Page 91 of Celestial Bodies

Souzie turned to Julen and smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “You’ve done enough, love. We just need to hope for the best once we get to Caligon.”

She turned back to look at her father, continuing to caress his hand.

Julen wanted to say so many things. He wanted to apologize, but he couldn’t find the words. How does one apologize for the existence of their father? He wanted to thank her for being his rock. His everything. More than a friend. More than a sister. A soulmate, like Dacias, but different. A friendship soulmate—a bond that can withstand the harshness ofthe world.

But all he could do was sit beside her and hold her hand.

46

Chapter 45

Dacias

The dark forest came into view, and Dacias’s chest tightened as a feeling of danger consumed him. He’d always assumed its ominous landscape of rare evergreens resembling twisting appendages had been enough to ward off most beings, but Julen had explained that the fae used wards to protect their home, hence the reason behind the overwhelming fear associated with the forest.

After three days and four nights, they’d finally reached Caligon. During the first day, Dacias braced himself for the worst. With Haligran still alive, he felt sure there would be an attack. Julen feared for the prisoners. Their malnourished bodies looked pitiful, all piled into carts, and the food at the prison did little to nourish them. But with each passing day, their anxiety settled.

Haligran never showed, and Dacias assumed he truly did fear his son, not to mention he had a group of powerful creatures and a couple of Rugireans on his side. For all Haligran knew, Rugiria knew of the mission and might be sending reinforcements.

The Caligoneans took incredible care of the prisoners. Each night, they hunted food for the group and knew exactly where to find fruits and berries. By day three, the prisoners looked infinitely healthier.

Dacias looked at the bizarre trees as he spoke to Julen. “Are we sure about this?”

Julen laughed and shook his head. “No, but it must be safe, or Anjular wouldn’t be leading us here, right?”

The carts came to a stop, and Anjular spoke to the group. “From here, we must walk. Those who need help can seek assistance from one of the Caligoneans. You will feel danger. I assure you, there is none. The enchanted wards are meant to scare off humans. You will feel discomfort until we cross over them. It is normal.”

The Multarmirus released a soft purr as it began picking up prisoners who still had trouble walking and cradling them with its many arms.

Iacuora slithered ahead and began whipping her tail, cleaning brush, and forming a path. “This way!” she bellowed.

Dacias ran to Klorin, who sat by Souzie and assisted him down from the cart.

Souzie shivered as she gazed at the forest. “All I want to do is run as fast as possible in the opposite direction.”

Dacias nodded in agreement. They followed the group through the trees, and the deeper they traveled, the more intense the feeling of danger became. His body trembled, and his stomach grew queasy as they wove through the brush.

The prisoners murmured nervously, and one called out that they should turn back.

“It’s normal, humans! Stop yammering and keep walking,” Iacuora hollered.

Souzie chuckled. “She’s really mastered the art of bedside manner, hasn’t she?”

“She fucking terrifies me,” Klorin grumbled.

Julen hummed in approval. “Yes, she can be a bit rough around the edges.”

“I HEARD THAT!” Iacuora called out without looking back to see who the culprit was.

The four of them shut up after that.

Dacias bowed his head to avoid a low-hanging branch as they traveleddeeper into the forest. Everything about Caligon seemed different. It had a clean scent, similar to a typical forest after the rain, but Caligon possessed a tangy aftertaste. It wasn’t citrusy; it was something different, like licking something made of iron.

The deeper they went into the forest, the more intense the feeling of danger became. The leaves that brushed Dacias’s shoulder left a slimy residue that clung to the skin.

The forest turned black, and that ominous sense of dread became almost unbearable. Dacias’s heart raced, and his skin turned clammy. Pressure in his head intensified so much that he pressed his palms to his temples to try and soothe the pain.

Julen gripped his hand, and Dacias pulled him closer. They clung together as the light around them vanished. Darkness took over, and Dacias began fearing the worst.

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