Page 147 of Where Darkness Falls

Turning away, I stomp over to Danté. Laisren is under a lot of stress right now… because of me. However, I refuse to allow him—even in this state—to belittle me for a life I didn’t want. “No time to waste, Cadre,” I shout. “Let’s get out of this bloody clearing.”

Riordan laughs, making some off-handed remarks as he walks with Laisren over to their horses. While the Second Commander is leery of me, I’m sure with time the after-effects of the beast will wear off, and he’ll forget all about the strange voice in my head… hopefully.

A few moments later, Emyr hoists me upon Danté’s saddle. Once I’m secure, he climbs on behind me. Leaning down, his mouth grazes against the shell of my ear as his arm wraps around me. “Don’t let the thoughts win,” he whispers.

I swallow thickly as my eyes burn. “I won’t,” I murmur. “I’m sorry for causing Laisren to unravel.”

“Don’t be,” he replies. “He’s testy for a while after using his ability. He’ll come around, Rosey.”

I nod, leaning into Emyr.

“Hypothetically, if you were speaking to a voice in your head, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you, Rosey,” he continues. “You’ve been special to me since the first moment I saw you.”

I sigh, grateful he can’t see the current state of my glassy eyes. “Thank you,” I whisper.

Beneath the hardened exterior, his kindness continues to surprise me. Then, he directs Danté and the others toward the path. When I’m further shrouded in the mist, I allow tears to fall freely.

My reaction isn’t because his words moved me to tears—though they were thoughtful—but due to my own deceptions. I keep secrets from him and the others even after they’ve been so forthcoming with me. Saoirse says that it is best if they are kept in the dark, but I’m not so sure.

Perhaps Laisren is right to be wary of me. There’s so much I don’t know, and what if the truth is worse than I expect? Maybe I should’ve told him after all.

The secrecy is to protect you. Once the truth is revealed to the entire realm, there’s no turning back,Saoirse says.You may not be looking for war, but it’s coming whether you wish for it or not.

Six Days Later…

Heavy windand rain beat against our faces as we ride through a torrential downpour. The thick mist creates a visor, making it impossible to see through as we navigate the Malvorian woods. For three days and nights, the rain has pelted us without reprieve, and it’s taken quite the toll on our bodies. Even Danté seems to be weary from the continuous dodging and jumping over unexpected tree roots that appear out of nowhere.

“Perhaps we should find shelter for the evening,” Laisren shouts above the howling wind. After his cyclothymic tantrum with Maeva in the clearing, it took him almost a day and a half to return to himself. Once he was fully in charge of all his faculties, he apologized to Maeva for how cruelly he’d treated her. Of course she accepted it, but has continued to keep her distancefrom him.

Perhaps that’s for the best until the beast is fully tamed. Laisren might be okay for now, but who knows if the beast is still waiting for a chance to reemerge.

On my opposite side, Riordan holds up an arm to block the rain. “Somewhere warm and dry,” he yells.

“The d-d-dome would be lovely r-r-right about n-now,” Maeva says. Her teeth chatter so violently that the sensation radiates into my body. She’s so pale, and her wavy hair is soaked and limp from the storm.

“Indeed, but it pulls too much from my signet for extended periods of time. I can’t be drained, especially this close to the border,” I reply, restating the same response I’ve already given her for the last three days. We’re still a four-day ride from the border of Zulgalros, but every step closer makes me on edge. It’s been years since I’ve crossed it, since my once beloved kingdom changed.

“Ju-just saying it w-w-would be nice,” she grumbles, distracting me from my thoughts.

“Keep your eyes open for shelter,” I command. “The first one that’s acceptable will be where we rest.”

“Yes, High General,” they reply.

Two hours have passed—stillno sign of anything that we can use for a suitable shelter. Many of the small woodland houses that once dwelt along this route are decimated—eliminating them from our line up of possibilities. Then, I revisited the old peddler’s hovel that’s along the route to Zulgalros, taking the path on the outskirts of the woods and aligning us closer to the cliffs. However, by the time we arrived, we found it completely destroyed, with only the broken wooden frame left standing.

That was half an hour ago, and we’re no closer to finding shelter. Exhaustion overwhelms my senses, making it hard to focus on the route now, which is unfortunate since we’re so close to the cliffs—one misstep, and we’ll fall to our deaths. If we don’t find shelter in the next fewminutes, I’ll have no choice but to use my dome to protect us from this deluge.

“Emyr!” Maeva yells. She points at something resembling a large black hole along the side of the cliff just up ahead. “Are my eyes deceiving me, or does that look like a cave?”

I faintly make out the outline of what resembles a cavernous space, and the heaviness in my chest eases.

Siorai, let it be a shelter,I inwardly pray.

“You two go,” I shout to Virgil and Riordan. “Make sure nothing currently occupies it.”

They take off quickly, leaving the rest of us to wait. After a few minutes, Virgil rides back. “The cave is secure,” he yells. “No signs of life or creatures within it, nor is it flooded. It’s acceptable for the evening.”

“Thank Siorai,” Maeva exclaims. Then she yanks Danté’s reins from my hands, urging him into a gallop.

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