Page 52 of Eclipse of Fate
“I’m fine, Dax.” The way that she closes her eyes to gather herself before she responds says otherwise, but I nod and look past her. Alaric has stationed himself while holding Kait in his arms. Something feels off about the air here. Not only the lack of barriers. I haven’t noticed a single one since we made it across the Creale Sea.
We fly further south to get to the caves as soon as possible. But as we fly high above the trees and the land finally breaks to a sharp drop to the sea, the wind shifts, making it more difficult to fly. I see a clearing just beyond the caves, and point it out to both Raelle and Alaric before dropping down to land. The wind is stronger here, so it’ll make getting to the mouths of the caves more difficult. We are going to have to trek the rest of the way on foot.
“Fucking land. Thank the gods.” Kait says as Alaric sets her down.
“So dramatic,” Alaric chides, a smirk brandishing on his face, and I narrow my eyes on him. I see what’s happening between him and Kait. He better not fuck around with my best friend, or he will find out just how much I’m willing to do to protect those I love.
The wind is strong on the cliffside. Raelle, Alaric, and I have to shift our wings back to keep our balance. One strong gust could take us in its clutches, sending us into the unforgivable sea below, and while Alaric and I would probably be fine with our flying skills, Raelle has only just begun flying, and it’s not something I’m willing to risk. I’m glad to see that Alaric agrees.
“This isn’t going to be easy,” I say as I come behind Raelle, wrapping my arms around her waist as she looks out over the crashing waves of the endless sea. A strong gust presses at our fronts and makes our cloaks billow out around us.
“Nothing ever is.” She tilts her head back, resting it on my shoulder, and when I look down, her eyes flutter closed. “I feel as though the gods are testing my worthiness for the crown. Each decision I’ve made since finding out about my destiny feels like a test.” Her eyes open and lift to meet mine. “I can’t fail, Dax.” Her eyes fill with unshed tears. Slowly spinning her in my arms, I cup her face, pushing my fingers into her hairline below her ears.
“Hey, whatever tests the gods send to us, we will face them together. Remember what I told you, I am yours to wield. Yours to command. My mate, my wife. My Queen.” The emotion she swallows is visible as her throat bobs, she closes her eyes, and the tears that were held there spill over. I kiss her where they fall, the salt coating my lips, and when her eyes flutter open, the pain I see there is heartbreaking. I wipe my thumb across her cheek, tilt her head up, and bring my lips to hers in a slow kiss.
When we finally break apart, her reddened eyes search mine before she closes them and rests her head on my chest. Her arms wrap tight around my body, and I hold her there, my heart swollen with the love I feel for the woman she is and what she's yet to become. The way she has been since her vision has had me worried, but I have to stay strong for her. Whatever it is, we will get through it together.
“Hate to break it to you two love birds,” Alaric laughs at his own joke. “But we’ve got a storm coming.” He points out at the horizon, and sure enough, the clouds that have been ever-present are darkening and churning with a coming storm.
“We need to keep going and hopefully find somewhere along this cliff edge that we can shelter in for the night.” I thread my fingers through Raelle’s, and we start our trek. I’m not sure how far we have to go exactly, but it’s enough that this storm could cause serious problems and delays we can’t afford. As I walk hand in hand with Raelle, I look out at the downpour that’s started in the distance, and I can’t help but think she’s right about what she said. The gods are testing us at every turn.
We make the treacherous hike for over an hour before we find an alcove to provide us shelter. The tempest batters us the whole way. Just as the rain begins to pelt us, we finally reach it, and by thenwe are thoroughly soaked and exhausted. Rest can’t come soon enough.
Night falls and hours pass with the gale howling, making the sea rage. The scent of salt and wet soil envelops us as we wait it out. Raelle finally falls asleep in my arms, and after talking Alaric and Kait into trying to get some rest, they finally fall asleep too. Tilting my head back, I let it lay against the rock wall behind me, and I close my eyes, letting out a long sigh and allowing my mind to wander.
