Page 68 of The Curse Between Us

“Do we dare bring it out into the world, even contained within us?” Edric finally asked, the uncertainty gnawing at him. The thought of stepping out of this dark abyss with Abyss still lingering between them was a dangerous proposition.

Zephyr’s expression softened with resolve, the same strength Edric had come to rely on shining through. “We must,” Zephyr replied, his voice steady, unwavering. “We must find Plenty. That is the only thing Abyss wants, the constant pattern of its thoughts. Whether they defeat one another, or one is imprisoned again, we have to bring those circumstances about. That is our role in all of this.”

The mention of Plenty made a shiver run through Edric. He felt the presence of Abyss within him, restless and unwilling to stay dormant for long. The thought of standing between two such immensely powerful forces was a chilling one, and yet, there was no escaping it now. They had already set things into motion, whether they were ready or not.

Edric swallowed, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what was at stake. His hand found Zephyr’s again, their fingers intertwining without thought, the comfort of that simple connection a lifeline.

It was their destiny to unite what once was sundered. And no matter how terrifying that idea had become, Edric could not run from it.

With a weary groan, Edric climbed carefully to his feet, his body protesting the movement, but his determination stronger than the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. He reached down, offering his hand to Zephyr. With a faint wince, Zephyr took it, and Edric helped him up, his own body shuddering with the effort. A flash of pain ran through him—sharp and brief—but it was bearable, strangely manageable, as ifthe presence of Abyss inside him was somehow cushioning the blow.

“Come on, then,” Edric said, his voice hoarse but resolute. He helped Zephyr steady himself, his grip firm. “We have a prophecy to fulfill.”

Chapter Seventeen

Abyss’s presence was like a constant, discordant hum in the back of Zephyr’s mind, an oppressive weight that neither of them could fully escape. From the way Edric’s jaw was set tightly, his face a mask of focus even in the dim light, Zephyr knew that Edric, too, could feel it—that feeling of ill ease. Abyss was contained, for now, but it was far from gone. They were only human, and Abyss was so much more. So much more dangerous, so much more ancient. Despite the weight of their exhaustion, the urgency of their mission kept them moving forward at a rapid pace, following the downward slope of the caves, not daring to stop for more than a moment.

“Do you feel that?” Edric asked suddenly, coming to a halt so abruptly that Zephyr nearly collided with him.

Zephyr, taken aback, stopped just in time, then frowned, the words escaping him before he fully processed them. “What—”

But then he froze as well, holding out his hand, fingers tingling as the air around them shifted. A cool current brushed against his skin, clean and fresh. A stark contrast to the stale, damp air that had been surrounding them in the caves.

Edric let out a long breath, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “We’re going the right way.”

Zephyr nodded, relief flooding through him, but there was no time to dwell on it. "Good," he said shortly, his eyes already scanning the path ahead. They both knew the dangers that still lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Still, the fact that they were heading in the right direction was a small victory in itself.

Suddenly struck by the passage of time, Zephyr glanced back over his shoulder at Edric. “How long have we been down here?”

Edric’s face softened, though it was filled with the exhaustion of the journey. “I haven’t the faintest idea,” he answered, quickening his pace to catch up with Zephyr. “I only hope our friends have been searching for us and haven’t yet given us up as lost.”

As if to punctuate the words, his hand brushed against Zephyr’s, the slight flare of pain enough to remind them both of the fight they’d just endured—but it was nothing compared to the comfort that simple touch brought. Zephyr felt a surge of gratitude, a connection that transcended the dark forces they were battling together.

The air grew colder, and Zephyr noticed Edric shivering beside him. A wave of sympathy swept over him, and before Edric could protest, Zephyr pulled his cloak around Edric’s shoulders. He knew the cold bit at Edric more sharply than it did him—Zephyr had always been better suited to the mountain chill.

"Here," Zephyr murmured, pulling the cloak tighter around Edric, though Edric shrugged lightly, reluctant to accept the help. He had always been a man of stubborn pride, but even Edric couldn’t deny the chill that gnawed at him.

The path ahead turned sharply to the right, and Zephyr squinted into the gloom. There, in the distance, a faint glimmer of light flickered, the source barely visible against the dark wallsof the cave. The scent of ashes that had lingered in the air was beginning to fade, and Zephyr’s brow furrowed. He didn’t trust it entirely—after all, the cave had been full of deceit and shadows—but it was the first sign of something other than darkness.

A few minutes later, the light was revealed in full: a narrow opening in the rock wall through which sunlight spilled, casting long, warm shadows on the cold stone floor. Zephyr paused, eyes narrowing. He assessed the size of the opening, realizing it was barely large enough for them both to squeeze through.

“Well,” Zephyr muttered under his breath, looking at Edric and then back at the narrow passage, “Abyss was confident it could use my body to escape this way. That gives me hope.”

“It’s a tight squeeze,” Edric said, his voice skeptical as he looked at the gap between them and freedom. Still, he set his jaw with determination. “But if it’s the only way out, we’ll make it work.”

It was, indeed, a tight squeeze. Edric went through first, carefully, then Zephyr followed. The rocks scraped against their skin as they pressed through, the coolness of the air just beyond tantalizing. But soon enough, they emerged from the cave into the open air, stepping onto the frozen banks of a river that snaked through the land, its surface covered in ice.

The waterfall loomed above them, its powerful presence striking even in the stillness of the frozen world. Zephyr’s breath caught in his chest at the sight of it. There was a disquieting realization that washed over him—this path, this hidden tunnel, had existed for years without him ever knowing. And now it was their only means of escape, as well as Abyss’s escape route.

The cold hit him immediately, sharp and biting, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the overwhelming relief he felt being out of that dark, suffocating cave. Abyss was stillpresent in his mind, shrieking with rage, but Zephyr pushed it down, focusing on the freedom of the moment.

As his gaze flickered over to Edric, he noticed the stark red marks around his lover’s throat, still visible despite the passage of time. A fresh wave of guilt rolled through Zephyr. He hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. He hadn’t meant to hurt Edric. His eyes lingered on the marks, remembering the fragile skin under his hands, the way Edric had fought to protect him even as Abyss took control.

Edric caught the direction of Zephyr’s gaze and offered him a lopsided smile, though there was a sadness in it that Zephyr couldn’t ignore. “It was not your fault,” Edric said softly, his voice carrying a reassurance that Zephyr desperately needed to hear.

“I know,” Zephyr replied, though his voice was still heavy with guilt. “But I am sorry for it regardless.”

Before either of them could say anything further, Edric broke off, his eyes widening in surprise. Zephyr turned, following his gaze, and instantly, he heard it too. The clear ring of trumpets echoed across the fields.

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