Page 169 of The Lands Defying
Darius chuckles, but he halts in his tracks and tilts his head. His eyes turn unfocused, and I know he is speaking to his brothers. His jaw ticks, a rumbling coming from him. He blinks suddenly, and then he’s looking down at me. “What is it?” I ask.
“A public Hanging.” My stomach drops.
“Where?”
“Wolvorn.” I feel sick.
“What is the hanging for?”
“I don’t know, but we need to find out.”
Forty Nine
Kade
I watch on as my pack hugs each other, tears and sniffles following. I know I should go to them, let them know I’m happy they are safe, even though we lost a few, but I can’t.
I don’t feel like I’m a part of it, like I don’t belong there which I know Josh and Rhea would think it’s ridiculous, but I can’t explain it.
Loneliness wraps around me like a rope and my shoulders tense as Axis moves within me, wondering if I can control his urges to be free.
At the castle, I did learn somewhat to control it, I had no choice, the end result would end in pain otherwise. Some part of me thinks there still may be pain that follows after a shift, but my logical side wins out. Knowing we are not in that place anymore.
As my pack continues to express their relief, I realize I’m just standing here with the Elites, once our enemy.
I know things have changed, a lot has actually, but it makes me feel a little on-edge to be standing with males that are the best warriors in the lands.
I feel inadequate.
A flutter catches my eye, and my head turns, blinking in disbelief as I think…no…IknowI saw a silver wing just now.
Veering off from the group, I walk off path and follow that glimpse of silver. No one stops me, I don’t think anyone even noticed I’m not with them anymore, and sadness wraps around me, but still, I focus ahead as I round a tree and see the silver butterfly.
So I wasn’t imagining it.
I watch it hover for a moment, and I feel like it’s watching me as I watch it.
What’s it doing here?
I followed it in Eridian and then it just...disappeared.
It flies up and down and moves again, this time a little faster. I pick up the pace as I follow, trailing over roots, careful of the boggy water in some areas around here, the further I go from the main village I guess you can call it.
The butterfly flies a little higher though the trees that have purple flowers wrapped around them, and I panic a little when I can’t see it.
I move into a full-on sprint, my heart kicking up as my feet slam against the ground, some sort of desperation flowing through me.
I end up on another path next to a rushing river when the butterfly comes into view again. It’s at chest-height now, and I’m so focused on it that I don’t notice we are coming up to a bridge.
Or the figure on it.
I stop before I hit it, catching my breath as the butterfly slows down.
I stare at it as it goes toward the figure, who’s looking down over the bridge, only focused on the water. I take the first step onto the wooden plank, heart beating almost painfully in my chest as the figure’s head snaps my way.
I freeze as amber eyes connect with mine, so sad and distant that a sharp pang goes through my heart.
The butterfly hovers above her head, and she doesn’t react at all to it. Does she even see it?
