To Scale the Emerald Mountain (The Willowbane Saga #1)

39. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ELLYA

A lec rifles through the icebox, pulling out several items and setting them on the marble counter, warm sunlight slanting through jewel toned windows. He pulls down two plates and begins adding an assortment of cold foods to each, not attempting to heat anything.

“I think it was you who taught me the word ‘fuck’ when you set this kitchen on fire,” I say with a smirk, basking in the full memory.

Alec looks back at me with a grin.

“Where are Kraeston and Nana? They’re always nearby, and I couldn’t find either of them to train with,” I ask curiously.

“I asked Mhay to be scarce for a few days. And you will not find Kraeston around the palace for some time.”

“Why?”

“I have sent him to find out what Ceivise has been up to since I saw her last.” Alec pauses, watching me with trepidation. “And Rahleigh.”

The rush of blood in my ears at the name alone is instant. Even with my full memories returned, it doesn’t lessen the jealous sting of knowing someone else had almost claimed what’s mine.

I scowl. “Is Ceivise another one of your old lovers? ”

Alec laughs loud, his face twisting at the thought. “Gods, no. An old friend who grew up with us in the palace. Ceivise is the bastard daughter of one of my father’s advisors. Her mother was a whore in a poor coastal town of the Mother Continent whom he impregnated while on a tour of the southeastern Territories. When Ceivise was five, her powers manifested. Her mother brought her here, demanding he raise her and give her a better life. He did so, begrudgingly, as there was no denying Ceivise’s paternity with her displaying his exact powers.”

“What powers does she have?” I ask curiously, remembering how she licked Rahleigh’s hand and stated she could taste her rejection and disappointment.

“The power she displayed in your vision came from her mother, as an Empath. And Ceivise does not have to taste your skin to read your emotions, it only makes them more stout. Similar to how facets of my gift are more profound if I make physical contact.”

Alec pauses to take a drink, guzzling straight from a pitcher of chilled cucumber water before handing it to me.

“From her father, Ceivise can duplicate most objects. I have only met three people in my life who possess both a physical and mental gift: you, Kraeston, and Ceivise. She was not particularly upset when her father died during the Culling, freed of his expectations for her to marry a lord and live a life as a proper lady. She is now a feared pirate. An incredibly wealthy one, with the ability to double most loots.”

I smile wide, recalling the tenacity of the woman in my vision. “Sounds like I would like her.”

Alec nods in agreement, piling our plates with fruit. “You absolutely would. I have not seen her in many years.” He frowns as he slides my food in front of me. “Though fierce and deadly, I do not see her choosing to follow the path of true darkness. But we must assume that she has, given what you have shown me.” Alec turns from his meal and pulls me close again. “At this point, I assume nearly everyone is our enemy.”

Worrying my lip between my teeth, I mull over everything I know. “What does it all mean? What’s the point?”

Alec sighs heavily, understanding the true nature of my question—what am I meant to do with the power of the gems? “I cannot say for certain. Yes, my father talked about the gems from my early childhood on. But I refused to listen to anything about them after a point. Not until you Saw Dhystros place the emerald. I was conflicted about going to retrieve it without you, given that it had called to you.”

Alec looks at me apologetically. He gently brushes his thumb over my shoulder, the warmth of it like a soft lick of flame feeding my hungry flesh.

“How did you know where to find it?” I ask, returning to my food and taking a small bite of brown bread.

“I had been to that cave before as a teenager with your father. And with Locane.” Alec’s eyes rove over my face, watching for my reaction, something about his expression guarded. I nod for him to continue.

“None of us knew what the strange green light was. Nor did we care to go back and find out at the time. When you had your vision, and I pieced together what it was—what it meant—I could not leave the emerald unguarded for my brother to find. He had already abandoned his Kingdom, family, and sanity in his quest. I did not know at the time if he had pieced together its placement, but I could not take the chance.”

He plants a soft kiss on my lips and returns to his food .

