Page 41 of The Lands Defying
“Yes, Lord Higher.”
My body tries to catapult off the chair as pain so sharp makes me feel like my body is tearing in two. I chant for them to stop, shaking my head as whimpers come from me, but they ignore my pleas.
I don’t know how long they do this. How long they tell me who my enemy is even though my mind tells me otherwise.
But it’s all getting so blurry.
As I close my eyes, I see the silver butterfly, the only thing keeping me company in this dark place before I once again let the darkness swallow me.
Twelve
Rhea
I wear another white dress, this one having some sort of ruffles at the neckline and ending just above my knees. White seems to be the only color around here, and when I asked Anna about it, she said the Elites didn’t care for choice in color, just choice in clothing. Not that I mind, I don’t really care either. It’s not like I got to wear a dress every day, especially when I was out doing chores all the time so it’s nice to feel something different against my skin.
Braiding my hair to the side, I look upon the lake from the balcony as I prepare to descend to the dining hall of the keep.
We have been back mere hours, and yet we leave again tomorrow.
This time to the Drylands.
Edward left a short while ago, and my heart is heavy not knowing when I will see him again.
I’m also scared of the danger he’s in every time he sets foot inside that castle.
I can’t lose him too.
A body presses at my back, and then hands are gently shoving mine aside as he takes my hair from me.
I don’t flinch from him, my body so attuned to his in a way it has never been with another.
Runa practically rolls to her back, legs in the air and I would scoff, but Darius takes hold of my hair.
“You braid?” I ask, surprised as he tugs and twists my hair with a movement that seems so familiar to him.
“My sister,” he says gruffly, and I feel stupid for asking. “I haven’t done this in a long time, so it may not be right.”
We are silent as he finishes off my braid, placing it over my shoulder and my thoughts drift to Kade.
“Are you sure there is still no way to get to him?” I ask, unable to help myself.
“I’m sure, little wolf. Just like Warden… Edward said, he is safer there at the moment. As soon as we can, we will get him.”
I know he’s right, but my need to get him is only heightening. It’s been so long without him.
Darius ties off the end of my hair with a leather strap, his fingers careful. I grip it when he’s done, inspecting his work.
It’s a little knotty, and he’s missed a few bits of hair, but, “It’s perfect.” I tell him. And it is, because he did it.
That warm feeling flutters in my chest again.
He huffs out a laugh. “It’s atrocious.” I laugh too, shrugging.
“That’s not what matters.” And it’s not.
He steps beside me, looking out toward the lands. Night is falling, and the last of the light glistens off of the lake’s surface, the winter air feeling even cooler.
“Do you think it will snow soon?” I ask, glancing up like it will give me the answers.
