Page 86 of The Heir

“Is he still alive?” I asked, gazing into his golden eyes.

“No–he and his beloved Briar moved onto the Ancient lands. While Terrans live longer lives in this realm, in Terra we live what feels like what a normal life to you would be here.”

“Humans on Earth got it wrong. Briar was not awakened by true love's first kiss,” I said, reaching up to stroke some of Shad’s midnight black hair from his brow.

“In a way, she was–” he began. Then I touched his lip softly, and he froze. Desire and want radiated from my melody to him. I wanted to kiss him so badly. Why had we not kissed? He seemed to want it, too. I removed my hand from his lips and pulled myself up and off of him.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” I said, my cheeks heating up.

“Then it was a pleasant happenstance,” he winked. “We are here,” Shad continued, looking serious. Mary and Keil were already out of the car, unloading our supplies.

“I need to load up your backpack with necessities before we begin the hike,” Shad said as we walked together around to the trunk of Keil’s car.

It was around noon then, and being inland, it was hotter than it had been on the coast. I waited as the packs were loaded, and Shad helped me put mine on.

“What exactly is the plan? I mean, when we find him, will he be in a holding place of some sort—and guarded? Are we supposed to fight these people, or what?” I asked, looking from Shad to Mary, and then to Keil.

“Let me introduce you to Keil, one of the ancient warriors of Terra.” Shad pointed to Keil.

“What does that mean?” I asked, my eyes large with surprise. Keil brought an ax out of the car, or well, what looked like an ax to me. It had what looked like ink etched into its handle. He also held a shield, and a sword was on his hip. “So, Keil is going to fight a whole group of evil, Terra-people?”

“Corrupt,” Mary added. “We call these peopleThe Corrupt. The ancient warriors of Terra have been Ancient blessed,” Mary started to explain. “They can defeat any foe as long as it is in the name of truth and honor.”

“Seriously, if we had this secret weapon this entire time, why were we running away? Just sick Keil on them.”

Keil chuckled.

“While he has a gift, it is also not all powerful. Like I said, he has to be fighting for a direct cause and for the good of Terra, for the Ancients, or for their line,” Mary explained.

“Emma, you are for the good of Terra. You are of Ancient blood. Getting you back and on your rightful throne as Princess of Haleston should be enough for my gift to work. We need Ryker becauseyouneed Ryker,” Keil assured me.

“Okay.”

Do not worry, Emma, Keil is very skilled, Shad’s voice sounded within me. I looked at him and smiled.

“Okay, so let’s do this. Ryker needs us.” Keil started walking up a trail, and we all followed behind the ancient warrior.

“We have been hiking for hours. How much longer, Keil?” I wiped the sweat off of my forehead as I stopped. We had been walking for days, it seemed—only the truth of it was that it had actually just been three hours.

The forests were dense and thick. I clearly was not built for that kind of hiking.

“Tired, Princess?” Keil stood beside me, slowing down his pace to walk with me. I had been hanging at the back for over an hour. I was there for Ryker, I should not have been complaining. He never complained when he had held me in the hospital–when he had cried with me. I tried to push that memory away, to shut it behind a locked door in my brain. It wasn’t useful there in that forest and on that mission.

I need conversation. I need distraction.

Shad came up beside me. I turned to see him tapping Keil on the shoulder. Keil nodded and went back up with Mary in front of us.

“When are we going to stop?” I huffed, my feet and body aching. The others were like robots, never stopping, always walking on and on.

“Soon,” Shad said with a soft smile.

“We are close?”

“Somewhat, Are you tired?” he asked, looking at me with care in his expression and a melody that sang with mine.

“Shad, I want to sleep forever after this.”

He laughed. “I am not so sure you do, Emma. Remember Briar?”

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