Page 51 of Blood of the Fallen
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, squeezing me so hard my neck arched.
“Thank you,” I said breathlessly.
When she let me go, Maki stepped up. “Your sister is made of the same sturdy stuff you are.” He clumsily elbowed Ila in the ribs.
“Ouch.” Ila hugged her side and gave him a sidelong glance.
He scratched the back of his neck and glanced up, apparently very interested in the passing clouds.
Bethel approached next, followed by Novuk. “What did you think of my ghostwalker? Pretty realistic, right?”
I threw my hands up in the air. “I never suspected it wasn’t real.”
“That’s because she’s the most skilled witch I know,” Novuk said, grinning from ear to ear.
“I wish there was time for celebration,” Chieftess Yura’s voice rose above the others, “but a long trip awaits tomorrow, so let’s begin our preparations.”
People whined and moaned, reminding me of young children ordered to do homework. Still, they dispersed and got to work.
As everyone started walking away, Kall was left in their wake. He was regarding me in a strange way, an emotion I couldn’t name settling deep in his green eyes. He took a step forward and placed a hand on my face, his thumb caressing my cheekbone.
“If anyone was still in doubt,” he said, “those doubts will be gone after today.”
He was referring to Bethel’s augury. I didn’t tell him he was wrong. I still had plenty of doubts myself. There was no telling what the next trial would be, and whether it would involve a skill I didn’t have.
“I’m also proud of you,” Kall added, that emotion glinting in his eyes again, and that was when I realized it was the same look Ila had given me after she hugged me.
Pride.
As he went on gazing at me, I realized that no one had really ever looked at me like that. What I thought had been pride in the magistrates’ eyes hadn’t been that at all. It had been something else entirely. It was expectation, a nod that meant I had finally given them what they were looking for.
Right there, in front of everyone, Kall leaned in and kissed me sweetly on the cheek. My insides melted, and I knew the rest of the night I wouldn’t be able to do anything but think of his tender touch.
CHAPTER 20
Beforethesunrosethe next day, all the necessities were packed and on everyone’s back, and not only that, we were on our way. Like many others, I glanced back at the camp as we walked away. I saw the longing in everyone’s faces, and I knew my expression matched theirs to perfection. I’d only been here a few days, and I already thought of the place as home. I didn’t want to leave, but there was no other choice. If we were to have peace, we had to, once and for all, defeat the Academy.
Unlike the last time we’d traveled, I had the energy to keep up without the need for Bethel’s honeycombs. I trekked at the pace that the Chieftess set, even with a large pack on my back, loaded with the pieces of Ila’s tent, my bedroll, and other odds and ends.
The kids had more energy than anyone else and spent half the morning scampering up and down the front and back of the line, chasing each other and playing hide and seek.
After a few hours, we stopped by a stream to refill our water skins and take a rest. I drank my fill, sitting on a rock and watching the Mesickek pack members.
For the first time, Odinah seemed comfortable enough to peel the covers away from the baby, and I almost gasped when she revealed what appeared to be a cherub sent from the heavens. The baby was a girl, and she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen. She had fluffy red curls and huge forest-green eyes. Her cheeks were apple red, dotted with freckles, and her button nose was absolutely adorable. Tiny pointed ears poked through from her already-thick hair. She was a great mix of both her parents.
Delthomir sat on a log next to his wife, his finely chiseled face placid as he observed a yellow butterfly circling around his head. Gently, he lifted a thinly boned hand, his index finger held higher than the others. I blinked in surprise when the butterfly perched there, gently opening and enclosing its wings, allowing the Fae to admire it.
“Miaren weelen, Kessalia,” Delthomir spoke in his language to the baby in a voice as sweet as honeysuckle and lowered the butterfly to her forehead. The insect perched there for a few seconds while the baby stared at it cross-eyed.
Delthomir and his wife exchanged a smile, which I couldn’t help but share. It was the sweetest interaction I’d seen between parents and their kids, and it made me long for what the Academy had stolen from me.
Our rest didn’t last long, and we were soon back on our feet, trekking toward the Blackcrest mountains—witch territory. I glanced sidelong at Bethel, who walked in silence, staring at the ground, a line of worry etched across her forehead.
As we went, I paid closer attention to our surroundings, trying to memorize the path back home. I recognized a few markers from our last trip, but it would take several more trips for me to feel confident about the correct trajectory.
We’d only been walking a couple of hours when we halted again. “Why are we stopping here?” I asked Kall, sidling up to him.
“Watch,” he said with a wink that made me want to tear his clothes off right then and there.
