Chapter Twenty Four: Suluk’s P.O.V.

Anger fills me at his dismissive tone, but I have to remember that he doesn't know what's happening. Who's hurt and how he ended up that way. Even with guilt coursing through me, Clover comes up to place his hand on my shoulder. "It's alright. I can go to town and have it fixed there." He tries to reassure me, when he has every right to be angry with me. He should be! I'm furious at myself for this!

  "No! No one else is going to be able to save it like Kieren can. It's so badly damaged he's the only one who can save your hand. IF HE'D JUST OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!!" I know I shouldn't yell when I'm trying to make him listen, but I can't stop myself. My anger, fear, pain, sorrow, and self hatred are boiling up to this point, I'm starting to realize I can't keep it in any longer. My throat burns, but it surprises me that my hands, and chest also burn slightly just beneath my skin. While I'm distracted looking at my hands, I hadn't noticed that Kieren had opened the door from hearing Clover's voice.

  We're all staring at my hands, how they look like I trapped fire just beneath the skin. My veins are a deep black color, while it looks as though the fire is moving up my arms slowly. A burning smell fills my nose drawing my attention down to my shirt starting to catch fire, as small sparks are slowly coming up out of my skin. My eyes widen at what is happening. My panic must be evident as Kierens eyes meet mine. He doesn't hesitate as shadows engulf me to try and snuff out the raging inferno just beneath my skin. The cooling touch is welcomed, even if it takes a while for them to snuff it out and turn back to normal.

  "Am I to assume that's what happened to your hand?" Kierens voice pulls me out of my racing thoughts as his shadows recede. He has Clovers elbow in his grip examining him closely. Clover just nods and looks worriedly between us.

  "Kieren I-"

  "Not now. Have to tend to him first before this gets infected." He doesn't look in my direction as he leads Clover in. Luckily he doesn't slam the door on me like I think either, he just leaves it open for me. Slowly walking in I take a look around. It's been a few months since I've visited his place. Just as clean and organized as ever. A smirk falls onto my lips as he placed a small souvenir I had gotten him, when we had been in one of the human kingdoms over the summer, in the center of his mantle above his fireplace. "This shouldn't hurt. Just relax." He tells Clover as he rolls his sleeve up just a little more to give him a wider space to work with.

  Clover just nods and bites his bottom lip as he waits for the healing to start. Once his arm is enveloped in soft, glowing light the look of relief not only fills him, but me as well. As the light travels up his arm slowly, soothing the red back to its creamy color, I try to think of anything to say that won't upset Kieren. How to apologize and let him know he was right, even if it makes me look weak in front of Clover.

  'I already know I was right. You don't have to tell me that.' The echo of the link has me frozen to the spot just outside his kitchen. Staring at him, fighting that smirk on the edge of his lips as he focuses on healing. Not even glancing my way.

  'I thought you shut down the link when you left last night?! Seriously?! How long have you listened to me panic about this?' I want to hit him for keeping this from me for who knows how long!

  'Long enough to know you're overthinking it. A simple "Hey Ren, I fucked up and you were right. Will you help me?" would have sufficed instead of all this panic and worry you've been throwing down the link.' For a split second he glances at me out of the corner of his eye. I throw all of my racing emotions down the link in retaliation to this new information. "You can stop doing that. You're going to give me a headache if you keep it up. Besides, I'm done." He informs us in the oddly quiet space, as he stands and goes to wash his hands in the small bucket on the counter. Clover looks between us visibly confused on what is happening.

  "Link stuff?" He finally faces me with slight understanding. I just nod and step up to the threshold of the kitchen, still unsure if I'm allowed in.

  "Get your ass in here and stop being weird. I've already thought of a way you can make it up to me." The way his tone sounds when he says this gives me pause. When he turns around to look at me with those eyes, eyes that tell me whatever he has planned is something I'm not going to look like, I'm not sure if I should stay or run.

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Just as I thought….. I should have ran. Trudging through the cold, thick mud and snow that has started to fall I can't help but think if this is all really worth it? While Clover gets to sit up on a nice rock, with a fire, THAT I HAD TO MAKE NO LESS!, I get to walk through the trenches and make sure they're ready for when the war comes. A job Kieren was supposed to do, but now has pawned off on me so he can finish checking the armor for the new soldiers.

