Page 179 of The Chains You Defy

And after committing high treason, I’d determine if I considered a potential pilgrimage to Bas, one of the most dangerous places in an already perilous world.

The more days passed, the tighter the invisible fist crushing my heart pressed whenever I was thinking about my tiny human. Not only did I miss her, no. My anxiety rose with each passing day she was close to my grandfather and not to me.

Would I sense if something very wrong occurred?

But no.

Nothing would…could turn sour. My uncle and my comrades would shield her with their lives, right?

Of course they would. After all, I’d ordered them to.

As much as imagining her while she was spending time with Antas, Fig, Ireas, or especially Thain drove me mad with jealousy, in this situation, I was thankful they cared for Nayana.

But only if no one protected her more than I did.

Because Nayana Garnet Ortha was irrevocably mine.

And I was hers, forever.

Soon, she’d acknowledge this ultimate truth as well.

What a fool I’d been, believing I could ever fight the torrent of my obsession for her. Why had I attempted to resist so hard against my emotions?

The inferno of the Breocharn outside my darkness-cocoon was nothing compared to the firebrand burning for her in my soul.

I spurred Cath to run faster, growing restless and impatient, especially since crossing this fiery desert would at least take two more days.

Upholding the protective shield for me and Cath strained me and diminished my power. Sleep would be nice, but keeping up the onyx layer around us during rest was complex, dangerous, and not helping with recuperation.

Much to my satisfaction, shattering my deception wouldn’t be too easy a feat for Galrach, and even though he’d eventually find out that the Doitean hadn’t perished, I’d bought everyone involved precious time, which was a win in my book.

And honestly, we all could use a victory after the last few weeks, and one over my grandfather tasted so much sweeter.

Distracting myself with daydreams until night loomed helped me cope with the constant threat offatigue, and only when the flames remained the only visible light did I halt Cath. Both of us needed at least a short rest.

After dismounting, I transformed the inky cocoon around us into a dome with solid walls. As usual, I tended to Cath first before eating some food myself.

Sleeping was out of the question. Sure, I was tired, but if the price were potentially burning to ashes, I wouldn’t take the risk. But dozing was a possibility, so I unrolled my bedroll in hopes of isolating the ground enough so the temperature was endurable.

Just a few more days, and I’d reunite with my Nayana. Finally, I could hold her in my arms again. With a smile on my lips, I wrestled my churning worries into submission. Concentrating on my female, a blanket of peace surrounded me, promising me a better life in the not-so-distant future.

There was finally hope in my body, heart, and soul.

“Sweet thing, wake up.”

With an unwilling grumble, I opened my eyes and spotted Cantarlann grinning as if he’d won Credenta’s summer solstice baking competition. “Ugh. Why don’t you let me sleep on?”

He’d disrupted such a pleasant dream, which still lingered on my mind. And since I was drowsy enough to indulge in the memory of whom I’d spent time with in my night fantasies without being too embarrassed, I did just that. Gods, I missed Dion.

Damn.

Since when had I become so emotionally attached to the insufferablebastard?

“We have arrived, dear.”

Stifling a yawn, my sleepiness and melancholy faded away in favor of excitement, and I snuck a glimpse outside. We’d passed massive ornamental metal gates into an area resembling a compound. The coach was gliding over a lane covered in bright white gravel, with emerald grass to the left and right, swaying in the breeze. Blossoms in all the colors of the rainbow littered the meadow. The sight in front of me resembled a beautiful painting, almost unreal in its splendor.

At last, we stopped in front of a giant mansion gleaming white in the midday sun. Vines of green, adorned with more vibrant flowers, climbed over the walls, giving the whole place a quite surreal vibe. A sweet smell, powerful and rich, filled my senses as I inhaled.