Fuse by E.L. Todd
Twenty-Six
Flare startedthe fire then sat back as the meat cooked on the stick.
“Do you think it’s smart to have a fire?” Maybe they were difficult to see in the dark, but a large fire wasn’t.
“The world is much different on this side of the desert. No one will bother us.”
“Why is it different?”
He pulled back his hood then grabbed his razor from his pack. “There’s no one here. The dwarves are hidden away in the mountains, and the elves are secluded in their valleys. We’re alone.”
“King Lux’s rule doesn’t extend to this place?”
“Technically, yes. How do you control something you’re so far away from?” He wiped plant cream on his face then shaved without looking at his reflection. The scrape of the blade moved against his skin but never made a cut. “He could cross the desert if he really wanted to, but why attempt to conquer beings that don’t disturb you anyway? Besides, King Lux understands both the elves and dwarves are terrifying species. He wouldn’t go to war with them again unless he had no other choice.”
Cora couldn’t help but piece the puzzle together. He spoke of King Lux like he was acquainted with him personally, and the Steward of Easton was his uncle. Flare had to be close to King Lux in some way. “You speak of him like you know him.” She gently prodded him, hoping he would confess his secrets now that they were so close to the elves. He might not get another opportunity.
He stopped shaving, even though half of his face was covered in cream. He watched her across the fire, his blue eyes keeping his secrets locked up tight.
She didn’t press it further because she knew it was pointless.
“King Lux is my father.”
Even though she suspected some type of familiar relationship, she hadn’t been expecting that. She tried to hide her reaction but failed. She was astonished—and a little disturbed.
Flare shaved the other side of his face, pretending he hadn’t just said something groundbreaking. He wiped away the spots that remained then washed off his razor. “I ruled beneath him and alongside him for a very long time.” He stared at the blade in his hands, turning it slowly. “For hundreds of years, actually. He was the one who broke in to my dragon’s mind and forced him to fuse with me. After that, I took complete control. He’d been training me to replace him in the event he perished. And I was the perfect candidate.”
Cora did her best to remain calm, to act like nothing had changed between them. While this knowledge changed the way she saw him, she remembered he’d left High Castle for a reason. She remembered he was running from the king, not toward him.
“I didn’t question anything for years. As far as I was concerned, the dragons were solely made to serve us. They gave us unspeakable power. We’re the only ones worthy to control it. Flare was under my dominion for a long time, and no matter how much he fought me, I pushed him down. I tortured other dragons when they refused to cooperate. I killed a lot of people who didn’t deserve to die. I was a monster—just like my father.”
His eyes reflected the flames of the fire, and deep within them was the weight of the pain he carried. It was mixed with remorse and guilt. “My father and I were close—inseparable. But as the years passed, I became more in tune with my dragon. A bond started to form, and love started to grow. I reached a point where I couldn’t bear to hurt him any longer, and when I was asked, I refused to hurt another dragon. It was the vilest cruelty, and I adamantly refused to do it.”
She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly.
“I started to question everything. I reexamined the Great War and realized the destruction we caused. The dragons granted us mercy, but the second they turned their backs, we stabbed them in the dark. How could I ever have been proud to be my father’s son? He took the world by force, not respect. He destroyed an entire species of dragons for his own gain. He chased away the other species that had been here longer than man has even existed.”
She could feel the pain oozing from his skin. The air around him was filled with sorrow.
“And then my father killed my mother.” His voice broke at the end, emotion burning deep inside his throat. “They had a fight, like they always did, and Dad lost his temper, like he always did. That time, he took it too far. And that’s when I left.” His gaze grew hollow as he stared at the campfire. “I promised to avenge my mother. I promised to avenge everything that happened to Flare. And I promised to take my own life when I was finished. I intend to keep all of those promises.”
His final words shattered her resolve. Sitting across the fire and pretending his story didn’t affect her was impossible. She’d never heard a man speak of so much agony or known one who harbored so much insufferable pain. It was much worse than any torture she ever experienced.
Cora came to his side of the fire and sat down beside him. She didn’t know how to comfort her friend with words. What did you say to someone who had lost so much? How did you comfort someone weighed down by guilt?
She moved her arm through his then found his hand. She gripped it tightly, silently telling him she was there―that she would always be there.
He stared at their joined hands then brushed his fingers past hers.
“Flare, it’ll get better. It may not happen for a long time, even decades, but it will happen someday.”
“No.”
She flinched at his rejection. “You have to believe.”
“No…my name isn’t Flare.” He turned his head toward hers, his nose just inches from hers. “It’s Rush.”
* * *
Cora replayed his words endlessly in her mind. Even though she anticipated that kind of revelation at some point, she hadn’t been expecting it now. It was hard to swallow. There were two different versions of him; the one she knew now and the one from the past.
“We’re getting close now.” He walked slightly ahead through the trees.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been here before.”
“You’ve been in Eden Star?”
