Page 38 of Shadows in Bloom

“Has it been getting better?”

“Yes, it has. At first, they would appear with even the simplest uses of magic, but now I can tap into my power for more complex spells. Sometimes the source of my power is too much… We think that is the issue. Alandris has been taking some of the brunt of the power until I can control it. He’s been acting as a conduit, so to speak. When my magic travels through both of us, the marks rarely appear, and it doesn’t hurt.”

A flicker of shock crossed Kallistra’s face before she settled back into a neutral expression. “He’s been willing to take that risk?”

I nodded.

“Interesting.” She rubbed a finger across her lips. “As I’ve said before, you do appear healthier. More and more so every day. However, what you did was reckless. You aren’t yet experienced enough to use your magic without regard.”

Loud footsteps against the wooden floor pulled our attention to the doorway. Alandris leaned against the frame, nearly reaching the top with his height. If his injury was bothering him in the slightest, it didn’t show. He hardly looked as though we’d just been traveling for days and days on end.

“I’ve been sent to collect Kallistra,” he spoke, tapping his fingers against the wood, “by Kaz and Zorinna. After they threatened me and demanded I go and rest, that is.”

Kallistra stood. “I suppose I should go pull my weight.” She brushed past Alandris, who straightened himself to give her room to move past him. “Be sure to look after Nairu for me.”

Alandris hummed some wordless reply which satisfied her well enough.

He remained in the doorway, looking over me silently, while a series of emotions passed over his face. Much like myself, he seemed to be struggling to find the words to say all that needed to be said between us.

It’d be easier to simply ignore everything that had happened. The fact that I’d thrown myself into danger to save him. Pretending it’d been for the benefit of our entire group would be foolish. It was obvious in the way I ran toward him, I’d taken the risk for him and him alone. My emotions had gotten the better of me, and I’d lost control of my own self-preservation. For him.

That was why I’d hoped to avoid him while I spent my time recovering, but fate was full of cruel jokes, and now it’d be just the two of us for hours on end while the others labored. There was no escaping him. No allowing my mind to disentangle the frenzy of emotions that overwhelmed me each time he was nearby.

“Do you want to sit at the lakeside?” He kicked the toe of his boot against the floor. “We can’t exactly train—we shouldn’t—but I can’t stand being locked up in these rooms with nothing to do. I could go over some basics with you if you wouldn’t find it too much of a bore.”

No.“Yes.” Damn it. My tongue, the betrayer it was, moved faster than my brain.

“I will wait for you downstairs, then.” He disappeared around the corner, his footsteps slowly fading.

I waited until the sound had fully left my ears before readying myself. I’d taken advantage of the bath offered to us last night, so my appearance wasn’t as unkempt as I feared. I didn’t want to gaze in the mirror longer than I had to, so I did my best to separate my hair without its assistance, tying a section back with the ribbon Zorinna had gifted me. I couldn’t manage a braid on my own—I’d have to ask her to teach me once this was all over.

Although, I supposed I wouldn’t have the opportunity if things played out how I intended them to. If I started my new life. No, when I started my new life.

Ignoring the sharpness that particular thought manifested in my chest, I threw my cloak over my shoulders and rushed to meet Alandris downstairs.

We walked to the lake, side by side, without a word. The quiet was surprisingly comfortable, and it gave me a chance to look over our surroundings properly for the first time. The villagers were no longer staring at us with fear. Perhaps they’d been assured of our peaceful intentions, though their hesitation was still apparent in the way busy hands stopped moving as we passed. Their homes, though small, were decorated with gardens and flowers and wooden trinkets. Children played, screeching giddily as they chased each other through puddles of mud. Their parents yelled after them, their angry voices wavering between their laughter. This place was no larger than my village, but the contrast between the two was stark.

Back home, our entire village felt as though a stillness had been cast over it. Like everyone was holding their breath, waitingfor something. Here, they seemed free. Joyful. And while I was certain it was no simple thing living on the outskirts of the Azog Bog, the people here seemed perfectly contented residing here with their loved ones in their tiny corner of the world.

When the lake came into view, I forced myself not to think of home. It was on the edge of the south side of the village, surrounded by willows and patches of marigolds. A sliver of beauty against an otherwise rugged backdrop.

My mouth fell open. “When did you get a chance to search for this place?”

Alandris shrugged. “I couldn’t sleep. I wandered around the village for a bit last night, right after everyone went to bed. Didn’t think anyone would hear me slip out over the sound of Kaz’s snoring.”

Indeed, that had been loud enough to startle me out of my slumber on more than one occasion during the night.

Alandris sat down beneath the nearby willow and patted the ground next to him, and I followed suit. His gaze traveled along the lengths of my arms, a frown appearing at the sight of the marks. “The marks haven’t faded.”

I pulled my cloak tighter over my body. “No, not quite. The pain is mostly gone, though.”

“You shouldn’t have done that.” He swallowed, turning away from me.

“I’ve already had my talking to this morning.”

“I am not worth your life.”

I stilled. “You are not worth my—what?” I couldn’t keep the edge from my tone. “I helped you because—because it was the right thing to do. I saw you were about to be overwhelmed, so I stepped in. Isn’t that the point of all the training we’ve been doing? Was the purpose not so that I could defend myself?”

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