Page 47 of When the Wicked Sing
Spiro regarded her for a long moment, their gaze unwavering. “If you give up now, what will your sister do?”
The question cut deeper than she expected, settling over her like a suffocating weight. She shook her head slowly, burying her face in her hands. “I was stupid to think I could do this. I have no idea what I’m doing. I’m so … lost.”
The silence that followed felt heavy, but not unkind. A warm hand landed gently on her shoulder, and Mariana looked up through the tangle of her hair to find Spiro’s steady gaze.
“We all get lost sometimes, Mariana,” they said softly. “It’s part of life.” They stood slowly, their movements deliberate. “May I show you something?”
Mariana hesitated for a moment, her mind a mess of fear, doubt, and the faintest spark of curiosity. Slowly, she brushed the hair from her face and nodded. “Alright.”
Spiro’s lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. “Get dressed and meet me outside.”
Mariana blinked in surprise. “Where are we going?”
Spiro stopped at the door, their hand resting lightly on the handle. They glanced over their shoulder.
“Somewhere that’s safe for the lost to be found.”
With that, they slipped through the door, leaving Mariana alone with the lingering echo of their words.
Chapter 25
Daxtookadeepbreath of the fresh spring air, releasing it slowly as he walked toward his cabin across the bridge. As it came into view, he stopped to stare at the A-frame cabin he had built with his own hands. Memories of the years of hard work it took crossed his mind.
In Kythera, every juvenile had to build their own cabin as a rite of passage into adulthood. He remembered contemplating the design and layout for weeks before starting the project. With how many centuries that had passed since the construction, he was amazed that the cabin was still standing after all this time.
Closing his eyes, he tilted his head toward the sky and felt the first few raindrops kiss his face. The droplets cooled his heated skin. The smell of the forest wafting through the air, filling his lungs, was rejuvenating.
A shoulder bumped into his as someone sidled up beside him. He knew who it was just based on the scent. Shifting his gaze, he eyed his sister’s mischievous look.
She leaned on the railing beside him and winked one of her kohl-lined eyes. “Need a knife to shave your head and face?”
A corner of Dax’s mouth lifted, and he considered it as he ran a hand through his black hair. The motion was strangely familiar. He tried recalling a vague, blurry memory of a soft, calming touch as fingers gently stroked the longer hair on the top of his head. But just as quickly, the memory faded. He shook his head. Suddenly, he had no desire to shave.
“I’ll take care of it once we get to Aurelia.”
Kenna lifted an eyebrow at him. “You’ve always kept it so short, you look weird with hair.”
Dax tilted his head at her. “I think you’re just jealous of my gorgeous black locks,” he teased, knowing how much Kenna wished she hadn’t inherited the white streaks in her hair like Spiro.
She punched him in the shoulder and chuckled. “You’re such a jerk. I can’t stand you.”
“There’s a whole forest to be elsewhere, why don’t you find a branch to swing from or a hole to jump into?”
Their serious gazes met before they both began to chuckle.
As children, they had been the epitome of stupid. Running through the forest, jumping off boulders, swinging through the trees, even venturing into a giant snake’s den once in an attempt to steal an egg.
“Remember that time you climbed the Natura Nexus to find an eagle?” Kenna laughed. “Spiro was so mad at you.”
“Mad enough to ban me from leaving my cabin for weeks.”
Natura Nexus was the largest redwood in the center of their village, their Mother Tree. Blessed by General Cornelia herself to bring prosperity to Kythera. And climbing it as a child? Highly frowned upon.
“Ahhh, those were the times. Kinda hard to remember now, though,” Kenna said with a tilt of her head.
“It’s true, you are getting old.”
This time, Kenna pushed him, calling him all sorts of names before stepping away from the railing. “Hey, there’s someone who’s been dying to see you.”
