Page 15 of Visions of Darkness

Two by two, the Laven moved from the sanctuary of Tearsith to the boundary of Faydor.

She felt Pax’s hesitation thrum from behind as she watched the drove of Laven stream toward the darkness that wept, whispered, and called.

“You don’t have to do this.” He muttered it so low she felt it like a promise.

When she turned to him, she lost her breath, felt his pain and dread as he stared down at her.

She hated that the expression on his face would never mean anything more than him being protective. He loved her, but only as his Nol. She sometimes wondered if she was the only Laven who loved their Nol for all the wrong reasons.

“You know that I do,” she murmured.

“I hate it,” he grated. “I hate the idea of you going there. You don’t know what it’s ...”

He trailed off, as if he couldn’t bring himself to describe the atrocities that were waiting for them on the other side.

Pax had been there many times. Each night since the day he’d turned sixteen four years before, while Aria had stayed in Tearsith with the other youths.

He’d walked in darkness with Dani and Timothy as his guide.

He’d been different ever since.

Harder.

Angrier.

Fiercer.

He’d fought with them until the day Aria reached maturity.

And tonight, it would be Aria who battled at his side.

“I’ll be fine,” she promised.

Pain flashed across his features. “I will protect you, Aria. Anything and everything it takes.”

Except protecting her wasn’t his call. Their pairing wasn’t to be the focus of their destiny. Their fate was to fight. Most times, that felt completely wrong since, to Aria, Pax had become the meaning of this place.

“We will fight together, the way we were meant to,” she said.

His thick throat bobbed when he swallowed, and strength bristled through his powerful body. He reached out his hand to take hers. “Do not let go of me. The first time will be very difficult.”

Her spirit sang when she wove her fingers through his, and their souls entwined to become one.

She doubted that she could let go even if she tried.

Anxiety billowed through her consciousness as Pax led her toward the gateway, which would be invisible except for the chilling energy that lapped and coaxed, a shimmery force that drew them toward what waited beyond. To that narrow, unseen plane that hovered just above Earth’s surface.

The place where darkness reigned.

She’d watched it what felt like a million times, the Laven moving toward the gateway hand in hand, the way their essence lit in a blinding light before they disappeared into the nothingness.

Tonight, Aria would learn for herself what that really meant.

Each pair disappeared until Aria and Pax were the last to stand at Tearsith’s end.

Apprehension vibrated her to the bone, and Pax smoothed the pad of his thumb over the back of her hand. “I will not leave your side.”

Swallowing hard, she nodded. “I’m ready.”

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