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“Just checking in. I haven’t seen you all day.” Aiden. His sandy hair looks windblown as if he’s been out at sea.
I pull up the lingering strength I have left to look at him. “I’m good. Just tired.”
His brows crease but he doesn’t question me. “Okay, just making sure you aren’t avoiding me.”
I can’t tell him that I would if I could. So, instead, I shake my head. “Of course not. I just had a rough sleep last night and it caught up to me.”
He nods, strands of his hair shifting in front of his eyes from the movement. “Okay, well, get some rest. Once you feel better, maybe we can have a meal outside by the sea tomorrow. Like we used to when we were kids.”
My heart clenches at the vibrant memory, but it’s now stained a murky grey with how the male before me is no longer that little boy. “That would be nice.”
A small grin spreads on his face before he dips his head and takes his leave. Just in time before the room starts to spin, dragging me into its vortex. I try to fight it by widening my eyes and straightening my spine to remain sitting. I’m terrified to fall back to sleep. To become weak and defenseless against my past.
Even as I try to muster up the strength to hold my body upright, I can feel my arms giving out as I fall back onto the mattress. I must have used too much power when healing the Corrupted because now my body is facing the aftermath. Needing sleep to restore itself.
Black creeps along the edge of my vision as I shake my head in protest. But the next thing I know, I’m sucked back into sleep with my memories chasing after me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Draven
“Almost,” Fynn grunts between clenched teeth.
After I returned Emma to her room, I came back to mine as the moon was welcoming the sun. I paced aimlessly for a while, battling every wild thought to go back to her. But I need to keep busy so that I don’t go against her wishes to stay away… For now.
Fynn was awake—probably never went to sleep—before I came to join him, as he continues to practice reaching Gehendra. He’s been attempting this for the past few hours, inching closer little by little.
“You’ve got this. I can feel it. This is it,” Cora cheers him on as she stays near his side in case he blacks out from the amount of power he’s exerting, like he did the other day.
The air in the room starts to feel heavy, his power radiating waves of energy. I can only imagine how his body feels trying to control it. In the next breath, a golden portal fizzles and tears a seam in the center of the room. Slowly, it expands. Fynn’s hands shake as he spreads the edges wider, guiding the opening to follow.
“Fuckkk!” he roars, sweat beading down his forehead.
Kye steps up behind him, holding his hands up. “Keep going. I’m going to try something.”
All Fynn can do is grunt a response with a jerk of his head. His eyes are hard as he focuses on the portal that’s wavering, but it’s almost there.
Kye’s palms flatten on the back of Fynn’s shoulders, closing his eyes until a flash of blue pulses from his hands. Cora gasps from the side, covering her mouth with her hand and watching in what looks like fear and amazement.
The rush of Kye’s power infuses with Fynn’s, and it’s genius. Kye’s power is strength. So, adding his will only help boost Fynn’s and give him the push he needs. Then, Kye releases his hands from Fynn’s shoulders and steps back, as Fynn continues to keep the portal open.
Darkness creeps from the center of the portal, and we all watch it expand to its full size. Our breaths plume out in front of us as a coldness creeps into the room. Taking a step forward, I call on my dragon half to try and see deeper into the realm, but still, only a dark hole greets me. But there is no mistaking the eerie sensation that prickles down my spine.
Fynn’s chest is heaving in deep pulls as he manages to keep the portal open, then smirks at me. “Part one of the plan is a go.”
I nod, relief flooding my system as Kye’s eyes glint with what looks like excitement. Another step closer to seeking revenge for Emma and saving her from the deathly grip she’s in.
“You only needed a little push of my power,” Kye says to Fynn. “I think you can just as well do this yourself when you are fully rested again and fuel your body with food.”
Cora watches Fynn lower his hands to let the portal fall away before nodding with a wide smile. “I think he can, too,” she adds. Then, she turns her head to look directly at me. “But did you feel the same uneasiness I felt from what lurks beyond in that realm?”
My eyes still stare off into the space where the opening to Gehendra was, and how it seemed almost too quiet, leaving me slightly on edge. I tear my gaze away to look at Cora with a troubled nod. “I did. Whatever waits for us in that realm is not for the faint of heart. We can never drop our guard from the moment we step foot in there.”
“Emma said that the air is toxic to Fae,” Kye adds in.
Fynn rubs his neck as he turns to Kye. “My throat started to burn, but I wasn’t sure if I just needed something to drink.”
Cora shakes her head. “Not just you; I felt the same.”
