Page 214 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

He was beaten and bruised and broken, too.

Dawn cast golden rays of breaking light over Garrik. He hadn’t slept and was sitting in Alora’s emerald reading chair. From the darkened circles under his eyes, she wondered if he’d even closed them once before daylight rose over Alynthia’s peaks.

Through the night, she had looked to him from her bed when dreamless sleep would stir and shake her awake. Therehe stayed, reading that green book on a knee, his ankle resting across it. Two fingers pressed into his temple, holding him upright, exhausted eyes scanning the pages in the dancing lantern light.

Alora turned from him to find a few moments of further peace.

But when the sun’s rays were warm and caressing her awake once more, he wasn’t there. A small pearlsea flower rested beside the Blazebloom on her bedside table and a note written in his immaculate handwriting.

She brushed her fingers slowly over the coarseness, the ink as dark as Smokeshadows. No blotches, no marks of hesitation to be seen. This time, he was certain with his writing.

One more day.

She hummed, tracing each perfect line and swirl of the lettering.

It was a promise.A written promise.Not loose words that could be sung one day and fade to breaths the next.

A silver glow pulsated within her heart.

“One more day.”

All morning,in scattered rainstorms, the Wingborne transferred the patrols, carrying and rotating out soldiers in their Dragon armor. No Ravens had penetrated their defenses, none were reported seen.

Jade’s cutting gaze, sharp as the daggers she idly twirled between her fingers, met Alora’s outside the war tent. Without hesitation, Jade pushed off the pole holding the tent erect and stalked through the mud across the short distance to her.

Guilt instantly rattled across Alora’s every nerve as her stomach tightened.

“I saw Garrik leaving your tent this morning.” Jade brushed her long, fiery, damp braids over her shoulder, green eyes meeting sapphires with something short of wrathful disdain clouding her features. “He was smiling. I haven’t seen him smiling like that in … a very long time.” Her eyes flickered to the sky, resting there. At last, when she spoke again, it was laced with honest empathy. “Are you two on good terms?”

She wanted to tell Jade everything, to strip herself bare, loosen her tongue about Kaine. But Jade wasn’t asking for an explanation. And from the way her knuckles whitened around the bone and melted coin necklace, Alora knew that Jade already understood.

Gentle raindrops pattered against her battle leathers, reminding her of the soft cadence on her tent last night. Reminding her of Garrik. His sword. The Dawnspace. His smile. “Yes.”

Jade’s hand fell from her necklace, wrapping around the pommel of her sword. “Then so are we.” She turned without expression and disappeared inside the war tent.

Alora remained there, basking in the cool mist of the breeze.

“You caught her on a good morning.”

Her heart leapt at the pleasantly thin, cheerful voice that cooed from beside her.

“It’s raining.”

A smile swelled her cheeks as she turned to Aiden. “Indeed,” she said, chuckling at his blatancy.

Aiden tilted his head back, closing his eyes to the sky, allowing the rain to pebble on his scruffy chin. “Jade loves the rain.”

And Alora wondered if thatlovewent further than just the rain beholding him there. She shifted on her feet, feeling the mud squelch beneath her boots. That same guilt returned as she watched the musty breeze tickle his ebony hair. “I’m so sorry, Aiden. I didn’t mean?—”

“Aye, love. None of that.” He held open his arms, fluttering the white tunic underneath his coat in the wind as he quickly beckoned her.

Alora instantly melted into him when her arms tightened around his neck, grateful for that half-breed heartbeat.

Aiden smiled until the skin beside his eyes wrinkled.

“How will I ever make it up to you?” Tears coated her eyes, dripping onto a brass button by his neck.

He cupped her shoulders, pulling away with a serpentine smile. “I can think of one way.” Aiden winked, and Alora instantly shook her head, chuckling as if she read his mind. “I think you’d find it rather enjoyable to come in my tent.”

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