Page 88 of A Clash of Embers

Everyone quickly gathered their materials, the tents, and the ropes. I watched as dust floated over the simmering fire, ensuring that no flicker escaped.

Chapter 43

Our walk was slow and quiet through the forest. We were heading south to intercept Griffin and the others—it was the opposite direction of where I needed to go. Ineededto go north. To the Bolzana and Lacassine line. There was a certain place I needed to go to unlock the portcullis. I hadn’t told anyone about what I had seen in the book. What the gods and goddesses showed me.

I knew exactly where the lock was. Past the Stardestian Mountains, the Gullion forest, to the Cliffs of Heir. That was where I needed to go. It was where my part of the prophecy would be completed.

I watched everyone in our group closely. Every movement was being watched and they knew it. They knew I was uncomfortable with something.

Lachlan let Mia ride on the horse by herself. I’m sure it was because they just couldn’t get along. She was sweet and naïve and he was a broody asshole.

Kay and Consul Loveridge were stoic and unmoving with every step. They were on edge. I sensed it, but I wanted to know why. Why were they so unnerved?

Leo rode behind everyone else, behind us. His eyes glossed over and into another world entirely. He was hurting, I felt it. The pain he was emitting was an emotionally triggering pain. The feeling of loss, maybe of the life, he could have had.

Riding in the front of the entire group were Luke, Bethany, and Lettie. They were smiling and chatting like old times as we traveled together. They were the only ones who were content out of the entire group.That’s odd, right?They shouldn’t have been happy to be traveling to stop a war.

I turned to Ev, “I think I will join the front riders for a little while.”

He raised a brow and smirked, “What are you up to?”

I gave him a small smile and shook my head, “I’m up to nothing. I just want to go visit.”

“Yeah. Sure, you are.” He chuckled, pulling back on the reins slightly of the horse he was riding. “Don’t get into trouble.”

I laughed, “When do I ever get into trouble?”

He didn’t need to speak; he only shook his head in disbelief because I was always in trouble. We all knew it.

I kicked my heel against the hind legs of the horse to speed up to the front with the rest of them. I approached them on the left side to walk alongside Luke. He turned and smiled at me, but it wasn’t his bright smile. It was a somber smile. A smile that said to becautious.

“How much further do we have?”

Bethany turned to me and said, “Why? Is your ass tired of being played with?”

I twisted my head at the shocking turn of events. I laughed. “No, I just know everyone else is starting to get tired.”

She smiled, looking back in front of us. My gaze went past her to Lettie who was staring at me with her bright red hair wrapped around in a braid down her back.

“I’d say another hour we’ll be where we need to be,” Bethany said in reply.

“That’s good. I’m sure the others would be happy. Gods, I am starving. What I wouldn’t do for another one of those chocolate croissants from your old bakery.”

I saw her bright smile, “I loved that place. So many great memories, especially those chocolate croissants. And don’t forget the wine.”

“Oh, I could never forget that. That is one of my favorite memories.”

Luke coughed, “Would you like to switch spots with me so you can continue this lovefest.”

He quickly maneuvered the horse behind me, allowing me to sidle up to Bethany’s horse. “I just wish we could have had more time to relax and just beusin Manzanita.”

She sighed, “I know what you mean. I was just starting to get comfortable with being there and becoming friends with you. Then everything ended.”

"It didn’t need to end. We still can be the same friends we were under the curse,” I said hoping that she would give me the response that I needed.

She pulled on the reigns halting the horse and everyone behind us. She took a breath and turned to look at me with her brows furrowed in frustration, “Aren’t we still friends? The same as we were?”

I chuckled, looking back at everyone in our group waiting for us to finish this conversation because I obviously hit a nerve with that question. Enough for her to want to explore it more.

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