Page 30 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

It was as if the fire from Erik’s fingers jumped straight into her skin, rage filling Lea from the tip of her toes to the top of her head as a different kind of companionship built between them. The loss of a mother—No. Themurderof a mother. It wasn’t something one could ever fully recover from.

"What happened?" Lea prodded gently, her voice soft despite the fury Lea felt on his behalf.

"The king needed a body to steal magic from, and Herald volunteered my mother. As if her life was worthless. As if she wasnothing. His motivation was greed; pure and simple. He wished for the power being the king’s second would offer. He didn’t care that it would leave his son without a mother. Didn’t even bother giving me a chance to say goodbye. He locked her in a room with the king so he could watch each step of the disease, each wound appear and sore open. He left her alone as she struggled to breathe, as the life left her body."

The darkness inside Lea coiled tighter, like a viper preparing to strike. "We’ll kill him, Erik."

Patting her leg, Erik shook his head as if shaking the memory away. "I know we will, Sunshine.Iwill." He nodded. "And I am grateful that you and Gray will lead us to the day I can take that killing blow. But that begs the question… What motivates you?"

Lea paused, considering his words. It’s true. She hadn’t joined the cause when she'd thought that she would have to fight against Gray. Even when she’d hated him, she hadn’t wanted to see him hurt. But now? "I think it’s love," she said softly, feeling foolish. "I’m angry about my mother. I’m furious with the king. But more than that… Janelle has magic. So does Emma, and you. And the people from Bearswillow. I love them too much to allow the king’s darkness to destroy them. If we don’t fight against him, they’ll never be safe. Never." It was the truth. She’d always wanted to be brave. She’d been named for that very virtue and had always felt like she fell short. She didn’t want to fight for herself. But for her friends? Herfamily?She’d go beyond the veil happily if it meant they would really get tolive.

Erik’s shoulders relaxed. "I think that’s the best reason you could have given me, Sunshine. Which is why we need to convince Gray to follow what the stars are telling you, even if it’s dangerous. If the goddess is pushing you to go through the woods, then there’s a reason."

"Wait. No," she squeaked, surprised by the fear that threatened to swallow her whole. "Gray and I will go alone." She stuck out her chin, her stomach swirling at the thought of Emma and Janelle traveling with them. "Emma and Janelle. And Noah. He’s so young. You’ll take them back to Bearswillow, tosafety, right Erik?"

Erik opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"You’re not seriously fucking doing this again, are you?" Janelle stomped toward them, a vein bulging in her forehead. Gray followed stealthily behind her, his shadows only slightly more controlled than before he’d left.

"Janelle," Lea started.

"Nope. Queen or not, I will still fucking murder you. You have needed our help more than once. You likely will again. We go together, or we don’t go at all."

"We don’t go at all," Gray growled from behind them.

Lea stood shakily, hiding her grimace as she struggled to pretend that she wasn’t completely exhausted.

"You said ‘we,’ Gray.Wehave a rebellion to lead. Did you mean it, or not?" Lea’s voice was firm.

A crack of thunder rattled the ground. "Of course I meant it. I still mean it, but—"

"Haven’t you ever known something in your soul, Gray?" Lea placed a hand on her chest, right above her magic. "Known beyond a doubt that something was meant to be? That the universe was telling you something and you had no choice but to listen, even if it terrified you?"

"I know in my soul that I love you!" he roared, stalking toward her and grabbing her face between his hands. "I know in my soul that I am nothing if you are gone. I almost lost you, justhoursago. And now you’re asking me to deliver you to death’s door again?" His voice broke as he pressed his forehead against hers. "Please don’t make me do this. Don’t make me risk your life again," he begged.

The pain on Gray's face, the anguish and fear, it was almost enough to get Lea to agree to go back with him. They could return to Bearswillow, ignore the stars and her gut and pick the safer route. But they wouldn't win this war by playing it safe. Lea took a deep breath. "I’m not making you do anything, Gray. But," she met his eyes, "I amaskingyou to. I’m asking you to trust what I’m feeling, what the stars are telling me. Please." He had to listen. He just had to. The goddess had appeared to her, had spoken to her in her dreams and at the church. She was handing them a map, a way to find answers. Lea had spent so long trying to use the moonflowers to stop the Lonely Death, and she had failed again and again. But here was a different path—a way to finally seize control of her life and save the people she loved.

Gray took several heaving breaths, his shadows trying to break free of his control as they writhed and slithered around Lea’s body, as if they could wrap her up and sweep her away to safety. "If we continue on that path and follow the stars to the Wicked Wood, youwilllisten to me. You will obey every command I give you."

"Sir, yes sir," Lea nodded, trying to hide her smile.

"This isn’t a joking matter, Azalea." He snapped back, his patience clearly wearing thin. "A single wrong step could lead to death. Making too much noise, picking the wrong place to camp. I need to hear you say it. All of you." Gray turned to Janelle, Emma, and Noah. "Promise me. Swear to me you will listen to what Erik and I tell you. If I tell you to run, you will leave me and run. If I tell you to hide, you will burrow yourself into the darkest, smallest corner you can find. Swear it."

Lea felt the gravity of her vow as she placed her hand on top of Gray's, silently apologizing for making him feel like she didn’t understand his worry. "I swear. I will do as you say. We all will." Lea looked up at her friends and the young boy who so bravely had risked everything to help them find her. Three heads bobbed up and down, a silent confirmation.

Gray sighed, pulling Lea in close. "Then prepare yourself, Little Flower. Tomorrow, we begin our journey through hell."

Chapter 17

Erik

Eriktookadeepbreath of fresh air as he hiked through the forest with Gray to retrieve their horses. There was still nervous energy running through his veins, as well as a heavy sense of guilt. In the past weeks, Gray and Erik had spent countless hours finding the perfect hiding spots for their escape, knowing that their time was running out. He’d been with Gray, had seen the locations he’d chosen and helped create the pockets of magic-protected forest. And yet, even through his bond to Gray, the blood bond they’d forged ages ago, he hadn’t been able to find his king when his mate was dying and he’d needed him most.

Either his memory was failing him, or the enchanted groves had been so well protected that it had been out of his control. He’d known they were heading toward Calir, and that he would likely try to circumvent the Wicked Wood to get there, even though it would add more time to their journey. But which places he had chosen to stop to rest, Erik had no clue. It had been a blind race to find Lea and Gray over the past three days, and the feeling of helplessness that had almost strangled him as they’d searched was not one Erik ever wanted to feel again.

He’d practically had to yank Gray by his collar to get him to leave Lea’s side to find the horses and pack them up so they'd be ready to leave at daybreak. They would need to spend as much time traveling during the day as possible before stopping for the night. Moving through the dark in the Wicked Wood was unfathomable, and likely, a death sentence. No. They definitely needed as many daylight hours as the god of the sun would allow them.

Gray walked quietly next to Erik, tension rolling off his shoulders along with the shadows that betrayed his stoic expression. Shadows crawled along the ground, and not for the first time, Erik thanked the gods that Gray had been blessed with night magic rather than magic of the day. While his shadows could be just as devastating as fire, they didn’t carry the risk of accidentally incinerating whatever they touched during times of extreme emotion.

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