Page 78 of Realm Walker's Awakening
I blinked rapidly as the black spots in my vision disappeared with the dizziness. My fingers tightened on him as I swayed from the whiplash. Rune steadied me with a hand on my waist while the other cupped the back of my head.
I drew my eyebrows together as I tried to remember what happened and what I said. The words faded away like my dreams used to do when I woke up. I glanced away from him as I realized the others were waiting for us and were probably antsy about getting out of the town. Whoever was after me could pop up at any time.
I met eyes with Harper, who was the next closest person other than Rune. My heart ached for her. I needed to spend time with her so we could talk, so she knew what was happening. I was sure the others might’ve done that—at least I hoped—but I wanted to catch her up.
“Isa,” Rune growled, his fingers bunched into my hair.
I snapped my attention back to him with my cheeks warming. “I don’t know.”
He stared at me like he was waiting for the answer to his burning questions to appear on my forehead. I felt a tug through our link like he was sifting through my mind and memories for the answer that didn’t write itself on me. It was the weirdest sensation, and my knee-jerk reaction was to shove him out and create a barrier around my mind.
Rune reared back again with shock crossing over his face. “Isa?”
I swallowed hard and took a small step back as my cheeks warmed.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, ashamed.
He parted his lips and was about to say something but stopped at the loud flutter of wings and caw of ravens. We looked at the same time to my left, where the line of trees that led to miles of a forest was twenty feet away. The large black birds took off from their perch on a tree on the border. Their wings gave a low whistle as they flew away, which was barely covered with their caws as they communicated with each other.
I knew all animals were smart and communicated with each other and humans, but somehow, these ravens seemed eerily intelligent. There wasn’t anything solid for me to deem that as a fact, but my gut was never wrong about things. It was something my dad taught me to always listen to. It had saved his life while he had served in the military.
“Let’s go,” Rune said, his voice hushed but loud enough for our group.
A shiver ran up my spine, raising goosebumps along my arms. Rune grabbed my hand and led the rest of the way to the stable. When we approached it, I noticed all the singe marks that made a wide circle outside of it, like something prevented the blast of the bombs from hitting the horses inside. Large pieces of broken-off tree limbs were scattered from the hits. My eyes went round as I glanced at every scorch mark.
Someone put up a barrier to protect the animals. That had to be the only reason why they weren’t dead.
As soon as we passed through the wide opening, the smell of hay, horses, and feces hit my senses, making my head spin and stomach churn. It wasn’t the best smell, but it helped distract me from worrying about the ravens outside.
Rune didn’t leave my side to get his horse. Instead, we went to mine, still in her stall. My heart broke as she stepped to the gate, her white muzzle extending toward me. Her weary eyes went to Rune before she settled them to me and sighed. My stomach twisted, and I swallowed hard as I shoved the excruciating guilt down, never to see the surface again.
“How long has it been for them here while we were gone?” I meant for my question to sound nonchalant, but instead, it came out full of pain with a crack in my voice. It wasn’t like Rune didn’t know what was happening to me since our link was still open.
I wouldn’t cry. I couldn’t. It was stupid to get so upset over animals but I have always felt deeply for them since I could remember. Their pain was mine.
Just like the butterfly and her ripped wing.
My mare must’ve been scared or nervous from the explosions and us not returning for however long it’d been. I thanked whoever watched over her and the other horses because I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if she and the others had died.
Rune took a cautious step toward the stall with his free hand held out for my nervous mare to see he meant no harm toward her.
“Two days,” he answered softly, not wanting to spook my horse as she turned her dark eyes—that reflected her inner pain—to him. Something about her eyes made it feel like I had insight into her soul. I wasn’t sure if I was just being emotional and had a deep connection with animals, but I swear her eyes showed everything she felt.
What kind of timeline was happening with these realms? I didn’t understand why one was faster than the other. It was all too much for me to rememberanythingabout them.
My heart shattered more for my poor mare. She’d been abandoned by her last owner and was locked in the stable for who knew how long. And sadly I had left her behind too.
Was she upset with me? Did she know I wouldn’t ever leave her behind like her last person did?
My eyes drifted to the side of her, searching inside the small space she was in.
Did she have water? Food?
My chest tightened, and my stomach soured as I thought about the pain and loneliness she felt while here. I imagined her fear and panic while the town was bombed. Her racing heart and quick breaths became mine as I spiraled into the past and put myself in her place until I experienced it as she did. Through the connection, I heard whispers of her thoughts but couldn’t make them out. But I clearly experienced her fright and searching for the woman with kind eyes and blue hair.
Something fisted inside me, and just like last time, I was yanked to the surface and greeted with Rune’s narrowed ocean eyes staring into my green ones. They were shadowed with his deepest thoughts, which he kept me from hearing. I didn’t understand why he hid so much from me, and it didn’t have anything to do with fracturing my mind.
“Elskan mín.” His fingers threaded through my hair at the back of my head, pulling strands from my wet, messy bun. “It would be wise to focus on me from now on. If you wander off again and start to fade...” His eyes darkened, and he leaned in until we were nose to nose and his warm breath fanned across my lips. “I’m bringing you back with my mouth on your heavenly pussy and you screaming as you come on my tongue.”
