Page 165 of Where Darkness Falls

My heart clenches, and I want to scream, “NO.” However, that’s not what comes out of my mouth. “Yes.”

Maeva’s features pinch as she dips her head. “Very well, High General,” she murmurs.

Then, she enters into my hovel, I assume to retrieve her things. She quickly reemerges with her blanket and lantern in hand. Looking to the adjacent dwellings, she spots Laisren standing outside, watching us. She waves as she moves toward him.

My mind screams to chase her—to grab her hand and beg her to stay with me, but I don’t. It’s not fair to continually pull her closer when I know that if she knew everything, she’d despise me. I can’t ask her to love me when I can’t be honest.

Looking at the snow squishing under my boots, I slowly walk toward my place for the evening—dreading to enter and not see her beautiful hair cascading behind her as she sleeps.

“Emyr,” Maeva’s voice carries across the distance. My heart is sorrowful as I meet her gaze. Her eyes shine in the lantern light, as the shadows paint a beautifully haunting portrait of her. “For what it’s worth, I would’ve stayed if you’d asked me to,” she says. Then she walks down the path, entering Laisren’s hovel. It’s only when she’s out of sight that my eyes glisten with tears.

How cruel it is to love someone so deeply, but know that love will only bring more pain.

Closing my door behind me, I take in the mossy wooden room. It’s empty, and I’m alone—as it should be and has to be. I slump to the floor, exhaustion and melancholy overtaking me as I drift to sleep… thinking of the life that we’ll never have.

I sit up abruptly,startled awake by an icy wind kissing my cheeks. As I glance around the hovel, Laisren is sleeping against the wall with a blanket thrown over his torso. A small fire is burning in the hearth, so why is it suddenly so cold? Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands, I avert my gaze to the door that’s swinging soundlessly on the breeze as the soft gray sky comes over the horizon.

Strange.

I’m fairly certain that Laisren locked it before we fell asleep. So how is it now unlatched? Hoping to not awaken the exhausted commander, I place my feet gently on the frigid wooden floors, tiptoeing to the door. As I inspect the latch, I find it isn’t broken or dismantled, so surely no one tried to break in while we slept. A large gust of wind must’ve forced it open, which doesn’t surprise me with how temperamental the weatheris this morning. Still, I gaze outside for any tracks left in the snow, but find nothing.

I yawn, shrugging my shoulders.

I suppose it’s just a faulty latch.

As I close the door, a melodic female voice wafts along the air. I stop, pausing to listen for a moment. The soft soprano voice is entrancing with her song of love and untold riches. With each mesmerizing note, I lean out of the frame, desperate to hear more. My heart that felt heavy moments ago lightens as I listen to the angelic voice. The story she tells is beautiful and heartbreaking as she sings of her love for a man who wished to discover the riches beneath the sea.

As her song finishes, my heart aches to hear more. I release my hold on the doorframe and walk in the direction from which the voice came. The cold no longer bothers me, nor do I think about the ache in my soul. Her song is healing me, and I needmore. As I trudge through the snow, I hear the voice again coming from below the hillside. The melody that made my heart feel weightless fills the air, and I walk toward it, bewitched with each lovely note.

Suddenly, a strong pressure in my skull nudges me.Maeva, you need to listen to me,a voice calls.

The voice sounds familiar, yet my only concern is finding the owner of the song.

I laugh lightheartedly, drawn to music.

Is this what it feels like to be free of all worries?

If so, I desire to stay here forever.

Maeva, please stop listening,the voice screams.

Why? It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,I think, completely mesmerized.

As I come into the clearing, I’m met by a bluish-green river, its color vibrant against the stark white of the snow. The surroundings reflect in the pristine water, as if painted along the surface. “Maeva,” the melodic voice calls. My gaze travels across the water until I find the source. In the center is a shimmering woman with long yellow hair that floats aroundher. “Maeva,” she sings in that hypnotic voice. “Come join me. You’ll be free.”

I move to the edge of the river, allowing the iridescent water to drift across my toes. Smiling, she glides closer to the shore with an extended hand. “Come join me,” she coos. Her grin is so inviting as she sings for me… only for me.

I giddily stretch my hand toward her. “I want to be free,” I say.

From atop the hillside, a voice yells, “Maeva!” I turn around to find four men armed with swords, and something dark swirling around the one in the middle.

“Hello,” I say with a wave. “Come join us!”

I turn back to the smiling lady who continues to sing.

“Don’t touch it,” one of the men shouts.

It?

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