Page 19 of Curse of Thorns
Caelynn and I spent a lot of time together during the trials, but in all of that, despite becoming extremely vulnerable, we were rarely this close physically. We never touched, not if we could help it.
She’s not going to stay, I remind myself.
My conflicting feelings for her don’t matter. I can’t be attracted to her; I’m not allowed to want her. Because, with any luck, in a matter of days, I’ll be inside the Schorchedlands, and when I return, she’ll be sent right back to the human world.
It won’t matter. So long as I don’t let myself get too entangled in her.
The future our magic intended for us can never come to pass. It’s up to us how much that fact shatters us in the process.
Caelynn
My hands rest gentlyon Rev’s waist, and I torture myself, running through every place our bodies are currently touching. On every feeling, every shift of our bodies. The way we move together with the rhythm of this beautiful stag’s clomping hooves.
Stupid mind. Stupid body. Stupid magic.
Prince Reveln of the Luminescent Court might need my help. He might even trust me. But he won’t ever want me. And even if he does, what difference does it make? I’m doomed. My future set.
Whatever might have been, the residual feelings between us will be snuffed out soon enough.
Rev’s muscles are tense; I can tell because my body is flush against his.
“What you thinking about?” I ask casually.
He clears his throat, shoulders straightening. “Nothing.”
I snort. Perhaps he feels uncomfortable about our closeness because he dislikes it. I bite my lip and shift away from him. I don’t get very far. This saddle isn’t made for two people.
The stag clomps through the lush green forest, right on the edge of a stony mountain range. These are the mountains our friend Tyadin spent basically all of his childhood. As half-dwarf, he’s short, stalky, and hairy, and he has an affinity for stone. It’s his magical element as well, which came in handy as our ally during the trials.
He’s likely the only other person in this entire magical world I trust. And to be honest, that trust only goes so far, even with Rev.
Raven. Raven, I trust entirely. But she’s in a whole different world now.
I let out a long breath, allowing myself to miss her. She was my light during my banishment to the human world. She was the only person to ever give me hope.
I know I was bad for her, but I can’t help but miss the way she looked at me. Like I was something prized. Something precious. Something to be cherished.
