."

Silence lingered, each second heavy with tension.His brows knit in confusion, a flicker of concern in his silver eyes betraying his cool facade.

"What do you want?"I demanded, fingers twitching along my dagger's hilt.

"You don't…" he trailed off.He looked disappointed.His silver eyes scrutinized me as if he were seeking something beyond my gaze.

"I don't what?"

"My apologies.You just...looked familiar to me.Like someone I once knew."

Was that sadness in his tone?I didn't care.All I wanted was to get back to Briar with my life intact.I couldn't leave with this unseelie's attention still on me, there was no way I'd lead him back to Briar.

"No offense, but I'd feel much better if you left.I'm not who you're looking for," I said, then instinctively added, "Sorry."

"Ah, I see," he replied, voice almost coy."You're one of the prejudiced seelie then."

His words hit like a slap.Me?Prejudiced?Anger flared in my chest.It wasn't prejudiced to fear death.The unseelie had destroyed everything—my kingdom, my people.They had cursed the land until it withered.That curse still lived in my sister's blood.