Page 84 of A Blightress of Wrath
“No,Revich,”Pompeiianswered, filling a plate with fruit, cheese and a soupIrecognized, but could not remember from where. “Shehas not moved a single inch in the seven minutes you took to bathe.”
Ileaned against the bed, hand in my pocket to feelSaelynagain.Ismiled down at her, promising myselfIwould continue to smile, for she was here.Shewas safe.Shewas alive.
“Nowshow me you can eat,Revich.”Pompeiiset the plate down on the bed and gestured to the black chair he’d risen from.
Isat and ate.
Themeal felt heavy in my stomach and my eyes fluttered closed.Iopened them again, flicking my head back in surprise at my body’s attempt at slumber.
“Youneed rest.”
“Restnow,Revich.”Pompeiipulled the blue quilt back from the bed, gesturing for me to lay down next to her.
Iall but crawled into the bed, pulling her body closer to mine, wrapping my arm around her rounded belly, scenting her skin which still smelled like her.Thatunchanged scent of pine and lavender.Aforest and field of flowers calling me to sleep was the last thingIremembered as two voices said something to me and my thoughts drifted away to nothing.
Chapter40
Karus
Voicesdrifted through my head.
AmanI’dmet in a grove of maple trees, determined to convince me of…something.
Awoman, a ghost, a piece of me, andIa piece of her whomIcould not escape.
Withoutmy conscious mind to force them to their dark recesses, they warred within me a fightIstruggled to understand, but a battleIcould hear all the same.
Mybody ached, my head pounded, and my daughter kicked, restless within my womb, bringing me back to the surface again.
Iknew this room.
Iknew this bed, these walls, this man beside me.
Myeyes fluttered continuously asItried to pull myself fully awake.
Ilay on my side, my hand in his as he slept, his other hand spread over our child.
Ittook a moment to pull myself back to what had happened.Iremembered the cave, the truth of theBlightress’sheartIdid not comprehend until it was too late.
IrememberedLia’ssacrifice to get us out.
Iremembered waking in the portal toSaelyn’sswift kicks and leaving, finding myself inRev’sarms, right whereImost desired to be.
Thegrowth of hair on his face along with how muchSaelynhad grown, confirmed thatI’dbeen in that portal for months.
Justas before,I’dbeen kept alive by theBlightress’spower.
Ineeded food.
Ineeded water.
Ineeded to move, to get up and walk.
Iheaved breath into my lungs, attempting to swallow the panic that loomed as the voices of two ancient beings faded into faint echos, crawling back to their corners.
Iwondered why they left so easily.
Iwondered if they’d chosen to pause their eternal war to let me live.Theyneeded me to live.
