Page 60 of Of Withering Dreams
“Yes, but?—”
“The dawn does not fear the night. For it knows both light and shadow are needed—the balance protected.” The white of her eyes disappeared as the liquid metal of her pupils took over, swirling. “It simply waits for its moment before rising. Always persevering, freeing the darkness. Persevere, Belladonna.”
I huffed, my fingers clenching around the tourmaline. “What does that?—”
“Heed your terminus.” She tipped her head to the ring. “For a safe passage.”
“What the?—”
“Seryn!” Kaden’s panicked bellow startled me, and I jolted toward his voice, my hair whipping around my cheeks.
“I’m here!” I called, slipping the ring over my left forefinger. It warmed against my skin as the pulsing in my neck settled. Contented.
I turned to where the girl had been sitting, but only a shimmering eddy of air remained. An exasperated sigh fell to the moss as I shook my hands, relieving the tension coursing through the ligaments. These days, doubt and confusion were my constant companions.
Kaden met me as I moved toward him. His face pinched, and he took a deep breath, probably to scold me, but words spilled from me in a rush before he got the chance. “I know, I know. I’m sorry. The pixies wanted me to follow them … There was a little girl.” I waved my hands in the air as I spoke, thrusting my pointer finger out. “Well, not young. Not really. She gave me this ring; said it was a gift from the Ancients … And a lot of other things that made no sense,” I muttered.
“Uh …” The slashes of his brows met above the bridge of his nose, his mouth tucking between his teeth.
My shoulders lifted, one hand following them, palm up, my lips twisting.
“Well, I suppose we’ll see what this bobble can do at some point.” He smiled, grasping my hand and running a thumb over the ring. “I’m just happy you’re safe. Also, you’re adorable when flustered.” His grip squeezed mine, and my cheeks burned as I puffed them out with an exhale.
“Rhaegar said those pixies are from the forest—not the Nether Void. I’m not sure I believe him,” He chuckled, rubbing one ruddy ear lobe as we returned to camp.
“That’s the end of our head-start,” Breena grumbled, angrily spinning the fabric of a tent in a messy ball around her forearms. The linen kept flopping all over the place, and she groaned before throwing it to the ground.
I picked up the shelter, folding it and rolling it into a compact bundle. “What did you find?”
Breena grunted, and Rhaegar smirked, filling me in. “It was one of our opponents from Sebille’s team. He’s been tracking us. It was a smart move if they suspected we had any idea of where we were going. Would’ve gotten more information out of him, but Breena scared him off.” One eyebrow arched as he glanced at her from his peripheral.
“Not my fault he’s afraid of some light-hearted coercion.”
“So, that’s what we’re calling it nowadays? Threatening to slice his jugular and waving your blade around?” Rhaegar’s bark of amusement echoed through the trees as he shook his head and worked on packing things into his rucksack.
Breena’s nostrils flared, and she whipped around, her stick-straight hair twirling. She began ramming things into her pack, emphasizing each thrust with a huff.
For the rest of the day, we continued our journey, so near the coast that I could hear the waves of the Insomnis Sea hurling against the cliff face. I empathized with the beaten crag—each fruitless hour was a lashing to the wall of hope I’d built around myself. My mind and confidence were battered mush.
The sun crested above the tree canopy, its smoldering peach-colored rays painting the leaves.
I swallowed, my stomach grumbling.
When we reached a long bend along the coastline, I tugged on the hem of Kaden’s tunic and then shifted my bag on my shoulders. He looked over, and I nodded to a nearby tree near the stony precipice, retrieving some bread from my rucksack. He informed the others it was time for a break.
I slumped to the ground, leaning against the bark, its ember warming my skin through my dark clothing. The ocean was relentless, waves tumbling into the horizon. Peaking. Breaking.
I dropped my head into my hands, chewing on the bread. Kaden quietly sat next to me on my right, the sea breeze ruffling his shaggy hair around his ears.
“We’ll find it, Ser.”
“Your confidence knows no bounds,” I said, a wry chuckle trapped within my chest.
Kaden sighed, rubbing his palm on the top of my thigh. I lifted my head, resting it against the tree as I looked at him. “I’m sorry. I feel like a disappointment. I want to win those rations so badly. To find this damned flower.”
“I know. Don’t ever apologize for feeling.” His hand lightly squeezed. “You are not a disappointment. We wouldn’t have come this far without you. If we push forward along this coast, we are bound to find it. Hopefully sooner rather than later.” He smirked then, running his hand through his thick, black waves.
I watched as a particularly stubborn strand flopped back over his brow. His lips had a certain curl at the sides, his dimple peeking out. Seeing this, I knew he was about to be ridiculous. “I also wouldn’t have come in my breeches—in a tent of all places—without you.”
