Page 47 of Synodic

“He has not returned,” Takoda pointed out. “He may still not yet know.”

“And let us hope it remains so,” Nepta said before turning her mighty focus to Rowen, his powerful body still tense by my side. “Rowen Damascus, you will continue to keep her in your charge.”

Rowen’s eyes sharpened into two emerald swords of promise. “I will.”

“It grows late. Let us ponder all that we have heard. Perhaps answers will find their way to us in the soft-wind-whispers of the evening,” she said in a final benediction, our cue to leave for the night.

Rowen took my hand and ushered me out of the Sacred Vale before anyone could protest. I wasn’t prepared for what the Summit had in store for me, and I was more than eager to leave their questioning eyes. I had no real answers for them anyway, and they knew it. But I couldn’t tear my mind from the people who had suffered and died for the Alcreon Light. I shivered at the mere thought.

Sensing my chill, Rowen’s brow furrowed. “Let’s get you in by the fire."

I nodded in a daze, digesting everything I’d learned as we made our way back to his dome. His fingers slowly unfurled from my hand as if his light handle on me was the only thing keeping me upright. I looked down at my hands, then up at the brilliant swarm of stars banding in an ethereal spiral.

How did I play a part in any of this? And what about Rowen? Could he be this marked Alcreon Light-bearer?

“Surely there is somewhere else I can sleep. I can’t keep you out of your own home.”

“I told you, I don’t mind. Sleeping under the stars of late has been a comfort.” The silver-forest glow cast shadows on his face like smudged charcoal, matching the dark stains on his fingertips. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Try to get some rest.”

I turned from him, weary to the bone. “Oh, and Copeland,” he said, pulling my gaze back towards him. He ground his teeth, his eyes severe. “If you truly don’t know what you are or why you’re here, I suggest you figure it out quickly before someone else decides for you.”

And with that, he disappeared, the darkness welcoming him back as if it was his only friend.

19

Nearly dressed and halfway out the door, my body begged for me to return to bed. Although I’d slept soundly, I still felt exhausted, no doubt from yesterday’s training with Dyani. Having used my muscles in ways they’d never been worked before, my limbs were sluggish, which was to be expected, but I found my mind to be tired as well. Apparently, learning the creation and destruction story of an entire world took a lot out of you.

Heading out of the bungalow and finishing up with the lacings of my dove-grey vest, I plowed into Rowen waiting at the front door. As soon as he saw me, he frowned. “You look worse than when I left you last night,” he said as if my lackluster appearance was insulting. “Are you ill?”

I dropped my fingertips from the tie at my breasts, Rowen’s eyes trailing the movement. “I’m fine. It’s probably just from training yesterday,” I said, also realizing it might be some form of jet lag, similar to adjusting from one time zone to another, except in this case, from one world to another.

It was just a theory. I didn’t have the slightest clue when it came to the intricate mechanics of astral projecting between worlds.

“Did you get any rest or did you…go home, to him?” he asked, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

“Who?” I asked, my eyebrows pulling together in confusion. It took me several moments to figure out what he was asking. “Oh! Harlan? No. No, we aren’t together. I…I’m alone,” I said, cringing at that last little overshare, and I quickly tried to plow right over it with more words. “I stayed put all night but I should go back soon, at least for a little while. My roommate and parents will get worried.”

I hadn’t seen Natalie in almost two days, and my last conversation with her hadn’t gone pleasantly. She’d seen my bruised skin and might already have a search party out looking for me.

I wasn’t sure how time worked here. I had no idea if only a few minutes had passed since then or if I’d really been gone for over twenty-four hours.

“Stay,” he said, finding my eyes, and my pulse galloped as something deep inside my core twisted.

He blinked several times, looking like he’d just made a mistake. He ran his hand down his face; his fingertips dipped in faded grey. “I swore an oath to Nepta, and I can’t keep you safe in a world where I can’t touch you,” he said as his eyes darkened with the memories of Prism, where we’d both been helpless.

I would try to go back home eventually. If anyone got too worried, they would see my automatic email response. I couldn’t leave. Not yet. I still had so many questions, and the answers seemed to grow closer here like a photosynthesis slowly seeping into my skin.

“I’ll take you to eat before your training lesson with Dyani. That is, if training is something you still intend on doing?” Rowen eyed me in challenge as if daring me to admit I was feeling under the weather.

“Oh, I’ll be there,” I smiled sweetly. “Learning ways to take you down should you continue to annoy me.”

“I look forward to you trying, as I’m sure it’s inevitable.”

“For once, I’d have to agree with you.”

Rowen led me to a seaside pavilion made entirely of entwined trees. Small tables were laid upon the sand with only linen floor cushions as seats.

I wasn’t very hungry, so I ended up just picking around my tree ring plate filled with an assortment of nuts, berries, nectars, and steaming grains. I could tell it annoyed Rowen, but he wisely kept it to himself. He would occasionally look over at me like he was trying to solve a riddle and scoffed every time I pushed my food around.

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