Page 58 of Cursed Dreams
She barely noticed any of it.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she tried to navigate her way toward the Temple of Eshu, dodging startled pedestrians as she ran.
I should have asked Miryanne the name of the lodges.
The realization hit her like a stone to the gut as she turned down yet another unfamiliar street. She had never been to this part of the city before, had no idea how many lodges there were or even what she was looking for.
Panic flared in her chest.
What if I can’t find him? What if I waste precious time running in circles while Aric,
She shoved the thought away.
No. She had to focus.
Eshu was the god of luck. Maybe he’d be kind to her today.
The towering steps of the Temple of Eshu finally came into view ahead, its gleaming marble pillars adorned with golden charms and carved reliefs of intertwined fates. Worshippers lined the steps, some tossing small offerings into the basins near the entrance, others murmuring quiet prayers.
Thalia slowed, chest heaving, scanning the streets wildly.
She needed to find him.
She had to,
Then, like fate itself intervened, she saw him.
He was just stepping out of a narrow stone building across the street, his silver white hair catching the sunlight, his tall, broad form impossible to mistake even in a crowd.
Relief slammed into her so hard she almost collapsed.
Without hesitation, she took off, pushing through pedestrians, ignoring the indignant shouts behind her as she ran straight for him.
“Vaelith!”
His head snapped up, silver eyes narrowing as he caught sight of her barrelling toward him like a storm on legs.
For a moment, he just stood there, his expression unreadable.
Then, as if sensing the sheer urgency rolling off her, his features shifted slightly—from startled amusement to something sharper, more serious.
Thalia skidded to a halt before him, chest rising and falling rapidly, barely able to catch her breath.
Vaelith studied her, one brow arching lazily.
"Running through the streets to find me?" His lips curled into a smirk, though his gaze flickered with curiosity. "How flattering."
Thalia ignored the jab.
“We need to talk.”
His smirk faded at her tone.
And for the first time since she had met him, Vaelith looked concerned.
Silver eyes searched her face, brows drawn together slightly as he took in the flush of her skin, the breathlessness in her chest, the wild urgency in her expression.
"Are you alright?" His voice was lower than usual, a quiet intensity beneath the words. His gaze flicked over her, as though checking for injuries. "Has someone hurt you?"
