Please don’t ask me to leave.
“It would keep you alive.”
“That’s not an answer.”
The faintest crease appeared on his brow. “Your power could be useful,” he admitted grudgingly.
“Well, then. I’m with you.”
The trail descended into a long stretch of grassland and they picked up their speed, conversation falling away. Nightfall came quickly – it had been late already when they’d left the camp. Kara couldn’t believe all that had happened that day. Had she really only woken up with Henry in Caldris territory that morning?
It felt like a lifetime ago.
Exhaustion pulled at her. Days of hard riding, the emotional toll of everything had wrecked her – she was falling asleep in the saddle. She wanted nothing more than to lie down.
Whether Sebastian noticed or was equally as exhausted, she didn’t know, but he slowed his valmare and said, “Shall we stop and make camp soon?”
She nodded gratefully.
They veered off the road into the trees. The canopy overhead was so thick it blocked out most of the light and a clear stream bubbled nearby. Hale territory through and through – if she had to collapse somewhere, at least it was somewhere green.
She dismounted.
Instantly regretted it.
Her vision swam and the world tilted, off balance – she grabbed the saddle to stop herself from falling. Whisper nickered worriedly beside her, and the dull ache in her skull stabbed so hard that she had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, Sebastian had gotten halfway towards her before he’d stopped himself, hands clenched at his sides. It was like reaching for her would break some rule he’d written for himself.
“What’s wrong?” His tone was guarded, but there was something under it.
“My head,” she admitted.
His expression flashed with concern then, she was sure of it. “Still?”
“Whatever he did...” Kara rubbed her temple with a pulse of emerald, teeth gritted against the pain. “My magic isn’t working on it.”
“Dark magic,” he growled. “He shouldn’t even know how to use it.”
Her legs gave out from under her and she dropped hard on the grass.
“He wanted to use it on you,” Kara said, looking up at him. “Said he could make you see things if he had to.” She swallowed, remembering the cold certainty in Henry’s voice. “It made me feel sick.”
Sebastian’s gaze lingered on her for a long moment, absorbing her words. “What things?”
“He mentioned your sisters. Seeing them in trouble–”
His face darkened. Kara hurried on.
“I didn’t want – I wanted to avoid that. If I could.”
He scoffed. “I’m not sure your solution was better.”
She flinched at his honesty. But then, he lowered himself next to her, although careful not to get too close. “Your magic’s less painful, though.”
“Hmm.”
That was all she could think to say.
He pulled his pack towards him, digging inside until he found a leather pouch. He loosened the drawstring to reveal a mess of dried leaves and twisted roots.