“Dax Fornax-Ravendene, did you trail mud into the manor?” Ma narrows her eyes at me as I stand in the kitchen. Mid-bite into a roasted meat sandwich. Miles taught me how to make my own sandwiches because he said I shouldn't bother Ma while she was tending to the baby. Trent cries a lot.
“I—Yes, mother. I’m sorry.” I dip my chin as I set my sandwich down on the kitchen counter. Toeing my boots against each other, more dried dirt falls from them under the stool I’m sitting on. The evidence is clear. When I chance a look back at Ma, she is smiling softly at me.
“Dax, accidents happen.” She cups my cheek with her soft hand. She smells like sugar and oranges. Tilting my chin up to look at her, she wipes a crumb from the corner of my mouth. “It's how you learn from your mistakes that matters most.” Swallowing, I nod and lick my lips before smiling back at her.
“I’ll clean it up, Momma.” She scruffs my hair, smiling wider.
“Finish your sandwich first, handsome boy. It looks delicious.”
“Miles taught me.” I take a large bite, overfilling my mouth and making it hard to chew.
“Of course he did. He’s a good teacher, isn’t he Dax?”
“Yes, mother,” I say around my food.
“I love you, my sweet boy.” Her eyes are warm and dark green, like the moss that makes the rocks slippery in the garden. They look wet, but she doesn’t look sad. My brows crinkle in the center of my forehead. Ma has been upset with Pa about training me in combat at such an early age. I’ve heard her say that she thinks I’m too young, but I am going to be a powerful Fae leader one day, and Pa says that I need all the practice I can get.
“I love you too, Momma.” She pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. Trent comes wobbling into the kitchen carrying a toy sword that is nearly as big as he is. He’s laughing with ruddy, chubby cheeks. It makes me happy when he’s not crying.
“Heavens, where did you get a toy like that? I already have one son growing up too fast; let’s get you something else to play with, sweetheart.” She takes the sword from Trent, and he starts crying. Turning toward me, she smiles one more time. “Just remember that even though you are going to be big and strong one day—don’t forget that real power lies in the kindness of your heart. Dax Fornax-Ravendene, I have no doubt that you will grow to be the great leader you’re destined to be. You are such a sweet boy. Keepthat light in your soul, and if you ever find that you’ve lost your way, just look for the light.” She pats me on the chest lightly, right over my heart, and I nod, feeling it thrum in my chest. She smiles before pointing at the mess and walking from the room. Shoving the last bite of my sandwich into my mouth, I hop down from the stool and grab the broom to clean up the mess I’ve made of the kitchen.
Flinching awake, I move to hold Raelle tighter, only to find my lap cold where she was. My heart leaps into my throat when I see that Kait and Alaric are still fast asleep, but Raelle is nowhere to be seen in the alcove. Getting to my feet, I rush out of the cover the half cave gave us. I realize that the storm has calmed and Raelle is sitting at the edge of the cliff with her feet dangling over the edge. I watch her for a moment, letting my heart calm as I take in her beauty. She has her arms pushed out behind her, and her head is tilted skyward. The glow of the waning moon reflects on her porcelain skin and silver hair. She’s ethereal.
Clearing my throat, I take a seat on the ground next to her. She smiles and nuzzles into me as I tuck in close to wrap my arm around her. We sit there for a moment, just watching the wavescrash. The endless back and forth of the surf is as calming as it is ominous with its onyx depths.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” I admit.
“I’m glad that you did. You need rest as much as the rest of us.”
“I had a dream of my mother.” She tilts her head so she can look at me, and I curl my lips at the corners before kissing her nose and looking back out at the rolling sea. “Even in death, she comes to tell me how to behave.” I chuff thinking about my mother and her memory. Raelle is silent, but I can see out of the corner of my eye that she’s watching me instead of the surf. I continue telling her about the woman who was my first love. Stealing a moment of calm from the realm with the woman who now holds my heart.
“My mother was a kind woman. She was a good mother. She was calm and loving and tried her best to raise respectable men out of me and Trent.” I take a deep breath, blowing it out of my cheeks, before continuing. My brows furrow, “She said something to me…when I was just a child. I couldn’t have been more than maybe seven or eight,” I’m quiet for a moment, thinking back on the memory.
