Page 149 of A Blightress of Wrath
Inodded. “Ido.Iloved him many years before this night.Ilove him now.ButIcannot love him in the future you’ve given us.Wecannot live the life we want because you’ve made it so.”
“Ifthis is what you wished to show me with that power you’ve been given, you’ve wasted it.Suchlove is a foolish thing.”
“There’smore,”Ipressed. “Weneed to keep going.Giveme more of your power to go back further.”
“Isee no reason to.Ihave you and shall not let go.Letus return to our time and be done with this.”
Igripped her hand tighter, solid to my touch. “No.”
Thetilt of her head frightened me, reminded me that this was an ancient woman full of a powerIcould not fathom.
“Isee your mother’s defiance lives in you as well.”Herblood red lips turned to a frown. “Endthe spell.Returnus andIwill leave with you.”Shenodded toThevinin the crowd as a clap of thunder rolled and my past self stepped around him to leave. “Iwill keep your lover alive if you truly wish it.”
“Saymy name,”Iurged, watching my newly seventeen self bend her head low, followingPah-Pahback to theFortress.
“Why?”
“It’swhat will take us back,”Isaid hurriedly.
Hereyes narrowed, but she followed my command, my name leaving her lips and floating on the billowing storm in a whisper on the wind.
Chapter63
Saelyn
I WAS SEVENTEEN AND LOVED TO DANCE
“Youpick one of these,and then you fit it in here like this.”
Myroom in theFortressflashed, andIheld onto theBlightresstightly.
Herfrown deepened as she looked around the room, both of us no more than dim shadows in the back of it.
Mypast self snapped the tube for the cylindrical turner into place and continued, “Whenit reaches a stop, you let go and listen!”
Thevinspun me around to the music.Ihad missed the joy onThevin’sface the first time, too willing to ignore the possibility that he had fallen in love with me.
“Thatdid not take us back,” theBlightressspat, but continued to watch what unfolded before us.
“Iwill not take us back until you have seen whatIneed you to see.”
“Iam channeling my power to you.Ican end this without your permission.”
“Please,”Ibegged, “please watch my life with me.It’sthe only thingIask of you.We’llreturn and you’ll win your war, but please know what you have done first.”
“Askme,”Thevinsaid.
“Askyou what?”Ihad questioned with a blush across my cheeks.
“Askme whatI’mthinking.”
“Mydear friend,Thevin, what are you thinking about this very moment?”
“Howbeautiful you are.”
Justas it had before, his answer struck me hard.Thistime, instead of fear for whatIfeltIcould not risk,Iwas filled with fear of what the future held ifIdid not do this properly.Iunderstood now who had spoken all those whispers of my name my entire life, and the time had come for me to use my power to convince theBlightressto help me reach the future the isle deserved to live.
Sheobserved in silence.
