Tomorrow, we would make it to the Veil and everything would change.
The thought should’ve terrified me—should’ve sent pain coursing through my veins.But with Theo’s warmth at my back and Tavrik’s questionable snoring creating a strange, soothing lullaby, an unexpected sense of peace washed over me.
A scream clawed its way up my throat but died before it could escape, strangled by the weight of Theo’s arm pinning me down.I twisted my head, chest heaving violently as I struggled to suck in the biting morning air—to extinguish the phantom flames that scorched my lungs from within.
Theo—thank the Heavens—remained blissfully unconscious, and judging by Tavrik’s obnoxiously loud snoring, so was he.I positioned my face toward the dawn, letting the gentle song of birds anchor my fraying sanity to the waking world.
I dragged both trembling hands down my sweat-slicked face.
I can’t do this anymore.
I pried Theo’s deadweight arm off me and moved away, rising to my feet with a symphony of cracks and pops.The physical agony radiating through my body and Zaheera’s relentless pull were still no match for the suffocating pressure building inside my skull.
Theo woke next, stretching his limbs like a cat before sitting up.
“I need a bed.Arealbed, with linens and a mattress that doesn’t try and impale me with twigs and rocks.I can’t take this anymore.”
“Andthat—” he jabbed a finger toward Tavrik, who was stirring from his death-like slumber, “thatnoise.”
He mimicked Tavrik’s snoring with such brutal accuracy, I couldn’t help but double over in laughter.
“I can’t hear it anymore,” Theo moaned, slapping both hands over his ears.“My ears areactuallybleeding.I checked.”
Tavrik rolled his eyes.“I don’t snore,” he stated, like hetrulybelieved it.
“Louder than anything I’ve ever heard,” I countered, strolling over to offer my hand.I helped him to his feet, which took more effort than I’d care to admit.
“I’m certain that’s the reason no wild animals attacked us in our sleep,” Theo said, flicking dirt from his trousers.“Even the most terrifying predators wouldn’t dare interrupt whatever unholy ritual your throat was performing.”
I chuckled, earning a sharp glare from Tavrik.I threw my hands up in mock surrender.“Don’t look at me like that, it’s not my fault he’s right.”
Tavrik fought back a smile threatening to break his serious expression.“If you’re both finished…”
We all stretched our aching limbs before setting off once more, only the weight in my chest had doubled.
We would reach the Veil today.The thought plagued my mind as we walked.
The trees thinned, abandoning us to the scorching sun’s mercy.Hours had passed since the last stream—where we had drunk deeply, both for hydration and to silence the unbearable rumbling of hunger.
The relief didn’t last.My throat had turned to dust, and my lips were so cracked they might shatter if I dared to smile.
Theo’s laboured breath filled the air between us, each exhale more dramatic than the last.
“Stop breathing so loud,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes.“You sound like you’re dying.”
“Iamdying.”He wheezed, stopping to brace his hands on his knees.“I don’t know how he’s doing it.”He gestured with his chin toward Tavrik, who looked annoyingly unaffected.
“You forget I served in the guard,” Tavrik said, his voice smooth.“This—” he gestured at the hellscape surrounding us with a sweep of his hand, “is nothing.”The smirk that curved his lips made Theo’s nostrils flare with irritation.
“Show off,” Theo muttered with all the venom he could muster, which wasn’t much considering he could barely remain upright.He shuffled forward, each limb moving as if weighed down by invisible chains.
We pressed on, and soon Theo’s heaving was joined by my own embarrassingly similar sounds.Even Tavrik had a sheen of sweat glistening on his brow, and his breathing had quickened just enough to be noticeable.The sight of his discomfort lit Theo’s face with such glee one would think he just witnessed a minor miracle.
“What happened?”Theo taunted, physically incapable of keeping his mouth shut.
He somehow found the energy to saunter toward Tavrik and clamp a hand on his shoulder.“Thought this wasnothingto you.”
“Fuck off,” Tavrik growled, shoving Theo’s hand from his shoulder with enough force to make him lose his balance.
