Page 45 of What Courses Through Her Blood
Before I can react and lose control of my temper, Colton is by my side. This time, when he wraps an arm around me, I don’t protest. I let him channel us back to the safety of the hive. Even after we arrive in our bedroom, the harsh voices continue to echo in my mind, the faces twisted in hate and fear haunting me...and the lifeless bodies of those two children, their laughter a ghostly memory in the chilling silence.
“Lyra, you can’t let them get to you—” Colton begins, but I cut him off before he can continue, the urgency in my voice cutting through the air.
“No, you don’t understand. They are getting to me. All of this—everything—is getting to me.” I feel my eyes well with tears, but I swallow hard, reining in my emotions.
“Come here.” He reaches for me, andevery fiber of my being yearns to go to him, to let him hold me and reassure me that everything will be okay. But I can’t.
“Colton, you can’t save me from this. You can’t protect me from everything. I need to figure things out for myself. I’m going back to Zomea, and I’m going back now.” I throw my cloak on the bed and grab a sweater from the closet, pulling it over my head.
“It’s late. Come to bed, and we can talk about this in the morning. Don’t act rashly while emotions are heightened,” he tries to soothe me, but he doesn’t understand.
“I’m not acting rashly. I need to do this. I always planned on going to Zomea alone. I know what I need to do, and I’m going to be alright,” I say firmly. He takes a step closer, his eyes pleading, ready to follow me, but I shake my head. “Please, don’t follow me. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“How long are you planning on staying there?” he asks, sounding worried for the first time.
“As long as it takes to find the answers I need,” I respond, picking up a sleeping Chepi and cradling him in my arms. “Stay here or go back to Nighthold. I’ll find you when I return.”
“I thought you wanted to talk to Drew first,” he reminds me. True, I had intended to, but after what happened, I feel like I’m running out of time. I need answers before things escalate further.
“I’ll talk to her when I return.”
I stand up on my tiptoes and kiss him, and as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in for a deeper kiss, I surrender to the moment. I let myself savor the taste of him, lingering in the embrace. When he finally releases me, I see the acceptance in his eyes—he’s letting me go.
“I love you,” I say, meeting his gaze.
“I love you too. Hurry home to me so I can marry you,” heresponds, effortlessly drawing a smile from me. He always knows just what to say.
With one last glance, I channel to the bridge, departing without another word. His smile and the sweet taste of our last kiss linger with me as I make my way to Zomea.
Chapter 22
Lyra
I have been searchingZomea for days, perhaps even weeks now. It’s easy to lose track of time in this forgotten place.
My father’s old palace stands deserted. If it weren’t for Chepi’s constant companionship, I might have succumbed to the solitude, driven mad by the echoing emptiness.
I’m beginning to doubt everything. Are Gholioths even real? The legends of Moirati—the supposed oldest Gholioth to inhabit Zomea—do they hold any truth, or are these creatures mere myths? I came here seeking answers, hoping to find Moirati or another Gholioth who could enlighten me, but so far my search has yielded nothing.
Despite the desolation of this palace, I’ve discovered that Zomea is not entirely abandoned. I’ve encountered many Lycans and a few Sorcerers during my wanderings. However, none have been particularly helpful. It seems most who dwell here are like me, souls adrift, searching for answers, longing for something more.
My father had a purpose here and lived in Zomea as he would have in Eguina. But the others I’ve met are aimless, theirlives an endless quest for meaning in the shadows of forgotten magic.
I can hardly believe this place is really the afterlife. What happens to those who don’t make it here? Or those who arrive and then perish—where do they go next? If Zomea was truly the afterlife, surely it would be teeming with souls. Yet it feels deserted. I haven’t even run into Athalda. I wonder what corner of the world she’s causing trouble in now.
Covering the entirety of Zomea seems an impossible task. This place is larger than Eguina, and I am but one person, yet I had hoped to uncover some sign by now. I can’t return to Eguina without understanding my purpose. Deep in my bones, I feel drawn to this place, as if an inexplicable force has been pulling me here for weeks.
I cannot marry Colton or plan to ascend as queen of Cloudrum until I find the answers I seek.
I kick off my shoes and climb into bed next to Chepi, who has already drifted off to sleep. For the first time, perhaps ever, I find myself praying. I pray to Ryella—the Goddess of Darkness and Shadows. I plead with her to send me a sign, anything to guide me, as I’m running out of ideas. My prayers linger in the quiet of the night until at last sleep finds me.
Something’s here!I feel it as a prickle up the back of my neck. I’m standing on a terrace, the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Colton is only a few feet away, his gaze fixed on me, an expectant air about him.
I start walking down what seems like an aisle, but then a voice, delicate yet resonant, whispers in my ear, “I would have helped you long ago. All you had to do was ask.”
I turn to see Ryella, the Goddess of Darkness and Shadows.Contrary to her title, her strawberry hair cascades in vibrant waves around her freckled face, radiant and paradoxically bright. She extends her hand invitingly. As our fingers touch, the terrace warps, dissolving into a dark forest where we stand isolated in an eerie silence.
I release her hand, spinning to face her with a torrent of questions on my lips, but my voice fails me. She places a finger to her lips, silencing the unspoken words. “You know where to find the answers you seek,” she intones mysteriously. “Fear has kept you from the path you must walk. Don’t be afraid, Lyra.”
