Page 76 of A Blightress of Wrath
Hershoulders slumped. “Alright.I’llsee you on the other side.”
Icringed.Ithad been the exact thing my mother had said to me before her death.Karus, realizing this, squeezed my fingers with a sorrowful look.Itook a deep breath and kissed her softly.Withoutanother word,Ilet go of her hand and stepped into the portal.
* * *
“Illuminare.”Myorb of blue lit the space around me which held no substance.Nogrit, no earth, no walls, nor anything to ground me.Iwalked on air ifIwalked on anything at all.
Thisis whereKarushad been.
Forwho knows how long, she had wandered through this existence before screaming her way out of it.
Ifelt for the rhyzolm in my pocket, curious ifIcould still feel our daughter.Shewas there.Justa small hum like a beacon in the far distance, pulling me back out of this place.
“Andwhat is it theBaronofFelgrendesires most?”Thevoice ofAdaynthcame to me in the dark, sounding as if he was there, next to me in the space that was not space.
Ishrugged, taking one more look around at the absence of everything.Squeezingthe rhyzolm and thinking of my family,Isaid, “Isimply desire to love them.Tokeep both of them safe.Ofany futureI’lllive,I’lllive it for them.”
Istepped out of the portal easily.Noshove likeKarushad described, but a light force of wind at my back, my boots landing on wet stone of a dim cave.
Karuswas already out, wrapping her arms around me, her cheek pressed to mine as she spoke low into my ear. “Isaid us.Ijust want the three of us together.”
Iheld her tightly. “Ivoiced the same.”
Shepulled away to kiss me. “Youtook a bit longer to get out.”
Iswept a hand through her white hair.Afterthat lastSimulairSolumspell, which rid the entirety ofFelgrenfrom theBlight, we’d never get her chestnut color back. “Ijust wanted to know what it was like for you.Whatyou went through in there last time.”Ishook my head and kissed her again.
Philiusall but flew out of the portal,Liaready, catching him at the back of his vest and holding him steady. “Fuck, that was awful.”
Karuschewed her bottom lip, whispering, “C’monIlyenna.”
Butit wasTalonwho came next, catching himself before he hit the wet stones of the cave we’d all entered.
“Bythe…”Philiusmurmured, standing in a stupor at the pulsing heart hanging from the cave ceiling.
Itwas difficult to ignore the steady beat that filtered through the dank air, butImanaged, waiting forIlyennato join us.
Talonpaced in front of the swirling black with one long dark braid swaying at his back.
Aminute passed, then five.
“Ihave to go back in there,” he said.
“No.”Karusgrabbed his vest, jerking him from where he’d started to force his way back in. “Shecan do this.”
“I’mnot waiting two weeks for her out here.”
Karusvisibly winced.
Istepped in front of him. “Ilyennais perfectly capable of getting out of there.Giveher more time.”
Hestared me down. “Wouldyou wait for your companion?Themother of your child?”
Weboth knew the answer.
“Youwouldn’t find her in there anyway,”Karusexplained. “Shehas to leave of her own accord.It’swhy none of us saw each other.Wedon’t exist in there together.”
Ijostled his shoulder, bringing his focus back to me. “She’sgoing to figure it out,Talon.”
