Page 108 of Walking in Darkness
The fear of what was coming.
A sense that buzzed at my spirit’s periphery.
The truth that it was coming, and it was coming fast.
I stepped out of the shower, dried off with the towel Dani had left for me, pulled on a fresh pair of underwear and a pair of jeans, then walked back out into the bedroom.
Dani was on the bed on her side, curled around Aria.
When she noticed me there, she pressed her lips to Aria’s temple and whispered her belief to her friend. Her sister. Their bond so great that I could feel it filling the room.
“You can do this, Aria. You are so strong. I’ve witnessed it my whole life. Have felt how special you are. But this? What happened tonight? You are extraordinary. You hold the answer, and you cannot let them win.”
Without saying anything else, she climbed down from the bed, walked out of the room, and quietly snapped the door shut behind her.
Then I crawled into the bed and curled myself around Aria the way Dani had done.
Breathed my faith into her.
My hope.
My need.
Praying the connection would keep her anchored.
That she’d know where she belonged.
With me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Pax—Tearsith
Pax emerged in Tearsith with Aria in his arms. His bond so strong that he was sure when he’d fallen asleep, he had somehow carried her spirit there.
She was still limp, though her steady breaths filled him with the hope that he’d thought he’d lost.
He stumbled out into the meadow. None of their Laven family was there. All of them would have long descended to fight the battle in Faydor.
Pax sank down to the soft grass with Aria in the nest of his arms.
He rocked her there with her on his lap, his face tilted toward the placid sky that always welcomed them like an embrace.
His spirit moaned, begging for an answer.
How do we stop this? How can we win this when we don’t understand what we’re fighting against?
He didn’t expect an answer.
Valeen had always been a mystery to him. Maybe even a fable. Fabricated to give them answers for who they were. For the existence he had never understood.
But sitting there, rocking her in his arms, he thought he knew. He thought he might understand, even if it was obscured.
And within it, the softest voice tinkled in his ear. Somewhere at the edge of awareness.
A voice that whispered, “You must rise with her. Stand at her side and never let go.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
