Page 47 of A Warrior's Heart

Though brief, the seer glanced at me. “I see many paths for the future, each one intertwined with the decisions you make along the way. Victory will come at a price. The extent of that price rests in your hands.” He bowed his head. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m very tired.”

“Of course,” I said. “Sleep well.”

“And you. I will wake to see you off in the morning.” Phantos bowed his head before disappearing into the cave.

His words ran through my head. I would need to make a decision, and if I chose wrong, Lorcan would fail?

“Do not worry your mind over it now.” Malik smoothed his thumb over my knuckles. “Your bed awaits.”

I followed him into the cave and to the room where the others lay with feather pillows and cushions. Phantos had done his best to make us comfortable during our stay. Lorcan and Alek were cuddled together, and Reif, though sitting against the back wall, rested with his eyes closed. Shar and Ervin slept near the cave entrance, away from the rest of us. I was certain they’d take turns keeping watch.

Malik guided me over to Lorcan. I lay down and he pulled the blanket to my chest, tucking me in like he used to do so many times when I was younger. It felt different now though, each touch lingering a little more.

“Are you not sleeping?” I asked as Malik began to walk away.

“Not yet.”

“Malik.”

He turned back to me, his large body seeming even bigger in the small space of the cave.

“You’re exhausted,” I said, noting the dark circles under his eyes. “You need to rest.”

“I will rest later.”

“Everything is alwayslaterto you,” I mumbled. “You can’t keep going as you are.” I patted the spot beside me. “Come here.”

He hesitated before walking over and sitting beside me.

“All the way down,” I said, pushing on his shoulder.

A snarl curled his lips.

“Snarl all you want to, but I’m not leaving you alone until you sleep. We begin a long walk back to the ship tomorrow, and you look as if you’ll collapse any moment.”

Nereus looked at us from his spot near the wall and chuckled before laying his head back on the pillow. Malik shot him a glare, then blew out a sharp breath.

“Very well.” He lay down, staring up at the ceiling. “But only for a moment.”

A moment turned into much longer. Not even a warrior such as himself could fight sleep forever. His muscles remained tense for a while, but eventually, his body relaxed and his eyelids fell shut.

I smiled and nestled against his arm, breathing in his scent of warm spice and leather. My favorite smell in the whole world.

***

“I would kill for a blackberry tart.” I stepped over a large rock and squinted my eyes against the harsh sun attacking my sensitive eyes. “No. Lemon cake. Definitely lemon cake.”

“How you can think of sweet treats in this heat is beyond me,” Lorcan said, wiping the sweat off his brow.

The day was much hotter than any other one I’d experienced while in the surface world. The hours of trekking through the uneven landscape and muggy air made the heat even more unbearable. I yearned to shed my clothes and dive into cool water, but alas, the only water close enough was in my flask. I drank the last of it and sighed when I was still thirsty.

“Here.” Malik handed me his.

“You need it.” I gently pushed his hand away. “You drink it.”

“I’m not thirsty,” Malik said in a steady tone, unlike the breathy one I’d used that made me sound like I was moments from keeling over. “Now drink before I make you.”

“Better do as he says, my friend,” Lorcan said. He’d pulled his silver hair back with a leather strap, and his pointed ears jutted out even more than usual.