Page 52 of A Sun Scorched Bloom

Gray had barked instructions to Erik to stay no more than six inches from Lea as he left to set up the wards for their resting spot. He tugged Noah along with him to use his gift of tracking to discern if any other monsters or demons had been anywhere nearby recently, as well as something to hunt for dinner. His protectiveness was getting overbearing, excessive even, but Lea couldn’t blame him. She’d almost died numerous times since they’d met, and these woods were the perfect opportunity for the universe to finish the job.

Tonight, they rested under an enormous tree that had fallen some time ago, its thick, dry trunk providing some degree of cover from unwanted eyes. The tree’s large branches spread around them, extending like the legs of a spider, creating an almost cave-like umbrella.

Erik had once again tasked her with keeping a fire burning through the night. Gray had, of course, protested, but Erik had reminded him that once again it had been Lea who had saved them today. They needed her, and she needed to train when she was tired. No one was sure how deep her well of power ran, and Erik insisted that it was crucial to learn to channel small amounts of magic even when close to burnout.

"You can still sleep, Sunshine," Erik had reminded her. He’d insisted that if she simply became one with her magic, told it exactly what she wished it to do, her subconscious would continue to control it as her conscious mind rested.

Noah had caught her eye and quirked an eyebrow.Do you want help?His expression said. And while Lea appreciated his offer, more than the quiet young soldier could ever know, she shook her head. She needed to do this herself, if only to prove that she could.

Lea knew it was possible. She’d seen Gray shield them as he slept, watched wispy shadows floating around them like a dark, menacing fog. Back in Auropera, he’d sent shadows to lead her back to her room. But still, she worried that if she was not awake to control the small fire burning so close to all of them, a nightmare might find her and she might erupt their little sleepover into another raging inferno.

Staring out into the dark night, Lea snuggled closer to Gray. She hadn’t seen him sleep so deeply in quite some time. His face looked younger without the stern, borderline angry expression he always wore. The lines had softened between his eyebrows and his mouth was slightly open, his jaw finally relaxed rather than clenched tight. Lea couldn’t help but hope that she would see this calm expression when he was awake someday, when the war was over and they settled into a peaceful life together.

The crunch of dead leaves pulled Lea from her thoughts. Something was nearby. Lea sat up, rubbing the back of her neck.It’s nothing…she whispered to herself as she added more energy into the fire, making it burn brighter and illuminating a large circle around them. Nothing was there… No ominous demons had come to kill them, as far as she could tell.

Lea shook her head, trying to clear any paranoia or fear from her thoughts. There was absolutely zero chance that Gray would be sleeping if he had any concern at all that his enchantment would fail, that anyone oranythingwould find them.

As if sensing her worry, Gray opened one eye. "Rest, Little Flower. We’ve traveled a good distance, and we’re not far from Calir. If we leave at dawn, we should cross the border by tomorrow afternoon. But we can’t do that if you’re losing sleep from fear. My spells are holding firm. I can feel them. They're just as strong tonight as they have been every night."

"I thought I heard something." Lea felt foolish telling Gray something might be near when he was so confident his enchantments were working, but something in her gut told her not to ignore what she was feeling.

"A bird hunting. I’ve heard owls most of the night. Sleep." He pulled her down, wrapping his arm tight around her chest and tucking her head beneath his chin.

"I’m in awe of you, Azalea. Of what you did today. But your strength and courage doesn’t mean that you don’t need rest."

He was right. She was utterly exhausted. Never having used that much magic before, her body was fatigued in a way she wasn’t used to. Her muscles felt sore, and her movements were sluggish. "But the fire…"

"I’ll keep an eye on it for you. Noah is watching as well. Now sleep." Gray kissed the crown of her head and Lea closed her eyes, sleep claiming her so quickly she hardly remembered their conversation when she woke.

It was anothersnapthat yanked her from her deep, mindless slumber. Lea closed her eyes to listen more carefully, waiting to see if it was only her imagination. Only a moment passed before she heard it again.Snap. Not from the trees, but the ground. It was far too loud to be caused by an owl, or any other nocturnal bird or beast that may be hunting game.

Or maybe itwasa beast, and they were its prey. As if on cue, several sets of glowing eyes the size of walnuts appeared through the inky black night. They remained outside the perimeter of Gray’s wards, but still, they didn’t blink as they stared directly at her.

"Gray, something’s watching us." Lea sat up quickly, rubbing the back of her neck where her hair stood on end. "There’s something here."

Lea turned to look at Gray, wishing that she could have allowed him to get the rest he needed. But even though the creatures were on the other side of the magical barrier… they still knew they were here. Lea shook Gray’s shoulder, but he didn’t budge. Not a hair moved on his head. "What the—Erik? Something’s wrong."

Lea was met with only silence. She scrambled over to where Erik slept, Janelle lying curled within in his arms, but both were as still as stone.

Bile rose in Lea’s throat, panic and adrenaline causing her hands to shake.What do I do?"Erik!" Lea punched him in the arm as hard as she could, her knuckles popping from the force. She cried out in pain as she ran to Noah, who slept just on the other side of the fire, one hand reaching out toward it. He had dark circles under his eyes, and Lea could tell from the fatigue on his face that he had stayed up to watch the fire. Even through her fear, a pang of appreciation at his loyalty buzzed in her chest.

Lea twisted to find Emma, who had set up her pallet just on the other side of Noah. Her eyes were open, and she was half sitting, as if she had been waking up to warn them when time had simply frozen.

Lea put two shaking fingers to Emma’s neck, where the steady beat of her heart happily skipped along. Her chest still rose and fell with deep breaths.

"Who's there!?" Lea yelled out into the night, knowing in her bones that whatever had made those noises was responsible for what was happening. Stepping out from under the cover of the fallen tree, Lea threw a shield of shadows over her friends. She refused to let them be injured, would protect them until her dying breath, if that is what she was about to face.

No one answered, but Lea could still feel something looking at her…watchingher.

"Show yourself!" She ordered into the night, unwilling to let fear make her cower. She couldn’t run, didn’t know where to go, even if she was willing to leave Gray and her friends behind. That left only one option.Fight.

"Lea, it’s me… Don’t be scared." A man appeared from behind a tree wearing a green cloak with the hood pulled over his head. Lea knew that voice, but... It had to be another monster, another illusion.

"No…" Lea stumbled backward. It simply wasn't possible for him to be here. She had been sure he’d traveled north, hadn’t seen him in months. For him to find her in the middle of the Wicked Wood? It was unfathomable.

"I’ll explain everything, but I need you to come with me. Now. It’s not safe here."

"I’d rather die than follow you. Do you think me a fool? Expect me to believe you’re not just another damned monster trying to lure me to my death?" Flames skipped on Lea's fingertips, her eyes bright with the crackle of the heat coursing through her. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.

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