We eat in comfortable silence, Alec devouring three times as much as I am with alarming speed. “You’re going to choke,” I laugh as he shoves half of a cold chicken breast in his mouth, cheeks bulging. I laugh again at the ridiculous sight.

“Dying has made me hungry.” He eyes my plate before grabbing my untouched chicken and eats it in two large bites.

Alec scans me head to toe before smiling wide. “You are a mess.”

I eye him accusingly. “You should see yourself.”

“All thanks to you.” My smile falters but he pulls me in his arms. “Do not feel guilty, Elly. I wish it had happened sooner. Come, let us go wash off my death.”

Alec leads us through the foyer and up the stone staircase. When we make it to the third floor, he guides me to my chambers and closes the door behind us.

He kisses me softly and says, “Wait here a moment.”

I sit in my vanity chair while Alec enters the bathing chamber. The tap of the large bathtub starts before the hiss of the multiple shower heads. Frowning, I wonder why he’s turned on both.Turning to my mirror, I untie the large bow, place the ribbon on top of my vanity, and pull free my failing bun, caked with clotting blood. Grimacing, I decide to leave it until it’s time to wash. My face, chest, hands, and clothing are also covered in blood that begins to flake off in places where it’s dried.

My skin is suddenly too tight, knowing whose blood it is and what caused it.

I turn away from the mirror as the patter of water from the shower continues. Alec surprises me when he opens the door, hair dripping wet, wearing nothing but a pair of black pants that leave little to the imagination.

He sweeps his arm, inviting me in .

“Where did you get clean pants?”

Alec gives me a smirk. “I took the liberty of adding a few of my necessities to your chambers while you slept last night.”

“That was a little presumptuous.” Brushing past him, I lift my brow questioningly.

“Let us say hopeful. Go rinse in the shower before getting in the bath.”

Alec smiles at me before exiting the bathing chamber, swinging the door with him.

Realization sets in that he showered quickly while drawing me a bath, complete with sweet smelling bubbles and my basket of soaps and oils ready. A towel and my green robe also sit waiting. My heart squeezes; I fight tears at the small action, knowing that he has been dying to care for me in these small ways.

Peeling off my boots, now ruined and stained with blood, I frown at them. Such a shame, they were wonderful. Unsticking my bloody clothes, I toss them in the wastebasket before stepping in the shower. I make quick work of scrubbing the blood from my hair and rinsing my body. It swirls down the drain and I briefly watch it, blanketed by relief over said blood setting me free; and being able to witness it disappear.

Minutes later, I sink into the warm bath. Soothing rainbow lights from the sun filtering through stained glass paint pictures across the wall. I submerge my head briefly, and as I break the surface, a soft knock calls at the door.

“Yes?”

The door swings open slowly, and Alec announces, “I am coming in.”

I slip under the water to my chin. “But I’m naked! ”

He laughs. “As one usually is in a bath. Just stay under the water. I am coming in.”

Alec walks in confidently and wastes no time pulling a stool to the edge of the bath near my head. “Do not act as if you would not have happily let me strip you bare and have my way with you downstairs,” he drawls in my ear, my thighs clenching at the reminder. “But I only want to wash your hair for you.”

“You do?” I ask, surprised.

“More than you could imagine.” Alec reaches towards the basket and selects a bar of soap. He holds it under my nose for me to test, and I deny the floral square. He reaches for another, and we repeat the process. This time, I nod enthusiastically at the subtle vanilla.

“Sit up, tilt your head back.”

Alec produces a clay pitcher off the floor and dips it in the water before pouring it over my hair, working his fingers through knots as warm liquid trickles down my neck and back. I close my eyes and smile at his deft, gentle fingers carefully cleansing my tresses. Alec repeats the process several times before lathering the bar of soap in his hands and begins massaging my scalp. I moan in appreciation, the firm touch easing a tension I didn’t know I was holding.