  We had lost nearly half last winter, and the spring yielded nearly the same results with just ¾ remaining after all was said and done. For the plan we have to carry out it should be more than enough, but I just hope they're all ready for what lays ahead. Most of them have never seen a real battle, much less a war. I'm worried that we're putting too much on them as it is.

  "That looks like a rough job! Want some hot tea?" A small feminine voice calls down to me, and I unfortunately know that voice all too well. Looking up on the rock where Clover sits, polishing weapons and shields, a small, glittering fairy stands near the edge. Looking down at where I am with a warm smile.

  "Be right up!" I wave her off, making her pout slightly but turn to Clover and strike up a conversation instead.

  Landing up on the large rock next to them, I watch with amusement as they both huddle around the fire trying to stop their shivering. Just as she said, tea is sat near the fire with a notable amount of steam coming off the top. Zip must have sent her. "Finally! I thought you were never going to come up here and join us!" She pouts at me. I just roll my eyes and grab a glass to pour tea into.

  "And what brings you all the way out here in the cold? Besides Zip sending tea?" I motion my glass to the pitcher by the fire, before taking a sip and staring at her curiously.

  "The Queen would like a word with you and Kieren later tonight. Just to go over our strategy one last time, nothing to worry about. Zipporah… and if I'm being honest, so do I… want to know if you've heard from Ava in a while?" Now that has caught my attention. Clovers as well, although I'm not sure if it's for Ava's safety or my own sanity.

  "I have not… is something wrong? Is she in trouble? What's going on?" I can't stop the words from rushing out, even if I want to try and act calm around her. She looks disappointed by my answer as her face scrunches up and she shakes her head.

  "I'm not sure either, honestly." Her worried tone makes my heart race and I can't seem to form a single thought besides wanting to rush off and go see her now. Kieren feels the panic in the link and reassures me that he'll be right here in a few moment.

  "What does that mean? I thought you two were friends and hanging out a lot more now?" Clover's concern now mirrors my own, his brows scrunching in the middle.

  "We were, up until last week. She had come to the shop all irritated because some soldiers stopped by her place to escort her out of the kingdom. That whole back section was being cleared out to prepare for everything we have planned. She had argued with them, but in the end had failed, even after trying to tell them to talk to you or Kieren. She showed up for a few days after that with her suitcases in tow. Zipporah and I offered her a place to stay until all this blows over, but she refused. Just said she was staying somewhere else. That was almost two weeks ago. Zip shut the shop down for now and I've only seen her around the city every once in a while. Then all the sudden it was just nothing. Not a peep from her since. I haven't even seen her in the streets or anything. We can't find her, so I stopped by the fort before coming over here to see if any of the soldiers made her evacuate. They all said no, now even Ginger is combing through the city to see if she can find her. My last resort was to come and ask you if she's tried to reach out to you." She paces back and forth as she explains, her hands waving around in the air as she talks.

  "She's not at home?" Clover is standing also, looking as if he's about to start pacing also.

  "It's boarded up and locked down with magic. She couldn't get in before she went missing, they did it right after she left. I have no idea where she could be." She throws her hands out in exasperation. Clover now joins her in pacing.

  "The forest. Has anyone checked the forest?" My panic rises as Kieren lands beside me. Looking around the group to try and catch up on what is happening. Clover and Sevanah look at me bewildered.

  "Why would she be in the forest?! It's much too cold for that!" They both protest.

  "What have I missed?" Kieren now looks concerned on what is happening between all of us. I let him into my thoughts to catch up. His panic now rises to match mine. "Oh I see." Is all he says, making Sevanah even more confused.

  "Link stuff." Is all Clover says. Still waiting on an answer.

  "Suluk you don't need to go of-"

  "Be back." Is all I manage to get out, cutting Kieren off before his big speech begins. I don't need to hear how I shouldn't go after her, that if she wanted my help she knew where to find me. They'll either come to help or not, but I'm not sitting around when she could be freezing to death out there on her own.

  'I was going to say that it's too much land for you to search on your own, you druingary! Just give us a minute to catch up! I'll get a search party ready within half an hour and this fairy can go grab Ginger and Zipporah!' Kierens worry nearly matches my impatience.

  'I'll start first and then you can catch up. Save us some time so we don't waste time in an area she's not even close to.' I close the link and ignore how the cold bites into me as I speed through the air.

  I'll leave the planning and other things to them. I wouldn't be much help anyways. All my thoughts are consumed with Ava and needing to know if she's alright, and if not… well all I can imagine is something I've only seen in my nightmares. It's something I don't even want to think about.