Page 44 of Heir Of Sun And Moon
P.S. I was merely stating the truth, at least from my point of view.
SUNSHINE,
THE GUARDS HAVE COME BACK AND ARE REPORTING THAT—AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR LAST LETTER—THE CRUEL DEATH DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS EVIDENT IN THE VILLAGE. TODAY, I AM LEADING SOME OF THE APPRENTICE GUARDS THROUGH SOME RUNNING DRILLS. IT IS—AND I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH—ABSOLUTELY AWFUL. I WILL SWING A SWORD ALL DAY, BUT IDESPISERUNNING.
IT’S A TRUE TRAVESTY THAT YOU’VE NEVER HAD ROASTED CHICKEN. I’M AFRAID MY WARDROBE IS PROBABLY AS BORING AS MY FAVORITE FOOD CHOICE. LEMON LOAF IS VERY FITTING FOR YOU THOUGH. SOMETHING BRIGHT AND SWEET, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE TART AS WELL (IT’S A JOKE BUT ALSO, IS IT?).
MY FAVORITE SEASON… I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER BEEN ASKED THAT BEFORE, BUT I’M GOING TO SAY SUMMER. MY TAN GETS DARKER IN THE SUMMER, AND IT REALLY ACCENTUATES MY HANDSOME FEATURES.
WHAT IS YOURS? IF YOU COULD CHOOSE TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT KINGDOM, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
SINCERELY,
A PROBABLY-THROWING-UP FLYNN FROM BEING FORCED TO RUN ALL DAY TODAY
Dear Sick Flynn,
Another sword reference? You’re getting predictable. You’re also so very humble; it’s almost as if you are acutely aware of how you look. My favorite season is autumn. I love watching the trees turn colors, and there is this fragrance in the air that time of year—it’s totally unique. I would, without a doubt, choose the Fae Kingdom. They have dragons, and I have always dreamed of riding one someday. What about you?
Sincerely,
Sunsh—Nope, I can’t do it.
Rhea
P.S. These letters have been the highlight of my week, so thank you for indulging me.
Sighing, I set my note outside the door. Then, I light a taper candle and place it in the bronze holder, protecting the flame with my hand as I walk into the library. Sitting on the velvet-cushioned bench by the window, I grab the current book I’m reading, the one given to me by Tienne and Erica, and settle in, letting my eyes grow heavy as I imagine myself between the pages of the book.
“Little One, wake up.” His hand shakes my shoulder as I startle awake.
“Alexi?” I ask, pushing the covers aside and looking up at him from where he stands next to bed. He looks exactly as he always did—his salt and pepper hair neatly trimmed, closer on the sides and a little longer on top. His golden armor is clean and shiny over his dark black tunic, trousers, and boots.
“We have to go, now,” he says, reaching out a hand to help me up. Confused, I place my hand in his—it’s ice cold. Panic blooms as he starts to pull me down the stairs and I nearly stumble from how quickly he is moving.
“Alexi, wait! What is happening?” I ask, tugging on his hand to stop him once we reach the bottom. I look around the living area of my tower, trying to figure out what feels off about it.
“Do you not want to leave this place?” he challenges, gripping my hand more firmly.
“Of course I do, but I don’t understand what is happening. You can’t help me because of the blood oath.” My mouth parts slightly as I look around us again. “Where is Bella?” Alexi turns to me, his eyes filled with sorrow.
“Do you not remember what happened?” he questions, gesturing towards me as if I’m the culprit in her disappearance.
“What are you talking about?”
“You killed her,” he intones in a hollow voice, his hand squeezing even harder. Shaking my head, I step back from him—something is not right. “You killed her, and then you killed me. And soon, you will kill him.”
I tremble, trying to work my hand free from his—pulling and yanking—but it is to no avail. He grips tighter, the feeling of my bones nearly crumbling propelling my panic even further.
“Don’t you see it? Don’t you feel it growing within you?” He tugs me closer to him, my chest crashing into his as he nearly lifts me off my feet.
“Alexi, let me go!” I scream and flail, terror making my movements wild and uncoordinated. He finally lets me fall to the ground, dust kicking up from underneath me as I realize we aren’t in the tower but somewhere else.
“I will never let you go,” he says, voice morphing into something vile. The pupils of his eyes widen as they eventually take over the irises and then the whites as well. The darkness drips onto his cheeks, like how I’ve read sap seeps from tree bark. It slowly morphs Alexi’s face until it turns intohis.
“You are mine, Rhea,” he growls, prowling to me as I try to scramble away. “You are mine,” he repeats, his voice surrounding me from every side. “You are mine. Forever.” His words pierce me as I sob and scream and claw the ground, trying to get away from him. I feel a hand on my ankle as he pulls me deeper into the darkness. The words chant around me and through me, and all I can do is scream and scream and—
My eyes snap open, a scream still echoing in the tower. I bring my hands to my face and feel the wetness there as I gasp for air. Bella whines next to me, her golden eyes glowing in the light of the moon.
