Page 202 of A Fate in Flames

It hurt to think of what they might do to us.To think of what he might do to me.

“We’ll figure it out.”

They exchanged a look, but I chose to ignore it.

I had to have faith.

Maybe he would take us back.Maybe he would understand.

Maybe, just maybe, he felt enough for me to not want to hurt us.

Or maybe we were fucked.

There were only two choices.

Stay here and die or go back and hope we don’t die.

The sun dipped lower, shadows stretching long across the ground, when the world around us began to feel familiar.

My bones knew it before my mind did.

“We will reach her by tomorrow,” Tavrik confirmed.

Relief and fear churned in my stomach, like swallowing something that wanted to come back up.

We hadn’t stopped yet for the day.We hadn’t bathed or eaten anything substantial.Our skin was burnt from the sun and our legs shaking from overuse.

We deserved a break.

Theo built the fire, with Tavrik throwing dry grass and twigs into the flames, coaxing it to life.The heat wrapped around us like a blanket against the night’s chill.

We collapsed onto the ground, groaning in relief.I actually wept as I stretched out my legs, rubbing at muscles that felt like they’d been beaten.

The stone was a burden in my palm.My hand was slick with sweat, but I refused to let go.I wouldn’t risk dropping it.Not now.Not when we were this close.

None of us spoke, too tired to even entertain the idea of conversation.

I curled into Theo, pressing my face against his shoulder, and the world disappeared.

I had no idea how long I slept before jolting awake.

Not from nightmares, as my sleep had been mercifully dreamless, but from a presence hovering over me—dragging me up from unconsciousness like from deep water.

I pulled away from Theo, careful not to wake him.He stirred slightly, making a soft sound, but remained asleep.

I scanned the darkness, squinting against the shifting shadows.

Nothing, though the feeling still lingered.Like eyes watching me beyond the firelight.

Fear tore through me.My hand had gone numb from gripping the stone for so long—could I have dropped it?I opened my fist slowly, sighing in relief.

It was still there, but the darkness inside seemed more agitated, the swirls slamming against the edges as if it might break free.

A shiver raced up my spine.The power was restless, almost hungry.Like it wanted to be used.

The fire was now nothing more than dying embers, glowing like fallen stars.The sky had begun to lighten, the first breath of dawn stretching across the horizon.

I sat in the silence while the world woke up around us.