Page 99 of Of Withering Dreams
Drip.
A groan tumbled through my throat, my hand swatting at my face. At the droplets splashing onto my cheek. A wafting breeze fluttered against my chin, and a soft whirring hovered somewhere above my chest.
It’s probably a shade. Just fucking do it. Suck me dry.
“While this is extremely amusing,” Gavrel muttered wryly as the sound of metal sliding into leather rasped, “we need to get going. No, you’re not in limbo. And that most definitely isnota shade.”
My shoulders jerked at hearing his voice, eyes blinking open. I yelped at the pixie floating above my chest, its semi-transparent wings flapping in a blur. It was the leader I’d met during the Weeding. It wiggled the fingers of one hand as the corners of its dark lips curled. The pixie’s seafoam cheeks flushed a pretty shade of jade as it tossed a dewy flower on my chest, the remaining moisture beading on my leather vest.
A low chuckle left me as I swiped away the drops on my cheek, pushing myself up. My laugh turned into a grimace as I did so. By the Ancients, my side burned with every motion. The little fiend squeaked, eyes furrowing as it grabbed the end of my messy braid with tiny, spindly fingers and tugged as if trying to help me.
A grateful smile broke across my face. “Thank you.” It chirped, grinning.
My mouth fell as I stood with effort, gripping my aching flank. Neon radiance gleamed under my feet, the glow of the moss rippling away from me. It was nightfall, the full moon steeping through vibrant orange leaves.
A deep, shaky breath left me as gloom clung to my spine, pulling on my frame. Breena was gone. Rhaegar was gone. “Where’s my sister? Kaden?”
Gavrel rose from the boulder he’d been sitting upon, moonlight bathing one side of his chiseled face, the other hidden in shadow. “They should all be home.”
The pixie perched on the boulder, its head bobbing between us as we talked, copper eyes wide, mouth gaping.
“How long have I been out?”
“A few hours.”
“How did we get here?”
“I carried you.”
I snorted. “All the way from the arena?”
“Correct.” He shrugged, running his hand through his thick hair. I stared at the dark waves streaked in midnight blue where the light kissed it. “Marah and Endurst’s dome collapsed after Melina thought you were destroyed. The barracks exit was wide open.”
My cheeks flushed. An image of Gavrel holding me close, his breath fluttering over my neck, intruded my thoughts. A vision from two summers ago. I shook my head, my damp braid plopping off my shoulder and down my back.
“Well, thank you,” I mumbled. “Mind filling in any other blanks so we don’t give this little beastie a neckache?” The pixie squeaked in agreement, folding two delicate hands in its lap.
Gavrel wrapped his large hands around his baldric, skin stretching across his knuckles. He sighed. “Kaden healed you. Lucky, considering your injury was surely fatal.”
My chin dropped, my heart tender and aching.
His fingers met my jaw, lightly pushing up so my eyes had no choice but to meet his. “You lost control of your ember, yes. But that doesn’t make you a monster. You’d never intentionally hurt those you care about. In time, you’ll learn to be in harmony with your gift.” I turned my head to the side, disbelief puckering my lips as his hand fell away from me.
I’d already hurt those I cared about. Physicallyandemotionally.
His nostrils flared. “At this moment, I know you are incapable of seeing how extraordinary you are. But I’ll believe it enough for the both of us until you come around.” My eyes narrowed at him, my heartbeat accelerating.
He turned his attention to the pixie as it stared adoringly at him. “Mind showing us the way, little one?” The creature zipped up, its wings flapping furiously. It twirled and pointed ahead.
“Thank you.” He took my hand. “Let’s move, and I’ll explain more.”
We followed the trail of zigzagging iridescence through the Reverie Weald, my stomach sore from my healed injury and cramping from hunger.
I rested my hand in Gavrel’s warm one, soaking in the comfort. His encouraging words stroked my ravaged soul, trying to seal its cracks.
Promising me that I wasn’t a monster.
“As I was saying. Your injury—you should’ve broken into dust, but you didn’t.” His eyebrows pinched. “Kaden realized it. I realized it. I’m hoping Melina was too upset after seeing your powers to realize it. But we most likely won’t be so lucky.” His hand squeezed mine, and he sighed, watching the creature before us.
