Page 94 of A Blightress of Wrath
“Ihaven’t been able to do that in years!”Pompeiilaughed delightedly, picking another piece and handing it toRevichto try.Hepulled the blade taut and blew, a dull sound winding out.
Icould have stood there for hours admiring the peopleIloved as they sat in moments of carefree happiness that were too few and far between as of late.
Revglanced between the trees, likely feeling me there.Hissmile could have knocked me down in its beauty.Hejumped up from the ground, jogging to me to lift and twirl in the air.Ilet the platter crash to the forest floor, burying my face into his neck as he whispered at my ear, “Youclever little weaver of lungs, you.Howon earth did you do it?”
Ismiled into his neck. “Ipulled fromFelgren.Thoselungs come directly from this forest.Ishe doing well?”
Revpulled my head back to look at me in his swirling gaze of blue. “Betterthan well.Hecan breathe easier than he has in years.”Hetook my hands and brought them to his lips, finally noticing the stain across my dress. “Isthis blood?”
“Yes.Frommy hands.Itried to get it out.”Ipulled at the fabric.
“Pompeii’sblood?”
“No, it was mine.”
Heturned my hands over, looking for wounds. “Whywere your hands bleeding?”Hiseyes dropped to the broken platter fallen to the ground nearby.
“Iaccidentally broke the platter and cut myself.”
Hiseyes met mine, still holding my hands up to his face. “Hespoke to you, didn’t he?”
“Howdid you know?”
“I’vecome to understandAdaynthbetter these past few months.Ican think of two ancient beings in this world who could make you as angry asIfelt you were not long ago.Whatdid he say?”
Iglanced to the conduits andOverseeras they gathered themselves to head back to theFortress,Moirahovering inFiguerah’sshadow. “Hetold me what he told you.Waitingwill not work.Shewill come and take me, and you will not survive it.”
Hestared down at the grass behind me with a painIhated to see crossing his mouth. “Wehave resources.WehaveViridis, even in its repairs.Wewill spend all of our time there, searching for something that might help us and practicing.”
“Practicing?”Iasked.
“Shieldsand portals.”Hedrifted a hand over our growing child. “Atsome point, you will be able to enter aBaronportal again and make some of your own.Pompeiiwas able to bring some books on shielding out ofViridiswhileIwaited for you to leave the portal.Iwant you to read them.Iwant you to be practicing every spare moment you have.”
“Everyspare moment?”Irose my brows.
“Ifwe—”Hesighed in a heavy pause, bringing my knuckles back up to his mouth to trail with kisses. “Ifwe can shield this forest, we might be able to keep theBlightressout of it.”
“Truly?”
“Ibelieve it can be done.You’llstart tonight.Iwant you pulling on all three sources of your power to perfect your shielding ability.”
Istepped back from his touch, a haze of green light engulfing my body, sheer but strong. “We’llpractice now.”
Hesmirked, holding a hand up to the wall of power and pressing hard. “Good,Karus.”Hissmile grew across his face and his eyes lit in a promiseIknew was coming.
Ilifted my chin, backing up to a tree. “Justtry to get through,BaronRevich.”
Hetilted his head, his eyes flashing in the challenge as he slowly stepped forward, his body on the other side of the powerIheld. “Areyou practicing or teasing,BaronKarus?”
Iclosed my eyes, breathing deep, allowing myself to send my love for him down our tether.Iwould not spend my days in constant worry.Iwould not forsake the time we had.EachdayIwoke up next to him was one of joy and happiness that he was near.Openingmy eyes,Igrinned, letting him feel allIcould feel. “Ilove you,Rev.”
Heshook his head, pressing on the shield with his power, melding my walls ofFelgrengreen with his deep blue into a swirling tealI’dseen before. “No,” he started.Hishand fell through, andIwidened the shield to bring him in, too.Hecupped the back of my neck, his thumbs running along the base of my jaw. “No, you don’t get to say it like that ifIcan’t touch you.”
“Ilove you,”Isaid again.
Hehuffed, shaking his head. “Iwould say you cannot know what those words do to me, but you do.”Hebrought my hand to lay flat over his chest. “Youbreathe,Ibreathe.”
Inodded, fighting back the tears. “Youlive,Ilive.”
