Page 14 of The Call of Crimson (The Crimson & Shadows #2)

CHAPTER SEVEN

OPHELIA

W arm sun beats down on my skin as the crashing waves build a symphony of peace. The sand is soft, but stickier than I expect. It squishes between the toes of my bare feet, and I take a deep breath. Turquoise waters stretch as far as the eye can see.

“Come on, Ophelia.” Layne smiles, beckoning me closer with a wave of his hand. “We didn’t travel all the way to Amara for you to stand on the shore.”

Amara. This was to be our grand adventure—the one he had promised me all those years ago. Just the two of us, seeing the world, starting with the glittering beaches of Amara.

“I’m coming! I was just taking it all in,” I reply, making my way to the water’s edge. “Is it cold?”

“No, the water is perfect. Come on in.”

“But I can’t swim well,” I argue, suddenly very nervous about this.

“I’ve got you, Ophelia. I’ll always have you.”

Of course, he will. Layne is the one person I trust most in this world. He’s never let me down. I take a hesitant step into the ocean and am pleasantly surprised at the warmth of the water. Growing more confident, I take another step, then another, until it’s up to my waist.

“That’s it, O. You’ve got this. Come to me.”

He’s only a few feet away, the water up to his chest. I take a few more steps and I’m right in front of him. The water reaches my chin now and I can barely touch. I feel panic rising in me, my arms searching for him under the water.

“You’re okay, Ophelia. Just breathe.”

The air is heavy, humid. It feels like I’m sucking in water, not oxygen. “I’m trying, but I can’t feel the bottom, Layne.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course.”

“Take my hand,” he says, finally offering me something to hold onto.

I do as he says, feeling instant relief at the contact.

“Now, lean back and let your body float to the top.”

I look at him skeptically.

“Just do it, O. Trust me,” he urges again.

Steeling myself, I do as he says. My head tips back and my body follows, leaving me floating on the surface of the water. I turn my head to look at him, a bright smile on both our faces.

“See, Ophelia. I told you ? —”

“ Dammit, Ophelia, breathe!”

“—I would take care of you. Always.”

My chest tightens looking at him. He’s vibrant, so full of life. My one constant in this world.

“I swear to the gods, Ophelia. If you don’t breathe, I will find a way?—”

My lungs burn and spasm as I cough, water spilling out of my mouth. I try to breathe in, but the air just irritates my lungs further, and the coughing continues. Slowly, I open my eyes to find Jade staring down at me.

Concern is etched on her face, but it’s followed by relief when our eyes finally meet. Taking a look around me, I find that I’m lying on the bank of the river that runs behind the palace. I’m fully clothed and soaking wet.

“What happened?” I croak.

“I don’t know, Ophelia, you tell me. I came out here for some solitude and found you floating in the river, face down, not breathing.”

I sit up cautiously, trying to piece it together. “I… I don’t know how I got here.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Going to bed last night. I dreamt about Layne. We were swimming in Amara.” A sob catches in my throat, and my chest tightens. “Oh gods, he’s dead,” I whisper.

Immediately, I want to go back to the dream, to where my brother is still alive.

Logically, I know he’s dead, but every day I have to wake up and be reminded of that fact.

We burned him next to the queen and my bastard of a father, but I still have to adjust to my new reality each time I open my eyes.

My tears have been frequent since his death, but they never seem to run dry. Even now, they pool in my eyes, threatening to run over. “He’s gone, Jade. And I feel like he took part of me with him when he left.”

“That’s because he did.” She drops to the ground next to me and picks at the sparse grass that grows around the river.

“Does it ever lessen?” I whisper. “This feeling of missing part of myself?”

“It hasn’t for me.” She stares ahead, lost in thought. “But being broken doesn’t mean we’re any less. Sometimes, the defect is greater than the entire. We just have to learn to live with that.”

“Does the pain ever go away?”

“No, you merely get better at carrying it.” Jade pauses, her voice softer now.

“I wish I had hope to give you, but things don’t really get easier; you just learn to live with them better.

The female I was with Julian is dead. I’m still figuring out who I am now, and you will, too. But it takes time.”

“It should have been me, Jade. That blade was meant for me.” The guilt bleeds through every syllable.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think the same about Julian. I would switch places with him in a heartbeat. But we can’t. So we live, for them, until it’s time to see them again.”

I nod. “Layne would want me to live.”

