Page 56 of The Stone Curse
“Um…why are you talking like a character from a historical novel?” Ginia asked.
“I knew you’d been raiding my stash!” Palia said to her sister.
“So what? I love a good bodice ripper.”
“Touron?” Shar said, her tone stern. “Cameron?”
Touron looked to me sheepishly. “I probably should have mentioned I’m a shit liar.”
He really was, but, “You managed to keep your romance with Selas a secret.”
“Only because no one confronted me about it.”
“Hello?” Shar waved a hand. “What happened with Yarrow?”
I trusted each person in this room with my life. “Okay, so this is what Yarrow thinks…”
I filled them in on the black crystal, Yarrow’s theory, and how he felt Mirrowind could help.
“And he counseled you to keep it a secret?” Shar asked.
“Even from me?” Derek looked hurt.
I ran a hand down my face. “I don’t even know what I was thinking. I trust you guys with my life.” I smiled at Derek. “Especially you.”
“But I get it,” Palia said. “The more people that know, the more chance that they might speak about it to each other, and someone else might overhear.”
“So we agree not to speak of it,” Derek said. “We don’t speak of anything important or vital unless we here, in this tower.”
“Agreed,” Shar said.
“Now come watch the movie,” Palia said. “It’s only just started.”
“I’m in.” Touron climbed over the back of the sofa and settled beside her, but I begged off, hands in the air.
“I think I’m gonna curl up with a book.”
“I didn’t know you read,” Palia said, eyes brightening.
“It’s been a while, but I fancy it tonight.” I wandered over to the bookshelf across the room and ran my finger across the spines. “I’m sure I’ll find something.” The titles meant nothing, so I grabbed three at random. “These’ll do. I’ll see you for breakfast.” I ducked out of the room before anyone could stop me.
A few weeks ago, I’d have wanted nothing more than to hang out with them, but now there was a strange comfort in solitude. Solitude, my thoughts, and dreams.
I wanted to sleep. To dream. I wanted to find Serath again and ask him if he was real. If he was alive.
I needed to know if my suspicions were correct. I needed to know that I wasn’t going crazy.
This timethere is no grassy path. This time I find myself standing by the red bench opposite the lake, and there is no sign of Serath.
The world is fuzzy at the edges as if it’s been erased by invisible forces, and I’m gripped with a sense of urgency. “Serath! Serath, where are you?”
A finger of awareness slides up my spine to rest at my nape.
“Here,” Serath says from behind me.
I turn to face him, and ice pricks at my senses. He looks gaunt, his eyes dark smudges in his face, his skin pale and drawn.
“Serath? What’s happening? What’s?—”
