Page 37 of The Stone Curse
“Are you sure you don’t need to rest?” Shar asked me. “You and Levi have done a lot of driving.”
“She’s right,” Curi said, stifling a yawn. “We should all get some sleep.”
“We can park and get some shut-eye.”
“We probably should have stayed in town for a few hours,” Ginia said. “Gotten some rooms.”
“And paid for a whole day?” Palia looked affronted. “No way.”
“I’m fine.” I stifled a yawn of my own. “Okay, maybe I’m not.”
The road was bordered by woodland, an empty stretch where our van was the only vehicle.
“There’s a track coming up on the left,” Levi said. “Pull in there, and we can take a nap.”
I swung us onto the track, wheels bumping along uneven ground as I took us a little way along the trail and deeper into the cover of trees before killing the engine.
“Is it safe here?” Palia asked, peering out of the windows.
“A van filed with gargoyles?” Ginia said. “I think we’re safe.”
“I will keep watch,” Derek said.
“You need to rest too,” Shar reminded him. “Yarrow said sleep is essential for your development.”
“I can sleep later,” Derek said. He lowered himself onto the floor closest to the door, legs crossed.
I climbed out of the driver’s seat, careful not to step on Derek, to find that all the seats were taken.
“There’s room here,” Curi called from the longer back seat. It was a deeper seat than the others.
“Or if you want a seat to yourself,I’llsnuggle with Mason,” Touron said with a cheeky grin.
“Cameron can sleep in my lap,” Derek offered.
“I can take the front passenger seat,” Levi said. “You can have my spot here.” He made to get up.
I held up my hands. “It’s fine. I’m good.” I shooed Levi back down. “It’s too cramped in the front. My thighs ache from driving, and you’re much taller than me. I’ll share with Curi.”
Curi moved over to make room, lying on his side so I could lie down next to him. He put his arm around me to anchor me to him, and I snuggled close. I was used to hugs from him. Used tobeing close, but this was my first time sleeping with him. There was no discomfort, though. No sense of awkwardness.
“You good?” he asked, his voice low.
“Mmmm…You?”
“I’m good.”
My eyelids drifted closed, warm lethargy infusing my limbs.
Bladesof lush grass tickle my bare feet as I walk toward a circle of light. The world around me is dark and empty, and I know, instinctively, not to stray from this grassy trail. The light ahead holds warm golden hues that invite me to safety, but the darkness watches me, waiting for me to slip up so it can take a bite. The closer I get to the light, the more the dark presses in until there’s nothing but a narrow strip of grass to guide me. I pick up my pace, falling into a jog then a full sprint that takes me into the light, leaving the hungry dark behind.
Sunlight stings my eyes, and the world is fuzzy at the edges, giving the impression of greenery and flora, but my attention is drawn to the one spot of clarity in this strange vista: a lake with three benches lined along it, two brown with a bright red one in the center that houses a figure with his back to me. That back…That form…
My heart leaps. “Serath?”
The figure tenses and turns his head, offering me his profile.
“Serath!” I rush forward, and he stands abruptly to face me.
