Page 124 of Trial of Thorns
Should I confront them about the truth I uncovered?
How do I face the public, who will undoubtedly know I aligned with Caelynn, my brother’s murderer?
This, here on the sand beside a blazing fire and two people I’d have never expected to call friends even just days ago, is so much simpler.
Caelynn still terrifies me. Confuses me. Allures me.
But this is preferable to what I’ll face back in the Flicker Court.
The three of us plan our journey for tomorrow before we head to bed. We’ll make our way back through the scourge wake, into the shadow lands, through the portal in the Whisperwood, and then through the second portal into the flicker lands. Through the desert and back to the thorn gates.
The distance is long, but the way should be easy enough.
Caelynn
Ispend much of thenight tossing and turning in the soft sand—a much better bed than we’ve had in days. I must have fallen into a tentative sleep at one point because I rouse at the sound of someone walking through the sand.
“There’s someone here to see you,” Tyadin whispers through the darkness. I sit up immediately, panic already filling my limbs.
Tyadin nods toward the tree line where the fluttering of wings and soft chatter of a bird chirping can be heard. I clench my jaw, angry with Raven for putting herself at risk again. Tyadin lies back onto the sand, Rev’s eyes are open, but he doesn’t stir.
I sigh and march toward the wild brush.
The moment I see her, I flick my hand breaking the illusion. I must have put more force into it than I intended because she stumbles, her back slamming into a tree. “Ow. What the hell, Cae?”
“What the hell, to you too,” I say, crossing my arms. “I told you to stay away. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
Raven pouts. “I thought you’d be happy to see me. I haven’t talked to you in days.”
I take in a long breath.
“Unless... you just don’t want me around?”
The image of Brielle snapping her neck sends a shiver down my spine. “Not if it means your death. The others saw you today.” My voice is sharp, unrelenting. She winces.
“I was warning you...” Her voice is high-pitched.