“As would Julian. So we will. Just promise me something.”

“What’s that?”

“No more late-night swims alone.”

Her tone is serious, but I can’t help the laughter that bursts out of me. “I’ll do my best. I did tell you I had no idea how I got here.”

“I’d hate to be the one to tell Elijah you died. Maybe you should just have him tie you down at night to keep you in place. Kinky fucker would enjoy it.”

I flush at the thought of Elijah tying me down. “I, uh?—”

“Oh!” Jade’s eyes widen. “You haven’t fucked yet, have you?”

“No,” I groan. “He’s more than happy to, uh—take care of me. But every time we get close, something gets in the way.”

“Oh, babe,” Jade grins. “You are in for the ride of your life.”

“Wait—” my eyes widen. “You and Elijah…”

Jade laughs, throwing her head back. “Oh yes. But it’s old news. There’s never been anything except the physical between us.”

“But he and Julian—I got the impression they were also lovers.”

“They were,” she confirms, her smirk deepening as the blush rises on my cheeks.

“So, you both slept with him?”

“I mean, not at the same time. That would be gross.” Jade shudders at the thought.

“This is not how I thought this conversation would go.”

Jade laughs again, her entire body shaking. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you back to the castle and out of those wet clothes.”

The trek back is quiet, a comfortable silence settling over us. The sun’s risen higher now, and the castle bustles with mid-morning activity, staff hurrying to and from tasks, the weight of our world temporarily distant.

“Elijah!” Jade calls as we turn down the east wing toward my chambers.

He looks up, blond brow arched in confusion. The corner of his mouth quirks in a half-smile, dimple peeking out as he asks, “Why are you both wet?”

“Keep an eye on this female of yours—apparently she sleepwalks.”

“Oh?” His brown eyes sparkle with mischief. “I guess I’ll have to keep her in my bed, then.” He loops an arm around my waist, pulling me into his embrace.

“I don’t think you’ll hear any protests from her,” Jade says with a smirk.

“That’s not necessary.” I blush, embarrassment and something else flooding my veins. “I’ve never done that before. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

His gaze roams over my wet body, taking careful note of everything he sees. “Care to explain what exactly happened?”

“I–I don’t know, exactly.” My eyes drop to the floor. “I was dreaming of Layne. We were swimming in Amara. Next thing I know, I’m puking up water, and Jade is yelling at me.”

“She was floating in the river, not responsive. I don’t know how long she was out there.” Jade fills in the gaps, finishing the story. “I’m just glad I found her when I did.”

“I am as well.” Appreciation flashes across Elijah’s face. “Thank you, Jade.”

Elijah leans in and kisses me, soft and slow, and I part my lips for more before he pulls away. “You smell like river water,” he teases. “Let’s get you bathed, doll.”

Internally, I groan, but nod in agreement. I really do stink.

“Take care of her, E,” Jade says, her tone turned serious. “I’m leaving tomorrow and won’t be here to save your damsel next time.”

“So soon?” I ask, surprised.

“Breyla left me in charge of the army in her absence. I received a report this morning that attacks on the border are increasing. We’re losing soldiers to an enemy we didn’t know existed.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Before they left, Ayden confirmed that most of the attacks weren’t coming from Prudia. With the alliance and marriage contract, it wouldn’t serve him to provoke conflict. So that means someone else is behind them, and we don’t know who.”

“That’s… concerning,” I say, but it feels like a weak word.

“That’s an understatement,” Jade scoffs. “Good luck running Rimor, though. I’m sure you two will manage. I’ll keep you apprised of what I learn, Elijah.”

“I’ll miss you,” Elijah says evenly. “Stay safe, Jade.”

A sadness that I don’t understand fills his eyes and words.

I squeeze his hand in silent reassurance before throwing my arms around Jade. “Thank you, Jade.”

I know it’s a silly sentiment, given her position, but I can’t stomach the thought of losing another person.

“You’re welcome, Ophelia.” She hugs me back, and I wrinkle my nose at her matching river water scent.

Jade tilts her head, dark eyes calculating as she nods. “You too, E.”

Her silver-white braids swing as she walks away, leaving wet footprints in her wake.

“Okay, bath time,” Elijah declares.

Before I can protest, he scoops me up and tosses me over his shoulder. I let out a laugh that echoes through the corridor as he carries me the rest of the way to my room.