Page 111 of The Lands Defying
Without her, there is nothing.
No moonlight to show how she shines when she stands under it.
No stars to glisten in her eyes as she looks up at them.
Only darkness in an empty space remains.
A space only she can illuminate.
I look through the waves below me, wanting to see anything that could resemble her as I lean forward on my knees and clasp my hands in front of me. But once again, I don’t see her.
I sigh and scrub my hand through my hair, my tired eyes blurring for a moment until I shake my head to refocus.
“She’s not dead,” Josh says. I ignore him. “She is not. Dead,” he says louder, a growl slipping through his words, and that causes me to look toward him.
He’s still looking down into the water as Hudson holds Colten, murmuring words into his ear. Sebastian and Taylor are wet, having just come back from another search and Anna kneels at the edge, throwing things into the water while chanting under her breath.
“Of course she’s not fucking dead,” I spit, my nostrils flaring. “She is strong, a fighter, a warrior. You should have gotten to her sooner!”
He was on her side, he could have made it to her.
“She asked me to wait, Darius. She told me Kade was scared. If I had known…” Seb puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezes.
I can see the guilt on Josh’s face.
Good.
Let him rot with it.
“She’s not answering the blood link,” he says after I don’t answer him. “Where is she?” His hands clench at his sides as he stands at the edge.
“I don’t know,” I mutter. “You can go back; I’ll go down soon to continue looking.”
“I just got here,” Josh says, hands now on his hips.
“I’ll go back in with you,” Taylor says, wiping a hand down his face and Seb nods as Colten also strips off.
“You also need rest, Darius,” Josh mutters. “She will need you when she’s back.”
“Don’t tell me what she will fucking need!” I’m her Vihnarn, I know her better than anyone. I shake my head and get to my feet as he sighs.
“I’ll bring you some food then.” Josh says as he turns and starts to head back down.
I almost laugh at the thought that he thinks I will eat.
I can’t.
Not without her.
Thirty One
Rhea
Floating.
Down.
Down.
