Page 33 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

"I do feel better. Thank you all," Lea told them earnestly, her eyes wetting as she thought of the risk and sacrifice her friends had shown by following them here.

"There’s nothing to thank us for, My Queen," Noah said, clearing his throat. A blush creeping up his neck.

"No, she can definitely thank us. We were amazing, racing through the forest and finding you. Actually, I demand you thank us. And you can do that by continuing to recover," Janelle said, pointing an accusing finger in her direction. "Because I know you. And I know that the second we get off these horses you’re going to try to build camp and do far too much, and you’re probably going to fight with all of us about it, and I just want you to know that we all talked, and it’s not going to happen. So don’t even consider it."

Janelle crossed her arms and looked straight ahead, refusing to look at Lea as Erik slid off the horse.

Lea’s heart squeezed in her chest at Janelle’s way of showing that she'd been worried. "I’m sorry I scared you, Janelle," Lea told her as Gray and Emma jumped off of their horses. Emma went in search of firewood while Erik unpacked the horses, and Gray went with Noah to enchant the small pocket of trees they had chosen to make camp in for the night.

"It’s my fault," Janelle said, her voice cracking. She continued to look straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact with Lea. "I told you to take the necklace off," Janelle said. "I knew it protected you, and I told you to take it off. I didn’t think…"

"You didn’t rip it from my neck, Janelle. I made a decision. It had consequences, and now I’m fine."

"Okay," Janelle said, with a firm nod, discreetly wiping a tear from her cheek.

"Okay," Lea parroted, knowing that Janelle wouldn’t want a mushy acceptance of her unnecessary apology. It was no more Janelle’s fault that Lea had taken off the necklace than it was Gray’s fault that Alaric had learned the spell to cause the Lonely Death and had found her with just enough time to infect her with it.

Janelle slid off of her horse and walked to Erik, picking up a bedroll and spreading it out on the ground. Gray was at Lea’s side in an instant.

Lea bent her knees and stretched her shoulders. She was relieved to find that she felt significantly stronger than she had this morning. She bounced on the balls of her feet, eager to do something to help, but Gray placed two heavy hands on her shoulders.

"I know you don’t want to rest more, or sit around while we prepare camp, but before we enter the woods, I want to work on your magic." Gray shot a look toward the sun sinking below the horizon. "It will be night soon and you'll need every bit of strength to control your shadows. It could be the difference between life and death in those woods, Lea. So please, for me, let your body continue to recharge until it is time to train."

Gray's face hovered only inches above hers, sincerity and worry shining in his eyes. It made her heart feel bruised to think about what he had been through the past few days, his fear for her safety, her life. It was because of her and her insistence that they travel through the Wicked Wood that he was experiencing such unease. "Fine," she agreed with a kiss to his worried brow. "I will rest, even though I don’t need it, if you swear to me that you will help me train my magic tonight."

"I promise." Gray’s relief was evident as he let out a deep exhale, and the lines bracketing his eyes faded. A cool sensation of relief washed through the bond, the strength of Gray’s reassurance so strong that she was grateful she hadn't fought back. She walked to where Gray had already set up their bed for the night, right next to the circle of stone where a fire would soon be glowing and warming them.

Gray trudged straight to the edge of the clearing where a fallen tree was lying. The trunk was as thick as her waist and at least ten feet tall. Placing a foot on the middle of the trunk, he bent down, lifting the upper half and pulling so quickly the trunk snapped in two, a reminder of the superior strength of the Fae that she so rarely got to witness. A loud crack rang through the woods, and Lea sat up straighter, her heart picking up speed.

Lifting the tree with ease, Gray carried it to where she sat, placing it behind her to allow her something to lean against. "We’re too far from the palace and too close to the Wicked Wood for my brother to search for us here. We should be safe from the demons, but just in case, I have shrouded us in darkness. We’re hidden tonight," he said, nodding reassuringly.

Emma approached the small area where Gray had stacked stones to build a fire, arms full of wood. Wordlessly, Erik took the kindling from her and built a small pyre before relaxing back and staring at Lea.

Lea shivered in the cold as she waited for Erik to start the fire.What is he waiting for?she thought, scrunching her forehead. She continued to watch him, wondering why he was allowing them to freeze in the cool twilight air, but he simply gestured toward the fire with both hands.

"Well, Queen of Flames? Are you going to keep your subjects warm, or allow us to turn to ice?" Erik raised his eyebrows. Lea looked at the sticks, then to where Erik and Emma sat. They were only inches from the kindling. All Lea could think of was Emma’s beautiful curly hair catching flame, or Erik’s long sleeve sparking and burning him. "You know I can’t control my magic that well," Lea said. "You saw what happened when we were leaving the castle. I hurt Janelle. Her arm—"

"I’m fine," Janelle huffed, waving her arm around excessively to prove her point. "Good as new." But Lea didn’t miss the way Janelle scooted a few inches away from the pile of sticks waiting to be ignited. Guilt gnawed at the bones of her chest. It had been an accident, but a gruesome one, and Lea had been lucky she hadn’t hurt her friend in a way that couldn’t be undone.

"Look, every time I’ve tried to play with fire, whatever I’m aiming it toward explodes. What if the fire gets too high and gives away our position? Or what if I hurt one of you again?" Genuine fear caused her stomach to churn at the thought of losing control.

"You won’t hurt us. Just try," Erik insisted, crossing his arms.

Lea looked to Gray, hoping for support, but he was casually leaning against Obsidian, patting his neck and staring at her expectantly. A small smirk settled on his face, as if daring her to show them what she was capable of.

"Thanks for your help," she said under her breath, knowing he could hear her, before turning back to the fire.

Goosebumps erupted across her arms. The temperature was dropping quickly. "Give me a few minutes," she bargained, "until the sun goes down fully. When my day magic weakens a bit."

"No," Erik said forcefully, startling her. "This is about learning control, and maintaining that control even when you’re afraid." There wasn’t a hint of the usually jolly Erik in the man in front of her, and Lea shrank back. For him to be so serious… he was afraid for her. "You can do it," he said with confidence.

Gray sent a wave of assurance through her at Erik’s words.

Lea stared at the sticks haphazardly stacked into a pyre, taking several deep breaths and closing her eyes as she searched for the warmth bundled inside her chest. She spent a moment unwrapping it from the darkness, focusing only on the light and imagining her power as a thick, lush rose bush. With the flowers pictured in her mind, she imagined pulling off a single rose, a small chunk of magic, and directing it toward the dry kindling before her. A deep blue fire built at the base of the sticks, so hot it made her face sweat as the fire rose a bit higher.

Lea was filled with joy, confidence blooming in her chest at her success. Her happiness was short-lived, though, when the fire immediately shot toward the sky, nearly singeing off Erik‘s eyebrows as he scrambled backward.

"Control it!" Erik shouted, not yelling in anger or pain or fear, but in encouragement, and his unwavering trust prevented her from shrinking back in defeat. There was no attempt to spring to her aid as he had in the dungeons when her fire had grown out of control, yet the rigid set of his shoulders and jaw betrayed his concern. "Do it now before you give us away."

---