“Not inside it. They would never allow me to pass. But I know the entrance is somewhere nearby. They’ll come to us before we ever figure it out. They have eyes all over the forest.”
“Is there anything I should know beforehand?”
He slowed his pace and walked beside her, his words coming out as a whisper. “What they don’t say is more important than what they do say. You’ll have to rely on your intuition if you ever want to integrate with them. If they accept you, don’t expect them to be kind to you. You’ll be the black sheep among their people.”
“You make a lot of assumptions for never having been in Eden Star.”
He gave her a cold look. “I knew the elves before the war. I understand how they are.”
She’d provoked him unintentionally, so she looked away to dispel the tension.
His gaze bored into her. “You don’t look at me the same anymore.”
“That’s not true.” She immediately turned back to him and looked him in the eye. “I admit it was a lot to take in, but I trust the man I know. You made a mistake, as we all have.”
“Not just one mistake,” he said coldly. “But several. And my remorse doesn’t justify what I did. Saying I’m sorry isn’t going to cut it.”
“If you restore the dragons to their former glory, you’ll be vindicated.”
“It’ll take a lot more than that.” He was cold and unforgiving, even to himself. It was like he loathed every fiber of his being.
“I think you’re the most admirable man I’ve ever met.”
He stopped in his tracks.
“You saved me from the guards in Polox. You gave me your scales to make a powerful blade. You took me under your wing even when you didn’t trust me. When the Shaman captured me, you risked your life to save me. Maybe your heart wasn’t in the right place long ago, but it is now. We can’t live in the past forever, but we can move forward.”
Instead of being inspired or moved, he looked fiercer. His blue eyes were strikingly similar to razor-sharp icicles. “I don’t think all the dragons I’ve broken would agree with you. I don’t think all the mothers whose sons I’ve killed would agree with you. And I don’t think the elves would agree after I killed Tiberius Riverglade, their king.”
* * *
They camped in the forest without a fire. The branches swayed quietly on the trees, singing a quiet song. Cora lay on her back beside Rush, looking up at the stars as they peeked through the lush leaves.
Rush advised against a fire so they wouldn’t draw attention to themselves. It was better to approach the elves in the daylight, when their faces were clearly visible, than in the dark when their appearance was more formidable.
Rush still wore his hood, trying to hide his visage as much as possible. Both of his hands were tucked behind his head, and his ankles were crossed. His black clothing camouflaged him into the darkness.
Cora didn’t know what to say now that she knew everything about Rush. His past was darker than the night sky, and his soul seemed to be tarnished beyond repair. Maybe there was no hope for him.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Without looking directly at her, he knew she was awake.
“The sky is so pretty. I don’t want to close my eyes.”
“Hopefully, you’ll be staring at it a lot more.” He moved one hand to his stomach and rested it there.
“What’s our plan?”
“Meaning?”
“How long should I stay? Where should I meet you when I’m done? Or will we be able to communicate with our minds like before?”
“No. We won’t be able to communicate. The ability becomes weaker when the distance increases. Also, the elves protect their realm with spells. I doubt I could project my mind to yours even if I were standing right outside.”
“Spells?”
“Yes. Elves use magic.”
“I never knew that.”
“That’s why King Lux fears them so much. They guard their secrets jealously. He might be able to break in to the mind of a dragon, but he would never be able to get an elf to reveal the secrets of magic.”
“I wonder if they’ll teach me.”
“Don’t count on it.” He crossed his arms over his chest and continued to look up at the sky. “After I leave, assuming they let me go, I’ll find the lost island. If that goes well and I return with an army, I’ll send a messenger to you. Hopefully, you can convince the elves to join the fight by then.”
“But how will that work?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said dragons won’t kill other dragons. So, how do you expect to overthrow King Lux?”
He breathed a deep sigh that almost sounded painful. “I haven’t gotten that far in my plan. But we may have to make an exception to that rule. If it were me, I would completely understand if they had to take my life. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Cora hoped it wouldn’t come to that. “Keep working on something. I’ll try to think of a solution on my end.”
“Will do.”
“And that’s it? We march on High Castle?”
“We hit them hard and fast. Hopefully, we don’t have to bring the armies or the citizens into it. And the two stewards won’t have enough time to come to his aid if it’s by surprise.”
“The other steward is also your uncle?”
He nodded. “You can’t pick your family, right?”
She grabbed his hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. “Actually, you can.”
* * *
Rush moved past a large branch then approached a glade of trees. The trunks were massive and tall, bigger than any of the others across the desert. He looked high into the sky and stared at the leafy canopy before he stopped in the center.
She came up behind him, unsure what the holdup was. “What is it?”
He slowly turned around, his eyes scanning from left to right. “They know we’re here.”
She looked around, expecting to see someone jump out. “How do you know?”
“I can sense it. They’re scared and fearless at the same time.”
“Then what do we do?”
He stepped closer to her and kept his voice at a whisper. “This is your last chance, Cora. If you don’t want to do this, there’s still time to escape. We can fly away.”
