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We must find a more permanent solution soon. A single body was never meant to house the consciousness of two beings,Varin says.
What will happen?
Your body will begin rejecting both of us until one of us surrenders or we both die.
I shiver.
I do not ask which of us will surrender if it comes to that, nor do they offer an answer.
***
The trek through the forest is long and takes the majority of the night. Nyx pushes herself as if she understands the urgency of the situation.
The first half of the journey, I am on alert for demons. I may have killed the higher demon during the fight, but some lesser demons escaped. Varin assures me there is no sign of any—within a harmony or alone—in the vicinity. Any who survived have fled, or at least have the sense to be wary of me and my connections to the Shade pack.
We break through the tree line as the sun crests the horizon ahead of us. I am thankful the sky is clear, allowing the meager warmth from the sun to reach us.
I turn Nyx south, and we run until the castle is little more than a shadowy shape in the distance. It adds time to our ride, but it’s better than being spotted. We circle around to the easternmost edge of the city.
Cherno meets us a few miles out, guiding us to the meeting place. I trusted they made it back safely, but it’s a relief to see it with my own eyes. They perch on my shoulder and nestle against my neck, using my hair to shield them from the rising sun.
Della and Lawrence wait beside a carriage. No sooner do I have both feet on the ground than Della has me wrapped up in a hug, one hand stroking the back of my head.
“We heard what happened,” she says with a sniffle. Her hold tightens until I can barely breathe. At the faint whimper of pain, she pulls back, looking at me. “Did I hurt you? I wasn’t sure you’d be well enough to ride. Why did no one accompany you?” She bombards me with questions not giving me a chance to respond.
Lawrence approaches. “You can talk later,” he says gruffly.
Della looks me up and down before reaching for the reins. Nyx shies away, then again when Della tries a second time.
The two vampires and I gape at the small horse. Nyx shakes her head and moves backward several paces. I motion for them to stay put and inch forward.
“You don’t need to be afraid. They won’t hurt you,” I say soothingly.
When I reach out, Nyx does the same thing. I frown. She turns her head to the east, then looks back at me.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” I ask, half sure I’m losing my mind.
You are being ridiculous,Varin chides.
I would agree, but once again, Nyx bobs her head as if in answer, throwing another look behind her.
“You want to leave?”
Another nod.
“All right…” I say uncertainly and gesture toward the saddle. “Would you like me to remove that for you?”
Nyx turns to the side, and this time when I approach her, she doesn’t back away. I remove the satchel and sling it over my shoulder, then remove everything else. When I finish, Nyx nudges me with her muzzle.
“Thank you for everything,” I say.
She blinks at me with large, warm brown eyes for a moment, then she turns and gallops away.
“What a peculiar little mare,” Della murmurs, then climbs into the carriage.
Lawrence nods toward the carriage. “If you’re done here, we should get going.” There’s a hint of impatience in his tone.
My muscles are stiff as I walk, though he doesn’t rush me, his pace matching mine. I’m taken aback when he offers to hand me up. The kindness is at odds with his stern demeanor.
