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Footsteps carried to us. Caedryn’s men were hunting us.
“We have to go,” Kenrik said. “You keep moving until you’re far away. Do you understand?”
“I can’t. I can’t.”
“Swear it.”
I whimpered. I might have saved Kenrik’s life, but he was doing more than I could ever repay. “I swear.”
I fumbled with the stone on my neck. “You should take my dragon stone. Seren can fly you home. She might answer you. She hasn’t answered my cries. I fear I’ve destroyed our friendship. I’ve betrayed my bond as a guardian.”
“I’m not taking your stone. You call Seren. She’ll come to you. She can fly you far away.”
I shook my head. “Go to Gorlassar. Demand to speak with the High Emrys. She will know how to help you.” I lifted the stone from my neck and draped it around his. Before my hand pulled away from the stone, I said, I’m sorry, Seren.
“I thought you said mortals aren’t allowed in Gorlassar.”
“It’s your only hope! You must try. Fight your way in. Seren will help you. Besides, you carry all my light. You are so far from corrupted that you’re a shining star. You have proven your worth. You are nobler than any person, human or emrys, I’ve ever met.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Stars, Niawen, I love you. I will love you forever. Oh, damn it all!” His mouth fell on mine in a desperately hungry kiss.
I tasted heartbreak.
I returned Kenrik’s kiss with every wish that Deian would keep him safe.
SIXTY-EIGHT
Dark, high walls of bark entombed me. I was blind as I ran. I possessed no light to pierce the gloom.
I can’t see!
I had no one. No light to cast an orb. No bond. No dragon.
I was in the woods. A dreary forest. Enormous trees—gigantic trees—impossibly large walls of trees I couldn’t see an end to.
I was cold. I shivered violently.
I had no light! No light to warm myself.
How did mortals survive wrapped in cumbersome cloth? How did they fumble around with lanterns?
I’m not mortal. I’m not mortal.
I couldn’t be.
I stumbled. I fell. I ran out of breath.
My stomach turned. I vomited. I shoved snow into my mouth and washed the bile taste away.
I was scratched. My fingertips bled from scraping along the bark.
I had never bled for so long. I could smell the odor. Smell was the only sense that accosted me, that told me I was still alive.
My skin was numb. I couldn’t hear anything through the thick of the trees. They reached hundreds of feet into the air and obscured the sky and the moon. No stars to tell me my bright star—Kenrik—was safe.
Why’d I give you my light?
I was sure he was cursing my existence.
