Page 222 of The Lands Defying
“He will shun you, you know,” Darius says as Runa makes a scoffing sound.
I shrug. “Maybe, but I doubt it would last long.”
Darius tilts his head. “With you, no, it wouldn’t.”
Exiting out the lilk forest, we halt at the base of the large tree. It’s massive. I can’t even see the top of it from here, the clouds hiding it. A large petal falls, and it’s so big it could fit all of us on it.
I dismount off of Runa, and Darius follows. Giving Runa a nuzzle in thanks, I begin walking toward an opening at the base with Darius at my side. Our wolves at our back.
The spirit wolves seem to stand straighter the closer they get, but it’s not in fear…It’s in respect.
They look back at us as they reach the dark opening, and then they walk through. I can’t see where it leads, but Darius and I don’t hesitate to follow.
We pass through a barrier that feels like the one Solvier had in Eridian, and I blink at the sudden light when we pass through it. I grip Darius’s arm tightly as I see all the wisps in here. What I thought felt like peace outside, it’s nothing like what I feel in here. It’s euphoric.
The ground is covered in grass that reaches our ankles, and more lilk trees reside inside with waterfalls flowing out of the bark.
How is that even possible?
I look up and see the tree is completely hollow, winding straight up until I can’t see any more.
We walk forward, trailing the wolves through shallow pools of water. Drax and Runa stop briefly to take a drink.
The wolves halt at a wooden balcony at the edge of the water that has no railings, where carved stairs are visible heading down on either side to somewhere below.
The wolves look back at us one last time, waiting until we are near before theyleap.
I suck in a breath and rush forward, not knowing how deep the drop is, but my eyes widen when I realize they are running on air.
Nothing is helping them, no steps at their feet as they jump and run down into a lower part of the tree.
I can’t keep the smile off of my face, but it freezes when I see what is below.
Who is below?
It stands there, it’s back to us and seems to be looking down into something dark. It’s taller than any other I have ever seen, and I just…know.
“Zahariss,” I breathe, hand on my chest to feel my racing heart as Darius pulls me to his side. “It’s really you.”
The huge head turns, silver eyes locking on to me and she dips her head.
“Welcome to my home, Heir of mine.”
The breath wooshes out of me in a rush, and her presence fills me with so much emotion that I can’t decide which one to stick with.
Disbelief, hope, anger, happiness…
She is everything we are in the lands, everything she has instilled in me by making me her Heir, and she is standing there…watching me take it all in.
Suddenly, flashes of two wolves running and playing spring to my mind, they are happy, so in love as they roll around in a meadow…and then pain and devastation comes, and I have to hold on to Darius to stop my knees from buckling.
I gasp, trying to catch my breath as Darius looks at me, with concern in his eyes as I shake my head, unable to say anything.
Zahariss tuts.“That male.”A buzzing sounds in my ear and then the images are gone, the devastating feeling of heartbreak lifting, and I pant into Darius’s chest.
“What the fuck was that?” Darius growls, stroking the back of my head.
“I am sorry on behalf of my Vihnarn, he hasn’t got any…etiquette.”
