Page 44

“Xylon is restless,” she said. “Yes, a crack has opened inside one of our caverns. We have been coating the tips of our weapons with the darkness within.”

“I’m sorry,” I interrupted, “what darkness?” It was the first of many questions that tumbled from my brain. The elves attributed the quakes to the god of the seven hells?

“I’ve seen the darkness you speak of,” Rivven said, glancing my way. “In the Night Forest. It looked like a void that destroyed everything it touched.”

Sinsha nodded, serious. “Yes. Xylon is angry indeed. It is quite the concentrated poison.” She clapped her hands, startling me as she stood. “You will be shown to your caverns for the evening. Please let us know if there is anything else you require.”

The next moment, we were being herded through a labyrinth of caves. Torvo and Galan were delivered to a small alcove filled with black and white furs and cushions near a roaring fire. When Torvo glared at Rivven, I shook my head slightly, letting him know we needed to be respectful of our hosts. His nostrils flared as he drew in a sharp breath, but he nodded back in understanding and what I hoped was trust that Riv and I would be able to control ourselves.

Rivven and I were taken to a spot a bit further down a spiraling pathway where an opening revealed the sky overhead, and a pile of fresh snow decorated the ground beneath, curving around the rear of the space. Another pile of white furs lay further inside near a firepit filled with dancing amber flames.

Icicles dripped overhead, but not above the furs. WIt would be like sleeping outside in the elements. But…it would be nice to finally have some privacy with Rivven. It was something I’d been craving for what felt like ages even though we’d have to exercise control when it came to our physical desires.

Once we’d been left alone, I pulled off my boots, and Rivven removed his sheathed sword, setting it on the rocks near the head of the furs. His shirt followed, and I swallowed, watching the dancing light reflect off the dips and curves of his defined muscles. He was thinner than before the Imrati, his stomach concave, ribs jutting out above them, but still strong and beautiful. He had new scars too, one in particular running down his side over his ribs. He caught me looking and raised his eyebrows.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly, tears brimming in my eyes. “If I’d had any idea⁠—”

He strode toward me, coming so close that I had to crane my neck to look up at him. His familiar cedar scent embraced me as I stared into his burning eyes. He kept me locked in that gaze as he lifted a hand, cupping my face.

“You are as much a victim as the rest of us,” he said.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me.” It was hard to speak through the thickness in my throat.

“I could never hate you, Nyah. Not even if I tried.” His thumb brushed away some of the tears that leaked onto my cheek. “I just can’t stand to watch you take risks like jumping on the back of a dragon without knowing how to ride or rushing into danger when there’s another way out.”

The way his forehead creased made my stomach sink with guilt. “Do you think I can’t take care of myself in this body?” I asked, chin raised but trembling.

“There’s a difference between courage and recklessness, Nyah. I trust that you are capable. But you are still human.”

Was I, though? I swallowed hard, then nodded, averting my eyes to the fire and the furs that suddenly called to the many aches in my body I had been ignoring. Or perhaps the adrenaline I’d been running on had finally started to ebb.

“You’ll need my body heat tonight,” Rivven’s voice rumbled in my ear, sending shivers of want through me. “We need rest,” he added when I hesitated, as though reading my mind.

Without another word, I stripped down to my underwear and slipped between the furs. I purposely didn’t look as he finished disrobing. But I couldn’t help but notice when he slid in beside me, pulling me to his side. His body heat, always so high, did feel wonderful. I sighed contentedly, burrowed in closer, and drifted into blissful slumber.

Twenty

Leuruna

Cowering in my mind was not a foreign feeling. The difference was that this time someone else was using my body. Instead of waking in my chair by the hearth, I had no idea what I’d find if and when I dared to look into the real world.

In my mind, I hid in the forest instead of my room. It was a first for me, choosing somewhere outside of my small, comforting world. But I’d seen this beautiful forest in Astridon firsthand and wished to be able to roam in it. Of course that had been impossible with Father, Serano, and the guards watching my every move. But there was nothing stopping me from doing so now, in the safety of my own world.

Besides, this was Torvo’s home, so it felt almost as comforting as his arms. I had to admit, a small part of me longed to go back out there so I could be with him properly. We hadn’t married after all, though that had been the plan. We’d had to flee, so it couldn’t be helped, but I still wanted to join with him as a partner. I felt nervous, but ready. My dreams had brought us together, but in the real world, we’d shared other intimate moments—stolen kisses and the like which had awoken sensations in me, body and soul, that I had never experienced. It was hard to imagine intimacy could be sweet or loving after what had happened to me. I hadn’t thought I’d ever want to attempt it in the flesh. But with Torvo, I did. I wanted more.

If I went back out there, though, I didn’t know what I’d find, and I couldn’t face it if my prince had been hurt. Nor would I know what to do to help if my little group was in danger. That was Nyah’s expertise, and it made sense to let her lead the way.

So why did my chest feel like there was a giant hole in it? I backed up to the smooth white trunk of a tree and slid down to the ground. In the distance, the palace spires of clear crystal sparkled in the sun like diamonds. Starsong birds warbled in the treetops, their bright ruby feathers peeking out through the emerald leaves. A soft breeze teased the loose strands of white hair around my face. It was perfect here. But I’d made it that way.

Did the real forest still look like this? My father had taken control by now, using Torvo’s sister as his puppet. I wasn’t stupid, just sheltered. How much damage had he done? Had the dark mist swallowed the beauty of this sky kingdom as it had in Centos? Had his hunger for power drained the color from yet another kingdom as his paranoia coated it in darkness and gloom?

Hopelessness, my old friend, cradled me as I stared up at the sky. The blue that matched Torvo’s eyes faded into night, and the double moons shone hazy through the magic I was so accustomed to being enshrouded in. The birds stopped singing their song, and the castle fell into deep shadow in the distance, so that it was no more than an amorphous shape looming—a creature waiting to crawl from the periphery to stomp out all the delicate beauty that had once shone here.

I was delicate. I knew that. And I was broken. I understood that, too. But somehow, I’d managed to stay alive under the oppressive darkness my father had caged me in. Not alive enough, I thought. I was too weak to face reality. How could I possibly lift the heavy stones of the avalanche of oppression Father had purposely buried us under?

Hugging my knees, I rocked back and forth as my body shook with sobs. It wasn’t fair. None of this was fair. Then the worst thought of all crept in like another monster from the shadows. If I had stayed put, Torvo and I would be married and safe in the castle. What had I done?

“Princess,” Torvo’s deep, melodic voice interrupted my pitiful thoughts.