Page 3 of Favored By the Stars

Thorn was silent for a moment, his fingers tracing absent patterns on my arm. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "But I think... I think we just got a glimpse of our destiny, the path we're meant to walk together."

I nodded against his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat. "It's so much bigger than us, isn't it? Than anything we could have imagined."

"Yes," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "But we're not alone in this. We have each other, and now we have allies, too."

I thought of Kaelyn, with her sharp wit and keen eyes; of High Lord Echo, young in appearance but ancient in wisdom; of Rys, the scholar whose knowledge spanned centuries. Each of them would play a part in the journey ahead. I couldn't help but wonder if Wyn, Ronan, and the other fae would play a part as well, or if this was something they would ignore for as long as possible.

As if sensing my thoughts, Thorn continued, "We should try to rest. Tomorrow will bring challenges we can't even fathom yet."

A heavy sigh escaped me. I knew he was right, but I was too overwhelmed to sleep. The magic that had coursed through us earlier still hummed beneath my skin, a constant reminder of the power we now carried.

I wanted to claim Thorn and be claimed by him, if only to shut my mind up for a moment, but just as I was about to wiggle my bum suggestively against him, he spoke.

"Close your eyes," Thorn said softly. "Let the moonlight guide you, just as Echo said."

I did as he suggested, forcing myself to ignore the ever present need that pulsed against my skin. Instead, I focused on the silvery glow that filtered through my closed eyelids. Gradually, I felt myself relaxing, sinking into a state between waking and dreaming.

In this twilight realm, I saw flashes of the journey ahead: dense forests with trees that whispered ancient secrets, shimmering barriers that pulsed with otherworldly energy, creatures both beautiful and terrifying that lurked in the shadows. Through it all, Thorn was by my side, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of images.

As the night deepened, our breathing synchronized, our heartbeats falling into a shared rhythm. Our bond seemed to strengthen with each passing moment, weaving our fates ever tighter together.

As the first rays of sunlight crept into the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of renewal. The worries that had kept me up all night had dissipated, replaced by a newfound determination.

Beside me, Thorn stirred from his slumber. "Did you have a dream?" he asked groggily.

I sat up, my body pulsing with anticipation. "It was like... a map unraveling in my mind. There's something important waiting for us, something more than what Echo and Rys told us about. I can feel it."

ChapterTwo

Senara

The twisted branches of the blighted forest clawed at a dull, grey sky as Kaelyn led us through the oppressive gloom. I trailed behind her, my steps light yet cautious as I navigated the gnarled roots that threatened to snag my feet. Thorn walked at my side in tense silence, his hand never straying far from his weapon.

As we advanced, something stirred in the shadows. I froze, my hand darting instinctively to the hilt of my blade. My ears strained in the eerie quiet that enveloped the woods, a stillness so complete that not even birdsong dared to break it.

"I don't like this," Kaelyn murmured, her voice edged with a palpable unease. "The corruption here runs deep."

Thorn grunted his agreement, his gaze sweeping the tangled undergrowth as if expecting danger to emerge at any moment. "We must stay on our guard," he warned in a low tone, every muscle taut with anticipation. "The shadows hide many dangers in a place such as this."

I nodded silently, knowing that his words were only said to soothe and not because he thought I needed the reminder. A prickling sensation crawled up the back of my neck, as if unseen eyes were watching our every move. The blight had a way of twisting all it touched, from the trees to the very creatures lurking nearby. I couldn't help but wonder what horrors might have spawned to assail us, not that I thought it was sentient enough to do that.

Shaking off the chilling thought, I kept pace with Kaelyn, carefully picking my way through the maze of knotted vines and jutting roots. Each deliberate step deepened our journey into the heart of the forest's malevolence. From Kaelyn's movements, it was obvious there must have been some kind of path here at some point, but it seemed to have vanished beneath the corruption that stained the forest.

Thorn moved closer as we proceeded, his steady presence both reassuring and resolute. "Stay close," he advised in a low voice, his eyes darting to every shadowed corner of the encroaching woods.

I caught the flicker of worry in his gaze, hidden beneath his outward resolve, and for an instant, I wanted to reach out, just to feel his presence more firmly, a simple touch to glean some strength. Yet, in that oppressive darkness, I couldn't allow myself any such vulnerability or distraction. Instead, I quietly replied, "Whatever comes, we'll be ready," even though my heart thudded with trepidation in my chest.

No sooner had I spoken than a distant, distorted cry shattered the silence, a wail of anguish and rage unlike anything I had ever heard. Both Thorn and Kaelyn turned toward the sound, their faces set in grim determination.

Forcing down a shudder, I squared my shoulders and kept going. The darkness pressed in around us, almost seeming alive with malice and sorrow, and I could only focus on following behind Kaelyn as we ventured deeper into the heart of the corrupted forest, and every step revealed more signs of decay.

My eyes caught the deep gouges on the bark of ancient trees, wounds that oozed a sickly black ichor. The air was thick with the stench of decay, practically coating my tongue as I struggled to breathe through it.

"Look," Kaelyn whispered as she pointed toward a nearby thicket. There, among the twisted branches, two glowing eyes watched us, unblinking, predatory, and filled with a silent menace. My hand tightened on the hilt of my sword, every instinct alerting me to the danger that lurked in the shadows.

Whatever creatures hid here were not of the natural world. Thorn stood ready with his weapon, his nod affirming our collective resolve. We all knew that this path was fraught with peril, yet turning back was not an option.

With the creatures not moving as they watched us, we did the only thing we could and pressed on, but as we moved, the number of watching eyes multiplied in the darkness. Their eerie glow seemed to track our every step. Kaelyn's brow furrowed as she scanned the area with increasing unease.

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