Page 37 of Eluvonia
His tone carries a bitter edge, his hands tightening briefly on Declan’s legs as though the mere idea irks him. He picks up his pace, leaving me stumbling slightly to keep up.
I bite my lip, my brow furrowing as I struggle to piece this together. “But the Fae are part of Eluvonia. Why aren’t we blessed by an Ymiral?”
Kaida’s expression hardens, as he shrugs. “Don’t know, don’t care.”
I roll my eyes, muttering under my breath, “Nice chat.”
The crash of waves and the crunch of sand underfoot punctuate the heavy silence between us as we walk.
“So, since you’re weak to water, do you even bathe?” I ask, tilting my head, my tone dripping with exaggerated curiosity.
Kaida freezes mid-step, his entire body going rigid. Slowly, he turns his head just enough to give me a deadpan stare, one brow arched high.
I throw my hands up, palms out. “Hey, I’m just asking! I mean, for all I know, you just roll around in dirt and call it a day.”
Kaida snorts—a sharp, dismissive sound—before turning back around and continuing down the path, his footsteps a little heavier than before.
Silence stretches between us. Then, just as I’m about to assume he’s ignoring me, he mutters, “Yes, I bathe. I just don’t do it around others. I don’t trust anyone enough.”
I side-eye him, lips twitching. “You don’t trustanyone?”
His only response is a low grunt, the kind that could meannoordrop it before I throw you into the ocean.
I let the silence hang, then shrug. “Sounds like a lonely life.”
Kaida’s back straightens, his steps faltering for just a fraction of a second—barely noticeable. He doesn’t say a word, just keeps walking, as if my words didn’t land. But they did. I know they did. The sun dips lower, the sky streaked withfiery hues, when a sliver of rooftops catches my eye beyond a distant dune. My heart leaps. “There!” I blurt, pointing ahead. “I see buildings!”
Kaida grunts, his only acknowledgment, but his pace quickens.
As we crest the dune, a small seaside town sprawls below. Weathered houses cluster together, their wooden walls bleached and worn from years of salt-laden winds. The faint scent of fish and brine drifts toward us.
The narrow, sand-packed path we follow leads into the heart of the town. Everything feels eerily still, a wooden sign creaks in the breeze, its hinges protesting the movement.
“Hello?” I call, sticking close to Kaida, my voice cutting through the unnatural quiet. “Is anybody here?”
No response. My stomach tightens as my gaze flicks to a house with its shutters barely open. A face peeks out, and for the briefest moment, our eyes meet. Then the shutters slam shut with a sharp clack.
Kaida growls low in his throat, his irritation palpable. “We’re not welcome here,” he mutters.
“No kidding,” I reply, my shoulders hunching as I follow him further into the town. The oppressive silence presses down on us, broken only by the distant cry of gulls.
Just as I’m about to suggest turning back, a voice slices through the stillness. “You need a healer?”
I whirl around, my breath catching, to find an older female standing a few steps away. Her weathered face is partially hidden beneath a wide-brimmed straw hat. Her piercing gaze sweeps over us, assessing, dissecting.
“Y-yes,” I stammer, my voice embarrassingly high-pitched. I nudge Kaida sharply when he just stares at her, hiseyes narrowed.
The female arches an unimpressed eyebrow. “Follow me,” she says simply, turning toward one of the houses without waiting for a response.
I glance at Kaida, my unease bubbling over. “We’re just gonna follow the creepy lady into her house?”
Kaida shrugs, adjusting Declan again. A low moan slips from Declan’s lips, and my heart skips a beat at the sound. At least he’s alive… for now. “Do you have a better idea?”
I glare at him but bite back a retort, trailing after the woman. The creaking porch groans under our weight as she opens the door, revealing a home steeped in the earthy scents of herbs and salt.
“This is how we die,” I mumble under my breath, earning a glance from Kaida that’s half-amused, half-annoyed.
Chapter 14
