Page 86 of Of Blooming Embers
“I’d love to see that. You, a big pile of mush and muscles, falling over like a grymwood,” Breena snickered, slapping his shoulder while his head swayed from side to side.
Marek rolled his eyes, mouth pinching as his eyes flicked over the Surrelian capital.
“I couldn’t have imagined it,” I murmured, still in awe of the city’s ethereal exquisiteness. Gavrel stepped beside Kaden, his hand resting on his brother’s shoulder. He glanced at me, face impassive, and then to the city.
My shoulders dropped as I took in the endless metropolis. It beckoned to me, inviting me to explore the winding streets and nacreous buildings.
This was where the dead ended up. Where their astral bodies found solace throughout the rest of eternity.
At least that’s what scriptures proclaimed.
Unless Phobetor collected them and stole them away to the Nether Void.
I glanced at the raging waters below. Maybe the Insomnis Sea was caught between the two clashing realms. A churning threshold, restless and waiting for one of them to cross the line.
After all, the line between dream and nightmare was a thin thread, constantly ready to snap.
We madeour way along the coast, the Larkin brothers flanking me. The silence was tense, spongy earth squishing pleasantly under our soles the only sound. The others were far ahead, Breena and Rhaegar’s repartee swallowed by the distance. Marek trudged behind them, studying the rippling glow of the moss as they moved.
“All right. Say what you need to,” I said, breaking the quiet.
“You could’ve been—” Kaden was cut off as Gavrel rasped, “Ancients grant me strength with you, Little Star.”
Kaden cracked his neck from side to side. “You could’ve been killed, Ser.”
“But I wasn’t. And it bought us time.” I looked at Kaden, his jaw ticking. “I’m stronger now. My gift and I are one … and I know that now.” I focused on Gavrel. “And you can ask for all the strength you need, but you know I did what had to be done.”
Gavrel sighed. “I don’t doubt you can handle yourself.” He crushed his eyes closed for a moment, rubbing his palm over his chest. “I fear losing you.”
My shoulders softened as his lips sealed. He wouldn’t say anything more in front of his brother. With a deep exhale, I placed a hand on both of their forearms. “You aren’t losing me today.”
Gavrel’s muscles loosened, and Kaden’s tensed a bit beforerelaxing into my touch. My hands went to my sides, leaving the brothers to their thoughts.
Without any further conversation, we caught up to the others. Within an hour, we stood upon a massive, golden bridge. A gate made of curling aureate posts blocked the entrance. On our left, rushing water spilled under the bridge and into the cascading waterfalls surrounding the city’s borders.
As we neared the gates, they glowed white and swung open. No sign of the Horai were present other than their looming likenesses standing guard at the edges of the city.
A twinge of unease shuddered through me. Of course, the Ancients had vanished. This was nothing new. But to think the very Ancients of Time had abandoned us. Were we truly on the edge of destruction? Was Midst Fall’s time up?
A gentle swirl of twinkling air spun away from me as I exhaled. Subtler than in the Reverie Weald, but just as mesmerizing.
We wandered through the streets. Lush, glit-leafed trees were scattered about the opalescent cobblestone and buildings. With each shift of sunlight, fragmented hues danced through the opaque surfaces as if the sunrise was caught in the milky moonlit stone.
A pleasant, sweet-smelling breeze teased my senses. I couldn’t quite place the scent, but it was nostalgic. Cozy. Like when I used to smell the flowers at home when I ran through hanging lines of freshly washed clothing.
Countless residents went about their business—walking, laughing, chatting, and tending their homes behind round-paned windows. Contentment permeated the air.
Gavrel lifted his chin. “We should find a place to rest.”
“And make a plan to sneak into Morpheus’ dungeon,” I added.
A young female with short, ashen hair approached us. Her voice was welcoming and melodic. “Are you lost? How can I help?”
My breath caught as a set of white wings, with feathers tipped in gold, shifted behind her. They hung delicately from her shoulder blades to her ankles. Her pale robes fluttered about her.
“How’d you know?” Kaden’s dimple peeked out as one corner of his mouth curved. He was entirely unbothered by her wings.
Warmth fluttered in my chest. Maybe he truly had moved on. Had forgiven me.
