Page 98 of Treasured

This was not that day.

“You’ll watch Marius?” I asked sleepily, giving in and snuggling against Sebastian’s chest.

“I won’t take my eyes off him for a moment,” he promised.

Truth echoed in his words, and soon, I fell asleep.

* * *

Warm. I was so warm. Everything, from my head to my toes, was heated. Not in a bad way. It was more like how I imagined cats felt after sitting in a sunny window for hours. Warm and listless but delightfully relaxed.

Where was I?

Opening my eyes, I squinted at the bright sunlight. Recognition flitted through me as I pushed myself to my feet. My tunic and leggings were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a black, flowing gown was draped over me, the hem falling just above my bare feet. Green blades of grass danced in the breeze, and leaves rustled above my head.

Understanding washed over me. I groaned. Another vision. At least this time, I had a grasp on what was happening to me.

“Isvana, are you here?” I called out.

The wind’s warm embrace was the only response.

No matter. This time, I wasn’t going to stay in one spot. I was going to explore.

Holding the hem of my dress, I turned in a circle.

The first thing I noticed was the trees. They were… normal. Completely and utterly normal, untouched by the black rot spreading through Eleyta. The bark of the closest tree was a rich brown, and the leaves were a vibrant green that reflected the sunlight.

Next, I looked up. The canopy of leaves was thick, and the foliage ranged from a light green to one so dark it was almost black. The entire forest was beautiful, colorful, and alive.

Grass crinkled beneath my feet, and a grin spread across my face. Bending, I ran my fingers over it, enjoying the soft prickliness of each individual blade. It had been far too long since I’d touched grass. Far too long since I’d seen anything but the frozen snow that blanketed Eleyta.

Tiny flowers, as colorful as the rainbow and the size of my fingernails, sprouted among the grass. Once I noticed them, I couldn’t stop seeing them. They were everywhere. They grew on the ground, in cracks in the bark, and even on top of a large, mossy stone resting against a nearby tree.

“Interesting,” I murmured.

What kind of flower could grow on stone?

I went to pick one, but as I ran my fingers over the tiny stem, a laugh that sounded like an owl hooting came from behind me.

My eyes widened, and I dropped the plant, turning around.

Standing a few feet away from me was Isvana. As radiant and naked as before, she eyed me with a smile. The same raven sat on her shoulder, its beady eyes watching me carefully. The bird seemed more lifelike than others I’d seen, and I got the distinct feeling it was more than just a raven.

“I see you’ve found my Rainbow Blooms.” Isvana bent, picking one of the flowers and sniffing it delicately. “I come to this grove to find solace when times are difficult.”

I could see why. It was beautiful.

Remembering who stood in front of me, I dipped into a curtsy. “Greetings, Isvana.”

She murmured a hello before saying, “Stand, daughter of the moon.” I complied, and the goddess smiled. “I told you we’d meet again.”

“You were right.” I raised a brow, a memory of our first meeting surfacing. “I planted your seed. It’s… interesting.”

The goddess made a sound of amusement. “How so?”

“The plant flourishes in the dark,” I told her.

“Oh?”

---