AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I shook my head. “You are too hard on yourself, Sahlyn. I would not be here without you.”
“You are herebecauseof me! Because of my mistakes!” He thrust a hand through his tawny hair, the color of honey and sand dashed together. I grabbed his hands and yanked them to my chest.
“Stop, Sahlyn. Stop it right now. No more feeling sorry for yourself. For us. This is the path that was chosen. The Goddess of the Beyond seesusas worthy of this quest. Bereille saw us as worthy. He sawyouas worthy, Sahlyn. So, let's show them by finding a place to rest for the night. We have another long day of travel ahead of us. We won’t reach Mondu for at least another day, and I’d like to put as much distance between us and this fucking forest as we can.”
He glanced at my face, into my eyes, and then his eyes scanned the forest behind us.
“You’re right. Let’s go.”
Dusk moved across the mountain valley as we found a hollowed-out section between the mountain’s shale wall and a massive boulder. It would do well to keep us from the elements.
Sahlyn started a fire quickly, and we quietly gathered firewood. Thankfully, our packs had remained on us through the running in the wood. We ate in silence, but it felt heavy. I knew Sahlyn was hurting. I knew it sullied him in self-doubt, and I couldn’t handle it.
“Can we talk about it?”
“No.”
“Damn it, Sahlyn, don’t sink into this pit of self-despair. I need you!”
He stood up abruptly, and without a thought, I stood up too. We were close, but neither of us moved away.
If I took a heaving breath, my chest would touch his. My hands lifted of their own accord to rest on his muscled chest. His heart thudded beneath my palm.
“The Goddess of the Beyond favors ambition and courage.”
Sahlyn’s eyes softened. “You have both.”
“As do you.”
“No. Not me.” His words exuded self-loathing.
“Sahlyn—"
“Autumn. Stop.”
I grabbed his arm before he could turn away. “Sahlyn. You are here. You are beside me—"
“I did this to you! Why don’t you understand that?”
“Shedid this tous!”
His breaths heaved, and he angled away from me. Only the curve of his shoulder and eyes turned to me. “I…” His eyes closed. When they finally opened, there were tears in them.
I swallowed against the rising emotion they provoked in me.
Slowly, he turned to me. He took a step that brought him in front of me again and then he got down on his knees before me. My eyes went wide. This massive breadth of a man on his knees before me was a sight that sent unexpected tremors through my soul. My heart raced; I could feel it galloping in my chest. Ardent thrill and renewed purpose rushed across my every nerve ending.
“Sa—"
“Even before all this…” He shook his head, his eyes guttered. “The first moment I saw you, I knew you were special. Extraordinary. So much so that it nearly brought me to my knees.”
I sucked in a shaky breath.
“If you wish to flee—”
“I don’t.” My words held faith and conviction. I couldn’t flee. It wasn’t in me to run, to leave another to this fate.
He bowed his head, knowing that would be my answer. I appreciate that both he and Argen had stated that I could take off, and they would not judge my decision.
