Page 22

I carefully approached the edge of a massive crater. Deep within the depression, a pyre of ice-white fire flickered through the smoke.

“A meteor,” I guessed as Rowen emerged through the lingering whorls of dust.

“Perhaps,” Rowen replied, joining me on the precarious ledge. His face was streaked with dirt, but he was otherwise unharmed.

Maddock flanked my other side, his weight sending a small avalanche of rock downward.

The smoke cleared and revealed a massive rock shining as brightly as the moon.

It was breathtaking and thrumming with heavenly veins of light and luminous matter.

The deep, resonant hum reverberated through the ground and traveled up my legs and into my fingertips.

It felt like a piece of my essence had descended to earth, a star truly within my grasp, pulsating with the ethereal energy that seemed to flow within my veins.

“That’s incredible,” Rowen said. “I can feel the heat from up here.”

“Well, this has been lovely. Can we go now?” Maddock asked nervously. “It could be dangerous.”

I stepped closer to the edge, my fingers itching to touch the glowing rock as overlapping whispers of time, millennia, and cosmic secrets filled my head.

A strong grip landed on my shoulder, momentarily snapping me out of my trance. “Your eyes,” Maddock said with a gasp.

My gaze darted to Rowen. “Keira, your eyes are glowing as bright as the stone.”

My throat constricted, and I turned back to the fallen rock. “This is no place for a star,” I said, staring into its depths. It was hard to tell where one light ended and the other began. But the meteor slowly flickered out like a dying bulb, fading until it settled into pitch-black obsidian.

“Can I please just get you both home now?” Maddock moaned, more concerned about us than I thought was necessary. “It’s been a day, Keira. Rowen didn’t take his eyes off you all night. He needs rest. So do you. You were dead for twenty minutes, at least.”

My breath caught in my throat. “You performed chest compressions on me for that long?”

“I did,” he said, sounding beyond exhausted himself. “Did you think Rowen would let me stop until you started breathing again?”

I glanced between my soul flame and the man who’d pumped air into my lungs. We were all half-dressed, tired, and filthy. And as much as I was sure Rowen hated to admit it, he said, “Madds’ is right. We need to leave. There could be more falling debris. It’s not safe here.”

I reluctantly agreed, and without another word, we all turned from the crater’s edge when suddenly, the earth slipped beneath Maddock’s foot, and he lost his balance. He stumbled backward, crying out, and an unbidden wave of dread washed over me as I watched him fall.

Rowen’s strong hand darted out, catching Maddock by the front of his shirt. Maddock flailed back, but Rowen’s grip held firm, balancing him on the precipice of the crater.

Rowen wouldn’t even have to push Maddock for him to fall; he would just have to let go. Maddock’s eyes widened in terror as he realized his life teetered in Rowen’s hands.

The moment stretched on, the two of them locked in a silent battle. I swore I saw a flicker of contemplation cross Rowen’s face. It was as if he were considering letting Maddock fall to his death. Their broad chests heaved into each other, their breaths ragged as they awaited Rowen’s decision.

Before I could react, Rowen launched Maddock back onto solid ground. The bond thief stumbled and rolled onto his back.

“I thought you were going to let me fall,” Maddock panted, raising his head to glance at Rowen over his heaving chest.

“For a moment, I thought I was too,” Rowen said, running his hands down his face. “A life for a life. Now we’re even.”

We came upon the wooden dwellings, and already, I could hear water flowing throughout the village.

Elves exited their domes to start the day, their pointed ears flexing at the sound of running water.

Realization dawned on them as cries of disbelief and joy filled the air.

Their celebration drew attention as more villagers gathered to see the commotion.

Cheers ran wild as the forest elves sprinted towards the creeks and rivers, jumping in, hugging, and filling their canteens to the brim.

I made eye contact with Dyani from across the way. She dipped her chin, acknowledging what I had done for her village. The warrior turned to nearby elves, her mouth moving with words I couldn’t decipher.

Their gazes fell upon me with appreciation, thanking me with smiles and bows.

I nodded back, feeling a bit embarrassed that I still wore Rowen’s shirt.

“Looks like the drought is over,” Maddock said, smiling at the celebrating elves. He lingered as if he wasn’t ready to return to his cell.

“Thank you for your help,” I replied, weary to the bone. It was an awkward goodbye to the man who helped save my life, but I desperately needed to wash this ordeal from my skin.

His eyes pierced mine, and he grinned. “No problem.”

Warring emotions overcame me, but I returned his smile before walking away.

Rowen and I headed straight to our private bathing chamber, and I sighed in relief as the stone basin ran full. The cascading waterfalls filled the tub and sprinkled up water like bits of diamonds.

“You go first,” Rowen said. “And take your time. You deserve it.”

I lowered into the shell bath and moaned. The frigid water had thankfully warmed from the hot springs and there was now enough water to fully submerge myself. I rested my head against the tub and enjoyed the day-lit stars.

After my soak, I felt like a whole new woman.

I wrapped myself in a plush robe as Rowen hopped in after me. He ducked his head under the water and emerged like a god of the sea, whipping his dark curls from his face.

My eyes perused a little longer than they should have, and when I finally walked into the anteroom to finish getting ready, the dying plant wall filled my vision.

Clean, warm, and dry, I felt as if I could do anything. And with newfound confidence, I placed my hands along the withering branches.

I willed the Light within me to flow through my fingertips, hoping to revive the dying foliage.

For a moment, a glow enveloped the leaves, and I held my breath as I cradled the delicate life within my hands.

It was alive and beautiful, and my heart soared.

But then, the ever-present seed of death crept in from the edges and smothered my Light.

“No!” I cried .

I could no longer feel life, only death—it spread its cold tendrils through the branches and leaves and crumbled them to dust. “No! No! No!”

I thought I was getting better.

Despair engulfed me as I realized I’d left the bathing chamber worse than I found it. I had wanted to heal and restore, but instead, I destroyed.

I collapsed to the ground in hopelessness, and nothing could stop my tears as a storm erupted overhead.

Rowen jumped out of the tub and rushed toward me, naked and dripping. “What happened?”

My gaze was stuck on the wall of death. I couldn’t see anything else. “I’m surrounded by darkness,” I said, my breaths coming in so tight and quick I could barely breathe.

“You’ve been surrounded by darkness before. You beat it once, you can beat it again,” he replied, his eyes filled with sincerity and desperation.

“I don’t know how to come back from this.”

“Beauty can come out of the darkness. I’ve seen it.

I’ve seen it with you, Keira. When you first came to this world surrounded by your blight, I couldn’t touch you.

Call out to you. But I watched you overcome it.

And even though I didn’t know you, I was so damned proud of you.

Watching you fight it alone was agony then, and it’s agony now—not being able to touch you.

To pleasure you. To hold you. Especially when I see you breaking like this. ”

I knew it was hard for him to see me this way. It was hard to live through. Especially when all I wanted was to collapse into his arms.

“Find your way back to me,” he begged, his knuckles turning white from restraining to touch me.

“I’m trying. ”

Cheers echoed through the bathing chamber as rain began to fall. Everyone celebrated and laughed while I crashed and burned and destroyed.