Page 48 of Eclipse of Fate
“Gods,” I whisper. Another moan swims past the barrier of the closed door. “You should be ashamed,” I roll my lips into a line to stop the smile that threatens to form there. These men are sitting here listening through a door to what sounds like someonereallyenjoying themselves. Dismissing them, I knock loudly, waiting forwhoever is inside to answer. There is a shuffle on the other side and hushed voices clamoring about, before a disheveled Trent opens the door and pokes his head out.
“Raelle? Um, what are you doing here?” His voice cracks before his eyes jerk to the side and then back at me. He laughs nervously, tapping his fingers on the edge of the wood. He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he laughs and shuts the door in my face. And yet again, I’m glad to see that not everyone is inclined to treat me like I’m different all the time.
“Seriously?” I can’t help the incredulity that is in my voice. I’m honestly shocked at what I heard and disturbed that the thought of whatever was going on in there even crossed my mind—those noises and Trent. Shaking my head, I stare at the wood, not daring to open it. I hear Trent curse a stream of obscenities and bang around before he opens the door so quickly it blows his hair back. He plasters a big grin on his face and laughs again. He’s being fucking weird.
“What were you doing in here?” I ask as I walk past him.
“Me? Uh—I was working out.” He laughs again, and I pin him with my stare. “What?”
“In the library?” My brow quirks up. He's clearly lying; I don’t know why, but I decide it's none of my business and shake my head. “You know what, never mind. I was looking for Ambriel; have you…” Trent chokes on the drink of water he's taking, spewing water out like a whale coming up for air from the ocean. His mouth opens and closes as he tries to right his breathing, and I rush over to him to pat him on the back.
“Sorry, I’m ok. I—ah, I haven't seen Ambriel. Sorry sis. Hey, I gotta go find Dax.” He leans in, pecking me on the cheek with a kiss and spinning on his heel. Before he exits the room, he looksover his shoulder and says, “Hey, I’m not upset that you’re having us stay behind. I understand that it probably wasn't easy to decide. Ambriel has been telling me more about how visions work, finally, and well…I just understand. I know that you will do everything you can to keep each other safe. That’s all I can ask.” My lips tip up at the corners with his understanding.
“Thank you, Trent. I wouldn’t want anyone other than the three of you in charge here in our absence either.” He winks before turning from the room, and I listen as his footsteps fade. A feather-light touch causes me to turn abruptly, and I startle as I notice the body behind me.
Throwing my hands out, white moon magic courses from my palm, wraps around Ambriel, and sends her skidding on her feet across the room. Before she can get hurt, I reel in my fear and stop her from colliding with anything. She stumbles as she gains her feet again, and her eyebrows shoot up.
“Well damn, I guess you’re getting better at using that magic of yours. Thank the gods. I heard about the door you annihilated.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’m a little on edge, though. Sorry. Nervous about the mission.”
“I’m sure you are. Have you told Dax about the vision?” She asks bluntly as she straightens her tunic and smooths her hair. The worry in her eyes taking over the shock of my power usage.
“No. You know I can’t. Plus, I don’t want to worry him over something that could change his mind or distract him. He’s distracted enough.” I rub at the space between my eyes and roll my shoulders. Trying to relieve some of the tension that’s been building there. I told Dax about the vision and that I knew that it needed to be just him, me, Alaric, and Kait, but I didn’t tell himwhy. He didn't ask, but he also understands how sight canbe. This needs to be done, and just because my vision showed danger doesn’t change that fact.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Even though weariness finds its way into my heart…I pull steel into my spine and heave the door open. I look at Ambriel with a look of determination. “Time to go.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.” Kait’s raised voice reaches us before we reach the others who are waiting by the stables. Rounding the corner, I see Dax smoothing his hand down the neck of his horse, Alvis. I smile thinking about the stories Dax told me while we were on our journey on horseback of the mighty beast, who he loved as a child. His coat is about the same dark black with a blue sheen as Dax’s wings, which hang at his back. The display of them has the area between my shoulder blades tingling. My own wings waiting to unfurl, and an ache is forming between my legs. One day I’ll have that man shifted as he’s had me.
“We have to fly. We have to get there quickly. Horseback would take too long.” Dax says, not taking his eyes from the beast he shows affection to.
“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to be fucking carried! Not only is it against my nature, its a fucking insult to my wolf.” Dax begins shaking his head and turns to face her, but his eyes skip her entirely, when he notices our approach.
“He’s right, Kait. I’m sorry, but we have to stay together, and the sky is the quickest way.” I say this as she groans dramatically, rolling her eyes and head back to the sky, her shoulders slumping.
“It’s not that bad, sweetheart. I’ll keep you warm, and we can even keep each otherentertainedif we get bored.” Alaric chirps in from the fence he’s sitting on top of. A smirk lifts at the corner of my mouth.
“Probably not the best time for your charms, Alaric.” I chastise him, biting my lip to hide my amusement, as I watch the two bicker, but the look Dax gives me has me biting down on my lip nearly off to keep it from spreading into a full grin.
“Fucking Great.” Kait throws daggers at Alaric with her eyes, but the twisting and fidgeting of her hands tell me that maybe there is something else going on.
“Kait? Are you afraid of heights?” I ask, picking up on the nerves she’s expelling with my magic.
“Now that is laughable. Kait used to fly around with Trent all the time. You know how many times I’ve seen him fly out over the lake in Ravendene and drop her ass in?” Dax laughs then, and Kait chews her lip. The nervous energy radiating from her growing stronger. My brows pull together as I try to decipher what’s going on with her, but we don’t have time.
“Where is Trent? I wanted to say bye to him.”
“Right here. I’ve got something for you!” Maki and Claire trail behind him. “Here.” He shoves parchment into my hands. The letter. “See this?” he points to the bottom of the page. There isa series of numbers so small that we must have missed them the first time we looked at it. “Its fucking coordinates, and you’ll never guess where they point to.”
“Spit it out, Trent.” Dax barks. Growing irritated with his brother.
“Castenelle.” Maki says firmly, meeting Dax’s eye. Yet another reason to add to the ever-growing list of reasons to visit the territory. Something is going on; it has to be. Everything is pointing us there and I’m bound and determined to find out what the reason is.
“Thank you, Trent. This is very helpful.” I smile, folding the parchment and tucking it into the front of my vest. He pulls me into a hug, and when I’m good and tight in his grip, he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“You stay safe, ok?” He says with his lips still pressed firmly to the top of my head.
