“Areyou trying to excite me, little bird?”Abraxas’ voice was rough with sleep, but he rolled his body into mine, and a shiver rolled down my spine.Iturned over and placed a kiss on his cheek.
“Goback to sleep,YourMajesty.Ihave a few thingsIneed to work out.”Hegave a disappointed groan but relaxed and almost immediately fell back asleep.Thisplace was taking a toll on him, even with him keeping his distance.
Myfeet silently hit the floor, andIpadded barefoot into the light of the early dawn.IfoundAvlynat the edge of our encampment, coordinating the switching of the guard.
“Anynews from the front?”
Theysighed, “Notmuch, fortunately.Thedefeat atXyrhas crippledHadeon’sarmy for now, but he gathers reinforcements at the edge of the kingdom.Weshould be able to hold them but…”Butat what cost.Howmany lives would be lost trying to buy us time?Toomany.
Inodded toAvlynand let them retreat to their tent for some much-needed rest.Ilet my feet guide me, and soon enough,Ifound myself atJun’sside, sitting out in the grassy field in front of theTorr.
“Whatdid you dream about?” he asked me right away.Noavoiding it.
“QueenSoraya.Andyou?”
“KingSoractes.”Hiseyes were hard.
“Whatdid he say?”
“ThatIneed to fix this rift that has grown between us.”WhydidJunvoicing this truth, whichIknew all too well, make my heart shatter?
“QueenSorayasaid the same.Amongstsome other things.”Silencestretched between us, horrible and infinite.
“You’regoing into theTorrtoday?” he questioned, not looking at me.
“Yes.”
“I’mgoing with you.”
“Jun,Idon’t think that’s a good—”
“I’mgoing with you.”Hecould not lie, and so it was true.Hestood and walked back into camp. “I’llbe ready before the sun hits theTorr.”
Chapter 53
Tori
Wemet back at the field before theTorr.Thewhole camp had come out to watch our approach,PallasandAbraxasat the forefront.Avlynstood besideAbraxas, andIsaw them subtly supporting him.Iclenched my fist, but that wasn’t somethingIcould focus on now.
Ilooked over atJun, and he didn’t look back.Hiseyes were locked on the challenge before us. “Areyou ready?”Hesaid nothing but slid his fingers into mine.Iteased my aching heart.
“Don’tworry.I’llprotect you.”Isqueezed his fingers but was surprised to see his face twist in displeasure, if only for a moment.Then, that hard expression vanished, and his brows relaxed.
“Let’sgo.”
TheTorrstretched into the sky before us, its dark, rocky surface was dry and barren of all life.Thegrass stopped in a perfect line, immediately giving way to nothing but dust and ash.Itook a deep breath and stepped over.Immediately,Ifelt my fingers clench aroundJun’s, and my legs shook, like a greatweight pressed in on me over my whole body.Icoughed and tried to keep my feet moving.IheardJunwhimper beside me as his feet faltered.
“Let’sgo back, we’ll find another way.”
Hestaggered, but then straightened his spine and grit his teeth.
“No, this is it.”Helocked his eyes with mine. “Together?”
Inodded. “Onestep at a time.”
Ourpace was slow, but we kept moving.Everystep brought that weight down on us more.Mychest ached, it felt like my heart was fighting to beat while being strangled.
Wereached the lowest cave opening, the darkness surrounding us, but we did not stop.Oursteps echoed off the hollow walls untilIcouldn’t see anything.Itried to summon flames usingAbraxas’ and my bond, but nothing came.Thebond remained, but it was muted, the curse of this place sinking its claws into it just like it had my heart.
