Page 81 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

DespitewhatGrayseemedto believe, Erik and Janelle had done little more last night than talk well into the morning hours with casual touches and tension-filled proximity to one another. He had thought, at one point when Janelle had scooted closer to him and their faces had only been inches apart, about leaning in and seeing if her lips tasted like the berries that had colored the ends of her hair, but something inside had told him to wait. It was a feeling he’d never experienced before, but somehow he knew with certainty that now was not the time.

It was as if he’d known exactly what she needed without her having to tell him, and so he had simply laid there for hours with his arm curled under his head, talking to her about whatever crossed her mind.

As morning grew closer and Janelle’s eyes grew heavier, Erik suspected that her rambling had been her way to try to avoid sleep and, along with it, the nightmares that had haunted her for the past several days. Wordlessly, he’d turned her around and tucked her against his front, pulling the covers snugly around them. It amazed him how quickly she relaxed, neither of them saying a word as they both drifted off to sleep. Looking at her now, Erik hoped that there would never be a day that she would wake anywhere else.

Erik got dressed, wanting to allow Janelle as much rest as possible before they needed to start their training. Breakfast appeared on the table, fruit and various types of bread with jelly and butter, and Erik made a plate, bringing it to the bed and setting it next to Janelle.

"Good morning." He brushed her hair away from her face, and Janelle moaned into the pillow, rolling over and pulling the covers up over her head higher. "I thought you might like to eat before we trained."

With a huff, Janelle struggled into a sitting position, her hair sticking out erratically.

"Train how, exactly?" Janelle asked as she tried to smooth her hair behind her ears.

"Running, combat, and we definitely need to work on your healing magic. Lea will need to work on her magic as well."

"Did you just say running?" Janelle groaned as she laid back down and threw the blanket over her head.

"Why, yes, I did." Erik pulled the covers off of her and popped down on the bed, grabbing a roll and stuffing it into his mouth. Sometime in the night, Janelle had kicked off her pajama bottoms. Her curvy legs were bare, and the hint of something lacy peeked out from the oversized shirt she’d borrowed from him.

"Eat up," he coughed before standing and walking to Emma’s room. Needing a moment to calm himself, he left Janelle alone to fume in peace about their upcoming exercise.

Emma looked far more rested when she answered the door, but her eyes were still haunted. The shadow of something otherworldly and tragic seemed to push down on her shoulders. But despite the fact that she was obviously still struggling, she gave him a warm welcome.

"Erik! Thank you for sending dinner to my room last night. I filled my belly and then slept the night through. Except, was there an earthquake this morning?" She tilted her head.

"I guess you could call it that," Erik said nonchalantly, not wanting to ruin Lea’s surprise. "I came to tell you to prepare to train. We need to get you all in shape for battle. And I need to assess your magic, figure out how to best help you recharge."

"Well, actually," Emma walked to the table where her own breakfast sat and began picking at a croissant anxiously, tearing it into tiny pieces and avoiding Erik’s eyes, "I searched out King Tanad last night, before you all met with him. I wanted to find out more about my abilities. He said that he doesn’t know of anyone in his kingdom who can see what I do, but he’s granted me access to his library. I’d like to spend my time while we’re here researching, seeing what I can find out."

"I’m under strict orders from Gray to train you all in combat." Erik walked over to the table, placing his hand on Emma’s trembling fingers.

Emma looked up at him with big eyes and allowed him to see the full extent of her inner turmoil. Her face looked far more gaunt when she stopped smiling—her skin more sallow, and the shadows beneath her eyes far more pronounced. "I can’t fight with you," Emma confessed.

"What do you mean? You don’t want to be part of the rebellion?" Erik grabbed one of her croissants.

"No, it’s not that. I absolutely want a better kingdom, and for the king and prince to be overthrown. But I can’tfightwith you."

Erik suddenly understood. "You don’t want to kill."

"I can’t." Emma placed her head in her hands, taking several slow, deep breaths before continuing. "No one else has to look at the soul of the person they killed once they’re dead. No one else has to hear them cry for their mothers or scream for help. I can’t take people's lives. Not when I have to see the aftermath. But maybe, if I can find out more about my abilities, I can find a way to use it to our advantage."

"I still think it would be wise for you to learn how to defend yourself. Not to mention being able to heal yourself." Erik understood. He really did. But regardless of Emma’s fears, she would be safer with a basic understanding of how to use all aspects of her magic.

"Erik, I can’t be there, not during the battle. Not when the souls of what will probably be hundreds of men and women are wandering around, begging for help that I can’t give them. I need to find another way to be valuable."

Erik very rarely felt sad. Of course, when he lost his mother, he had grieved, or when he heard about another town infected with the Lonely Death. But looking at Emma, Erik felt true sorrow. He couldn’t imagine her burden, and he wasn’t going to make her face it today. If Gray had a problem with it, he could take it up with him once he returned.

"Then, I hope you enjoy the safety of the library," Erik said warmly, grabbing another few rolls from her plate before turning to the door. "Hopefully you don’t see my soul later this morning after I make Janelle and Lea run to the sea and back with me," he joked as he threw a roll in the air and caught it between his teeth.

"Oh, if you wouldn’t mind, while you’re in the library, it would be great if you could figure out how to get the stick out of Gray's ass. Lea‘s been trying to figure that one out for months." Erik’s laugh bounced around the hallway as he closed the door behind him, walking to Lea’s door and knocking four times. Despite Gray leaving with Tanad and the impending war, he couldn’t help his good mood. It was amazing what a few hours with Janelle in his arms could do to him.

"Hey Sunshine!" he called. "Care for a little jog?"

Chapter 54

Lea

Leahadansweredthatyes,she was ready to be trained. But gods, had she been wrong. They changed into athletic clothing that magically appeared at the foot of their beds: thin, breathable leggings and cropped tank tops for Lea and Janelle, and hilariously tight linen shorts for Erik, as well as stretchy blue fabric to tie back their hair.

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