Page 50 of A Blightress of Wrath
SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER
Itshould have been us.
Itshould have been everything we worked for, wanted, dreamed.
Ido not hold the hand of hope.
Ifight in the dusk of fear, simmering in rage and agony.
Chapter26
Saelyn
Thevinspoke softly,quietly, easing me into the reality of the worldIwould face outside of the forest that raised me.I’dbeen sheltered all my seventeen years.Iknew that.ButIdid not realize the depth of the false lifeIlived inFelgren.
HowcouldIhave known the horrors that awaited just outside my mother’s shield of crystalized green shards?HowcouldIever have imagined the dire need for my mother’s army of magic wielders to defeat thisBlightress?
IwatchedThevinin silence, taking in what he told me about the creatures he had faced, the friends he had lost.
Ididn’t know loss—Iknew loneliness and discontent.
Thevin, however, knew them all.He’dfaced each one in his life and somehow still came back every summer—happy, carefree, teasing me and falling…for me.
Itcould be thatIwas different enough in his life that he wanted to cling to those summers to avoid what he knew was the truth.Andwith that thought, a new fear rose within me.Whatif he did not want to be withme, but he wanted those warm summer days instead of his cold, dark ones?Whatif he wanted the innocence of a young woman who didn’t know the horrors he knew?
“Thankyou for sharing this,”Iwhispered in a rasp as he finished his last story of battle.Ipulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders, breaking my gaze from him to watch the flames dance in my hearth. “Thankyou for telling me the truth.”Ireached out and took his hand. “I’mso sorry,Thevin.I’mso sorry you’ve lived with these burdens, andIwasn’t there to be your friend through all of them.”
Heglanced at me and then around the room. “You’vealways been with me,Sae.I’vealways had this place to hope to come back to.”Hewove his fingers through mine and kissed the back of my hand. “I’vealways had you to come back to.”
Myheart raced at his touch.Butthat inkling of fear grew, fueled by my own inexperience of life.Somethingtold me what he hoped for was just a dream.Somethingtold me that ifIwas willing to take the risk of becoming his,I’dneed to first prove to him thatIwas more than just a girl trapped in the safety of a forest.
Icould do what he did.Icould fight.Ihad power,Iwas strong, andIcould show him thatIwas more than a simple girl who danced through wildflowers.Then, he’d see a different side of me.Then, he could decide ifIwas what he truly wanted or just a dream to chase away the nightmares he faced.
“Tellme what you’re thinking,” he urged, andItook my hand back from his.
“I’mthinkingI’mready.I’mthinking it’s about timeIleave this place and become useful.I’mthinking,”Ipaused, watching his lips tug upward. “I’mthinking it’s time for bed.”
Irose from the floor, flicking the blanket into the air and back onto my bed, pulling down the sheets and fluffing the pillows.Hereached the other side of the bed and grabbed one along with the blanket.
“I’lltake the chaise,” he muttered, tossing the bedding he’d hoarded onto the long lounge chair.
“Youdon’t want to sleep in the bed?”We’dslept in my bed together plenty of times as children.
Hefell back onto the chair, arms behind his head, kicking his boots to the floor and crossing his feet at the ankles which fell past the length of the chaise. “Iwon’t get a wink of sleep with the way you toss around while you sleep.”
Adecorative pillow, embroidered with a field of yellow buttercups, hit him square in the face, jolting him from his cool indifference.Hesat up, tossing his blanket aside.
“Fine,”Isaid cooly, “sleep on your lounge chair, but don’t come crawling to me when you fall off in the middle of the night.”Ilaughed, pulling my night clothes from the armoire.Whenhe didn’t respond to my playful jab,Ilooked over my shoulder to see him sitting up, elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands over his face, muttering something to himself.
Cursingwords that would give me a scolding fromPah-Pah,Ipadded to his side, sitting next to him. “Itmust have been hard for you,”Ispoke lightly. “Torelive all of what you’ve seen out there.”Ilaid my head on his shoulder. “I’lltake the chaise, you take the bed.I’llfit better on this thing anyway.”
Hepeeked out from his hands. “I’mnot taking your bed from you.Andon your birthday of all nights.”
“Mybed is enormous.”Igestured to the gargantuan thing.Thelarge headboard and footboard were carved from a maple tree with etchings of flowers, trees, and delicate creatures with wings. “Ipromise to stick to one side and leave you completely to the other.”Inudged his arm. “Youwon’t even knowI’mthere.”
Helaughed, rich and full, tilting his head back in the moment and leaving me confused as to what was so funny.Istood up, taking my night clothes with me and headed to my washing room calling, “I’vewon this argument.Besides, we need good rest before our journey tomorrow, so come wash your face and brush your teeth!”Thelast wordIshouted beforeIclosed the door.Ishimmied out of my cerulean gown, quickly stepping into my soft cotton pants and pulling my nightshirt over my head.Asoft knock came andIkicked aside my dress, opening the door forThevinto join me.Ibegan to braid my long, black waves back as he leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed.
Helooked me up and down and chuckled.
