Chapter 19
Altair
I heave a breath as the morning sun glistens over Desmarais’ harbor. Splashes of pink and gold shimmer on the horizon. But the beauty of the sight does little to curb my sorrow. The city is quiet, the street shops and boutiques closed. No ships linger at the docks. It might as well be a town haunted by spirits and wraiths.
I tap my claws against the stone of the tower as I hear Navi’s footsteps on the stairs. She’s quiet as she joins me, staring out at the once glorious city. “All the guards and servants have left,” she murmurs.
I turn to her, taking her as if I’ve never seen her before. Dressed in a forest green cuirass and leathers, with her sword at her hip, she looks formidable and fierce. She’s braided her auburn hair in a crown around her head for her last day on earth. She meets my gaze, her green eyes somber.
“Thank you, Navi,” I say softly. “You may go home as well if you wish.”
“This is my home,” she says.
“I wish the end hadn’t come so quickly,” I sigh.
Navi stiffens her shoulders, eye twitching. “She had over a month to remedy the curse. It wasn’t much time for her. Though I am disappointed, she doesn’t seem as quick-witted as we hoped.”
“She is,” I snap. “Verity simply doesn’t know. And has no one to turn to but useless books in that useless library.”
“Shall we burn it down?” Navi asks, a hollow grin tugging at her lips. “The entire castle, so Maaz wins nothing.”
I shake my jaguar head. “No, she would only dance over the rubble.”
“Indeed.” Navi’s sword clanks as she shifts.
“Tell me, Navi,” I say softly. “Should I have agreed to her terms?”
Navi snorts. “Absolutely not, Altair.”
“Why?”
She turns her steely gaze towards me. “Because that witch would have destroyed this kingdom a thousand years ago, right after she laid claim to it. She would have razed it to the ground and her cruel Sisters would have run amok among our people. No, you did the right thing refusing her.”
“And yet, here we are.” I tilt my chin towards the city below. “Maaz will still burn it down. But she’ll have no people to toy with.”
“And that’s a comfort,” Navi mutters.
“In a way,” I agree halfheartedly. “What time is it?”
“Half past seven,” Navi says.
“Sixteen hours to go,” I sigh. “How shall we spend it?”
Navi takes a deep breath and then drops to one knee. She bows her head in obeisance. “My King.”
“Navi, what are you doing?” I say incredulously. She hasn’t bent the knee for me in over a thousand years.
She doesn’t look up. “My King, I have served you for one thousand, three hundred, and sixteen years. I have been loyal to my King and the Kingdom. I pledged my life to yours to die protecting you. But I would pledge my life to bind myself to you. My heart.”
I go still as I realize just what she speaks of. A sacred binding. The kind I would ask Verity to make. And Verity alone. I sit up and flare my wings out behind me. “Navi, rise,” I say.
“My King, I would ask that you respond first,” she murmurs. “Tell me your answer.”
“I cannot.” I wish desperately that I wasn’t this beast. I wish that I could show her how her words have touched me. She looks up, brows flat. “I can’t return your feelings, Navi. I’m in love with another.”
“You’re in love with her,” she says flatly.
“I am.” I nod. “Please, get up.”
In one swift motion, Navi is on her feet, her sword sheathed again. “Don’t let this trouble you, Altair.” Her lips tug upwards into a kind smile. “With only sixteen hours left in this world with you, I wanted you to know.”
“Thank you, Navi,” I whisper.
She bows and disappears down the stairs. I imagine I hear an echo of a stifled cry as her footsteps fade. I met Navi when we were young Fae; young and impulsive and wild. There was a time we turned to each other in our pain, but that was long ago. Navi’s cold and stony demeanor almost convinced me that she would never love anyone. I was wrong.
Sorrow lances through my heart. I wish I could return her feelings. How easy that would be. But on the last day of my life, I don’t want to deny how I feel any longer. Like Navi, I need to be honest with myself. And with Verity.
I turn away, studying the city again. My people know what’s coming tonight. They know that time is up. Maaz will come tonight, while we are all faded away, and claim my kingdom for herself.
Fury sweeps through me as I picture Maaz in my mind. Her slender figure draped in a long, red cloak. She would tear it all down just to spite me, even after I’m gone. I should send Verity back through the portal before that moment comes. Sighing, I turn away from the view and slip over the rim of the tower. The wind rushes through the feathers of my wings and ruffles my short fur. I close my eyes, relishing the freedom of the free fall before spreading my wings wide.
I catch myself a few meters from the ground and soar upwards, back into the sky. I find Verity in the wild garden again, pacing agitatedly. She barely glances up as I land on the lawn beside her. “I don’t understand,” she mutters angrily.
I cock my head, watching her as she rubs at her temples. “What is it, Verity?”
“I have tried everything I can think of,” she snaps. “I have brewed potions, cast spells, I even kissed you hoping it would reverse the curse. But nothing works! And I’ve read every damn book in that damn library about this damn magic!”
“Verity,” I say, keeping my voice low
