Page 194 of Serpent In White
drake
I awaken at the feel of a shift beneath my skin.
Blinking groggily over my tired eyes, I try to remember where I am.
Right. I’m still on the mountain. In the clearing.
We had fully planned to go back down after fooling around some more, but then we passed out. And I get it. I’m exhausted from all theactivities.
Rolling onto my side, I face Darian and Abdiel, both sleeping soundly, wearing each other like a second skin. My mouth twists at its corners.
I love them.
The things we accepted last night… The truths we found together and the sacrifices we made together…
This is how it’s supposed to be.
This is the balance.Ourorder. It makes sense. It feelsright.
My King, and my Prince… and…
My head whips around.
I don’t see Rhiannon anywhere.
Sitting up slowly, my eyes scan all over the general vicinity, wondering if maybe she had to pee or something.
But I don’t see her.
Rising on shaky legs, muscles strained all over my body, I twirl and twirl around the clearing.
The black rock isn’t visible… And neither is Rhiannon.
My pulse is picking up fast, thumping in my neck as my chest tightens.
Tightensas if someone’s holding me.
I glance down at Darian. His eyelids are fluttering in his sleep.
He’s mumbling out nonsense.
At the snap of a twig, my head shifts. Thirty feet off in the distance, at the overlook, strawberry blonde hair floats in the breeze.
My eyes widen. My stomach plummets.
She smiles.
She steps…
Over the edge.
My hand reaches out.
No!
My heart screams.
I dive forward, reaching… But I’m too far.