She knew she had to try. A lot more than just her life was on the line.
“If you want to stay, this is where I leave you.”
“You won’t be here when they arrive?”
“No. They’ll kill me—as they should.”
Now that she knew what crime he’d committed, she understood.
“I’m going to ask you again.” He looked her hard in the eye. “Do you want to do this?”
Coming to a foreign place with strange people was terrifying for anyone. She didn’t expect this journey to be easy, and there was a good chance they would never accept her. But she refused to believe the Great War made her people barbaric and cold. The least they could do was listen to her then release her. She had to believe that. If that weren’t the case, then there was no hope for Anastille anyway. “Yes.”
His eyes contracted slightly, reacting discreetly to her decision. “You’re one brave woman, Cora.”
“I know where I get it from.” She didn’t know how much longer they had, but she suspected it wasn’t long.
A slight smile upturned his lips, reaching his eyes more than his mouth.
“I’ll talk to you later.” She didn’t want to say goodbye because goodbyes were too difficult. Somehow, saying goodbye to Rush was harder than saying goodbye to Dorian. Despite Rush’s crimes, she trusted him more than anyone and saw the light in his soul.
“Yeah.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Later.”
She wanted to close her eyes so she didn’t have to watch him walk away. But she also didn’t want to miss his departure, knowing she would treasure the memory for comfort while she was alone in this strange land.
He sighed like there was something else he wanted to say but dreaded actually saying it. “Look, I know the last kiss wasn’t that great. Women usually like it, but for whatever reason, it wasn’t my best work. Maybe I drank a little too much… I don’t know.”
Her lips immediately widened in a smile, and her heart formed wings and began to fly like a hummingbird.
“I swear. I can do a much better job than that. I just need one more chance.” He stared at her expectantly, waiting for her permission.
“Then give me your best shot.” Just like every other woman, she was attracted to his hard jaw and perfect cheekbones. His lips were full and soft, she already knew from experience, but she wanted to feel them again. Last time, there wasn’t a spark, but she hadn’t really given it a chance. She remembered the way his chest looked when he was shirtless, and she treasured all the teasing and taunting he directed at her. The dragon’s words came back to her mind, telling her she felt something in the same way Rush did.
Rush smiled as he stared at her lips. His arm snaked around her waist, and he leaned down, taking his time in his descent. He pulled her closer to him, preparing her for his touch.
His mouth slowly pressed against hers, and his warm breath fell on her skin. His hand automatically tightened around her waist, squeezing the fabric of her shirt.
Her heart raced with a deadly speed. Blood pounded in her ears, and she was suddenly aware of her body, the feel of his arm under her fingertips, and the feel of his mouth on hers. She had to stand on her tiptoes so he didn’t lean as far, but she hardly noticed what she was doing.
Rush slowly moved his mouth against hers, their lips dancing together. One hand snaked into her hair and fisted it tightly as he kept her close to his chest. Every time he breathed, air entered her lungs, giving her a sensation she’d never felt before.
She squeezed both of his arms as she moved her mouth with his. She’d never kissed a man before, so she copied what he did, moving her mouth in a similar way.
He sucked her bottom lip gently before he pulled away, his face still hovering near hers.
Her entire body felt hot and cold at the same time. Her heart didn’t slow down even though the kiss was finished. She didn’t release her grip on his biceps, comforted by the touch.
His eyes were on hers, taking in every reaction. “How was that?”
“Uh, yeah.” She cleared her throat.
He grinned from ear to ear. “I can never have all of you. But I’ll treasure this piece for as long as I live.”
Her mind was still in a whirlwind from the kiss. A flood of emotions rolled through her, and all she could think about was having that kiss again—and again.
Rush glanced at the trees before he turned back to her. “I really have to go. They’re close.”
Now she wanted him to leave even less.
He cupped her face and kissed her forehead. “We will see each other again.” He backed up with his eyes still trained on her. With a final look of sadness, he turned around and disappeared into the trees.
She remained in place, unable to turn around and face whatever was coming. All she could think about was the loss of her friend, her confidant, and now someone who meant something more.
“Turn around.” A deep voice sounded in her ear. It was both magical and musical.
She was too distracted by Rush to care about anything else. She slowly turned around, her arms by her sides.
A fair man with a bow trained on her emerged from the trees. His arrow was prepared to pierce her right through the heart. When he got a look at her face, his aim wavered slightly. He stopped in his tracks as he stared at her, watching her like she might not be real. “Who are you?”
“Cora.”
Two other elves emerged from the tree line and flanked her on both sides. They removed her pack as well as her sword.
She didn’t fight it because she’d expected it to happen.
“You’re coming with us.” The lead elf motioned for the other two to follow him.
They didn’t threaten or shoot her on sight, and that was a good sign. They didn’t even touch her. All they did was stare at her as they silently commanded her to begin walking.
Once she took the first step, a voice sounded in her ear. I’m always with you, Cora. Even if you can’t see me.