Page 106 of The Book Reader
Gaelan’s dagger slices into one of the daemons’ necks. The man drops to the floor with a thud and bursts into dust. Gaelan turns to look at me. Relief of me being awake washes over his face before he rushes to my side, and curiosity laces his voice. “ What are you doing here?”
“Someone said there was fighting. What is going on?” Concerned, I cast my eyes over the daemons who have all turned to me with power-hungry eyes. I worry about what these daemons seem to be doing and why they are here in the first place. One of them sniffs the air and then locks eyes with me. “Mmmm, there she be, the sweetest smell,” he glowers. He steps closer as he pulls another weapon from his pants.
The voice in my head whispers,“He dies.”
Stepping around Gaelan, I tilt my head to the side. “You need to leave.”
He laughs and makes a run for me.
I only let him take a step before I lift my hand. A symbol on my left rib tingles, and then I feel the power inside me growing. The heat lights my veins like before. I fist my hand, making the daemon freeze in place.
I then turn to the others who look like they want to take me next, I’m ready to take on any one of them if it means that this place will remain safe. Gaelan moves to stand next to me, followed by Leah and some of the other guards. I can feel power building in my body. My other hand forms a fist. I look up at the daemons gathered, and their eyes fill with horror before they start to back up slowly.
“Tell whoever sent you, and anyone who thinks to come to this place: the Book Reader is alive. This land is under my protection now.” I shout, making sure they hear me clearly. I wave my hand fast in the air, and a wave of gold light shoots toward them. They shriek and scatter, running off.
These powers are so new to me that part of me worries I was braver than I should have been. If anyone does come back, I hope my threat holds true.
Thunderous applause breaks out around me, pulling me out of my thoughts. People rush over, thanking me. I smile and make small talk with them, all the while my eyes are locked with Gaelan’s. But he’s doing the same, speaking to others, but unable to look away.
He grins, making me smile, and one of the villagers claps her hands with a cry. “A Dance! In the name of our lord and lady—in the name of the Book Reader! She has returned!” Everyone cheers. I can’t help but laugh at how happy they seem to be. When the crowd moves away, I am finally able to walk over toGaelan. I look up into his eyes as he lifts his hand to run his fingers over the markings on my face and neck.
“These are new,” he says, making me a little self-conscious about them.
“Do you like them?” I whisper, ducking my head slightly.
He places his finger under my chin to lift my head, so I am looking him in the eyes again. “No”, he grips my face in his hands, leans in close. “I love them, I’ve never seen you covered with markings before.” He kisses my lips softly.
I frown. “Never?”
“No, the amber glowing eyes—they remain the same in all of your lifetimes, but never the markings.” He speaks.
“Can you read what they say?”
He shakes his head, lifting my arm. “It looks like symbols of some kind and terrible handwriting.”
“It’s spells, Gaelan. I’ve not had a chance to look at them fully, but they cover my whole body.”
He takes my hands and leads me over to the lake port. The feel of his skin against mine makes my heart explode with the feeling of home—of safety, and so much love, I wonder what I ever did without him.
Gurt waits by the boat, looking angry as we get closer. He stands up and points to me with a hiss. “What did you do to my lake?”
“I didn’t do anything,” I defend myself, shocked at how angry he is. Gurt glares at me like he wants to fight me. Gaelan lets go of my hand and steps a little in front of me.
“Gurt, calm the fuck down. I don’t want to fire you for talking to Ari like this, but I will.” He commands.
Gurt scoffs. “She walked over the lake, like some kind of god. It didn’t even hurt her. I was suppressed. My powers drained, and I couldn’t fucking move until now,” Gaelan tenses, his eyesflicker to Gurt’s still outstretched finger, his eyes hard with anger.
Gurt backs down a little, lowering his finger. He still looks like he wants to hurt me.
Gaelan glances down at me, “Rose?”
I bite my lower lip. “One of the stable boys told me there was fighting. I couldn’t get across cause the boat was gone, so I walked across the lake.”
“And it didn’t hurt you?”
“No, I actually felt really safe.” I laugh lightly, but my reaction causes Gurt to growl. I sheepishly clamp my mouth shut.
Gaelan raises an eyebrow at Gurt, daring him to threaten me again, but he shrinks back, mumbling something under his breath as he turns and climbs into the boat.
