Perhaps it has made its choice and doesn’t wish to hear any more of my speech.
“I know it’s a lot to ask of you and you don’t know us, but you must know about the king and what he’s doing in the realms. Most beasts that reside in these woods will surely jump at his offer and be more than delighted to fight beside him.” I look the Crux in the dark pits that form its eyes. “I can tell you’re not like them. I can see that you’re different. Even today, what you just did, helping us. That’s what allies do for one another.”
Before I have a chance to say anything else, my eyes dart behind the Crux to the figures crawling out of the eerie forest. Ryder is immediately by my side, looking far better than he had minutes ago. He’s stiff and alert, but not threatening as the wall of unique monsters descends upon us with the one who helped Ryder leading them. The Crux reaches out its hand to me. I offer mine in return and its long fingers wrap around in a firm handshake.
“My father has already lifted the spell keeping you all here, hasn’t he?” The Crux nods. “He won’t like that you havebroken your promise to him, even if it was never you who made it.” The creature nods again and one of the others steps beside it.
“We understand what it is we’re agreeing to, Prince. We’ve made our decision and will live with the consequences.” She’s no bigger than a small child and her voice is mesmerizing as if it could put me in a trance or deep slumber.
“Very well,” Ryder agrees. “Now that the spell has been lifted, are you all able to make your way to the Shadow Lands?”
“Yes, we will prepare for the trip and be there by next week.”
Although she looks young, her demeanor says otherwise. It may have been the Crux who met us first, but it is obvious who they have chosen as their leader.
Ryder turns to the Crux. “Thank you for your help. And yours,” he adds, shifting his focus to where the tall one is still standing with the army of forgotten creatures. “We’ll have accommodations ready upon your arrival.”
Without another word he wraps his arms around me, and I watch as they all fade away behind the wall of smoke.
Chapter 48
Ryder
“Goodnight.”
I’m back in my room before she has a chance to say anything. How am I supposed to face her after what happened? I knew how she made me feel and what being around her was like, but this was different. We’ve never been that physically close before and it’s like every cell in my body knew it.
Why did she have to feel so good against me? And her heat. Was she losing control just as much as I was? For a moment, I thought I might burst into flames next to her and I was completely okay with it. In fact, I welcomed it. Combustion would’ve at least kept me from losing control of my power. I certainly would’ve preferred thatover what happened. She must’ve realized that it was because of her. Because of the way she—
No. No, I have to stop thinking about it.
The icy droplets of water now pelting my skin do little to cool me off. It’s like I can still feel every inch of her pressed up against me. Teasing me. Daring me to make a move.
I hear a faint knock at my door but ignore it. Artemus can wait until morning for an update. Now is definitelynotthe time. A second later, there’s another knock, but this one is harder and more demanding.
This better be important.
I reluctantly shut off the water and throw on a pair of loose pants, deciding that’ll have to be decent enough for this inconvenient visit. My hand is still on the doorknob when I’m shoved out of the way by force.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I warn when she turns around.
“What happened earlier?” Reign makes her way to one of the columns that marks the corner of my bed and leans her back against it, waiting for my answer.
“Which part exactly?” If we’re going to talk about this, then she needs to be just as uncomfortable as I am.
“The part where you decimated a chunk of forest.”
“You knew what my power could do,” I offer simply.
“I didn’t know it could do THAT.”
I shrug. “Well, now you know.”
She pushes off the bed post. “You told me that my death made you take down an entire mountain. I thought you were exaggerating.”
“Is there a question in there?”
“Why would you do that? Why would my death make you lose control that much?”
