Page 3 of Reign of Light
Despite the initial resistance, I’m relieved she isn’t fighting Weston’s requirement harder. I don’t think she ever truly wanted to be in chargeof the Voyagers, despite being so vocal about how everyone should view me as a traitor. For someone who isn’t used to having authority to step in when there is no one else, it can be an adjustment.
That day would have been in my future, but now I’ll never know.
Before I left to return to the Voyagers, Weston and I discussed the possibility of a truce if the dust ran out without discovering how to replenish it. We expected that conversation to be with the Guardian, not with Mara, who must adjust to this new role she has taken on, as well as someone who doesn’t know everything Dane kept hidden, or the location of the waters.
Weston’s head swivels toward Roley, and the boy’s shoulders raise in a slight cower. Abandoning whatever he was going to say, Weston’s chin drops to his shoulder, his gaze finding mine as his voice lowers to a barely audible mumble.
“He’s scared of me. He can choose to come with us tonight, or wait until after we meet, but the option should come from you.”
I nod and clear my throat, trying hard not to betray the emotion that is still trapped in a knot there.
“Roley,” I call out, and his eyes dart away from Weston toward me. “You can still come with us tonight if you want, or you can wait until we figure everything out. It’s up to you.”
His eyes flicker back to Weston as he mulls over the choice. “Um, I think I’ll wait,” he says weakly.
“That’s alright, Roley,” Weston says. “Fin will be happy to see you whenever you decide.”
Roley’s face perks up at the mention of his friend, and he nods, a small smile playing at his lips. “Okay,” he says shyly.
“When are we meeting?” Mara says, pulling our attention back to her.
“Midday. When the suns are highest. We’ll see you then,” Weston says as one sword slides into its sheath. His free hand finds my lower back, and the firm pressure is conversation enough.
Let’s move.
Bending to pick up my discarded bow, I don’t bother with the dropped arrow or slinging it over my shoulder. My arms feel too heavy, and the movement feels pointless. If Mara can be trusted, there’s no threat anymore. No Dane or Storm hunting us, no ambush waiting in the trees. There’s no one to protect ourselves against any longer.
“See you soon, Roley. Mara.” I catch her stare and give her a curt nod before turning my back and striding away. After our last encounter, I didn’t think I’d ever turn my back on Mara again. By no means am I letting my guard down. Weston would be furious with me if I did, but the devastation on her face when she admitted Dane left gave me hope. After everything that happened tonight and the reality it forced her to accept, I truly don’t think she’ll hurt either of us.
“Don’t follow,” Weston orders before falling into step behind me, his heavy footsteps catching mine easily. We move quickly but quietly, putting as much distance between us and them as we can. Just as the portal comes into sight, Weston’s mumble breaks the silence.
“Keep walking. I won’t risk Mara’s curiosity.”
Shadows from the towering trees of the dark forest fall over us as we briskly walk past the portal, following the curve of the path until we are no longer in their direct line of sight. The firm press of Weston’s hand disappears from my back, only to be replaced by his fingers lacing through mine, squeezing my hand tightly.
“Near the falls,” he says, and we quickly weave through the boulder-lined pathways until we’re standing in front of the trapdoor. Weston halts, his arm wrapping around my back and his hand settling on my hip as he looks around, making sure no one followed despite not hearing any trailing footsteps. He bends and lifts the lid, ushering me inside, and follows closely behind.
The roar of the falls disappears the moment the trapdoor shuts with a thud, and thick silence fills the dim tunnel as the weight of what just happened settles over us.
The moment we are alone, cracks splinter through my facade, and the strength Weston urged me to hold on to shatters.
Short, rapid breaths rise in my chest as the finality of our situation threatens to suffocate me. I clench my fists tightly, trying to squeeze away the numbness in my fingertips and focus on slowing my breathing, but it’s too much. I can’t stop it. Spinning around, I look up into Weston’s face, unsure if I’ll find a mirror to the emotions cascading through my body, threatening to burst.
His brows draw in, and worry and concern coat his features as his eyes dance between mine. A hint of shame settles in my chest as I watch him stay strong, but when his gaze flickers to my quivering chin, then back to my eyes, I see there’s more hiding beneath the surface.
Understanding.
Weston knows exactly what turmoil I’m trying to contain because deep down, he feels it too. He knows what it is to hold the responsibility for those around him and the sacrifice it takes to put everyone else first. He feels the failure of our attempts to get home, and the crushing defeat of losing our last shred of hope, but he’s not succumbing to it. He’s staying strong so that I don’t have to anymore.
Wordlessly he steps closer, opening his arms wide enough so I can fall into them.
And I do.
My bow clatters to the ground as the first sob rips from my throat, breaking the fragile dam I constructed in front of Mara and Roley. The tears and cries come freely then, sobs rolling one after another as the weight of my body and everything it has been holding up falls into him. Uncontrollable strangled noises echo through the tunnel, hardly recognizable to my own ears. Tears stream down my cheeks, and my eyes squeeze shut, as if I can will this all away by pretending I didn’t see that empty pouch.
Weston wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into him and holding me tight. His fingers weave through my hair as his handcradles the back of my head and presses my face into his chest. I barely feel his lips on the top of my head as he holds me upright until his words fall on my ears.
“I know.”