“May I ask you a question without you getting upset?” he inquires.

“I can’t promise I won’t get upset. But ask it anyway.”

Alec’s hands pause their work, and he turns my head to look up to him. My eyes open and find him studying me with concern. “Will you allow one of us to take you to the Healer’s District tomorrow to speak to someone? It does not have to be me. Whoever you wish. ”

My heart stutters anxiously, but I agree as a tear slips from my eye. Alec sighs his relief and meets his mouth with mine. “I understand if you are not ready to speak to me about what happened yet, but know that I am ready to listen whenever you are.”

He rinses my hair, gently scrubbing as water pours over the strands.

“Have you seen him again? Since the night I came back?” I ask quietly.

Alec exudes such deep sadness, making my heart drop. I swallow my suffocating guilt for refusing to be there for him these last weeks; for not taking into consideration the heartbreak he was experiencing over his brother’s betrayal.

“No, I have not. I have been waiting until you know what you want to do with him.”

Another tear slides free. “I pushed you away because I didn’t think I deserved your care or forgiveness. I’m sorry.” Although I don’t say it, the apology isn’t for pushing him away at all, but for my actions.

Alec hears the apology for what it is. “You did nothing wrong, Ellya.”

“You didn’t… You didn’t see it?” I’m barely able to ask.

“No,” he answers firmly.

Knowing that Alec didn’t witness the encounter, I can imagine where he assumed it ended. “I am still a virgin,” I whisper, barely audible in the serene room.

Alec’s hands against my head still. “You are?” His surprise is evident.

I turn to glance at him. “We didn’t do… that. ”

“It would not have mattered if you had.” Alec kisses my forehead. “But thank you for sharing that with me. I admit, I had assumed the worst.”

“I’m also sorry for not considering you and what you have been going through. I’ve been selfish.” My shoulders loosen, relaxing into Alec’s care again.

“You have not been selfish. You have been surviving.”

“But what about you? Have you been surviving?” I ask.

Alec moves to the side of the tub to face me fully, easing the strain on my neck. I run my fingers through his damp strands.

“When you were gone, I was barely surviving. The night Locane took you to the house, I was there. We arrived minutes after you, Kraeston and I. Just outside the wards. I could smell the blood he spilled to keep you hidden. I was feral and raging and shredded my hands to the bones trying to break through.” He holds up his hands, studying the knuckles that I now see are scarred white.

The ominous cloud of birds screaming in the sky and the terror induced by the sight skip across my mind.

He was there.

“I was unaware at the time that you no longer knew of me at all. Your light was barely living inside me, and I could not follow the tether that ties us together. I have never felt so useless, at such an important time. I will never forgive myself for being unable to reach you. I failed you in so many ways.” I grab his hand and hold it tight, trying to convey through touch the words I can’t find within myself to say. “I am more than surviving now, seeing your lovely face every day.”

I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously. “I haven’t seen you every day, Alec. ”

He kisses my hand before he picks up the towel, unfolds it, and holds it out for me. “But I have seen you.” My eyes dart between him and the towel and he smirks. “I will close my eyes.”

Alec closes his eyes—and turns away for good measure—while I exit the tub and allow his warm hands to envelop me in the towel. I wrap it securely around myself before he opens his eyes, and he sits me on the stool he was previously occupying.

Alec starts working at drying my hair with a second towel before finding a wide toothed comb to run through my wet and tangled hair. “I should have known Cescily would take you to Makhoi when she schemed her way into taking you out.”

“That was my idea. And I’m glad she schemed. I needed a change,” I tell him.

He runs the comb through one more time before setting it down, wrapping my hair around his fist, and pulling my head back to look at him.

I gasp with the sudden, dominating movement, and a small smile tilts my lips.

“Not that my opinion on your hair matters in any capacity, but I fucking love it,” Alec growls.

He abruptly releases me, stands, and walks into the bedchamber.

I work to catch my quickened breath before donning my robe and joining him.