Page 32 of When the Wicked Sing (The Leruna Sea #1)

“You know, when you asked me if I wanted to take a walk in the rain and the dark, this wasn’t what I was imagining,” Mariana said as she struggled to get her feet out of the thick mud she was currently stuck in.

The squelching sound of her boots echoed in the damp forest, blending with the steady patter of rain against the dense canopy above.

Water dripped over her forehead, down her nose, and onto her lips, leaving a cold, bitter taste.

Her hair was soaked, plastered against her scalp, but at least her skin stayed relatively dry with the leather coat and pants she wore.

The coat, a gift from Kenna, clung to her like a second skin, offering a small shield against the relentless elements.

Dax laughed, a deep, resonant sound that seemed to cut through the gloom. He walked over to her, his experienced steps avoiding the mud puddles with ease, and bent down to help her. The smell of wet earth filled the air, mingling with the scents of leather and rain.

She stumbled over a rock, her foot slipping in the mud and splashing it all over her pants .

“Shit!” Groaning up at the darkened sky, she shouted, “Why is gravity so awful!” Her frustration echoed through the trees, followed by the distant call of a night bird.

Dax smirked at her, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Get on my back, I’ll take you the rest of the way.”

He bent down, and Mariana accepted the invitation enthusiastically, jumping onto his back without a second thought. She smiled as he grunted and stood up, the warmth of his body seeping into her own.

“Thank you,” she whispered into his ear, her stomach fluttering when she saw his cheek lift into a closed-lip smile. The moment’s intimacy made her heart race, each beat echoing in her ears.

Somehow, this fae could make her smile during the darkest part of her life.

Resting her head against his shoulder as he carried her, she closed her eyes and savored the feeling of the rain against her cheek.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t as cold as she would’ve expected.

Spring was close, the promise of renewal and new beginnings in the air.

She needed to focus on what would come when they arrived in Aurelia.

After speaking to Spiro, she realized the amulet was her only hope of reversing the binding spell.

She had to find it. Otherwise, she’d never go home.

The weight of that reality pressed down on her, a constant reminder of what was at stake.

Astra would have known where to look; she was sure of it. Her sister had always been resourceful, a beacon of hope in Mariana’s darkest hours.

“We’re here,” Dax said, pulling her from her thoughts. She opened her eyes and slid off his back to stare at a massive tree .

“Holy … Goddess,” she breathed. The tree was the width of a small house and so tall that she couldn’t see the top of it as it disappeared into the fog.

Standing torches glowed softly around them, their light diffused by the mist. They weren’t lit by fire or electricity but by some fuzzy-looking substance she could only imagine was similar to the glowing algae they had in Salus.

“What is this?” she asked, slowly approaching the tree.

“Natura Nexus. Our Mother Tree.” Dax lifted a hesitant hand to the trunk. Instead of placing his hand on it, he let his arm drop. “It was blessed by General Cornelia herself as a gift of prosperity to our tribe.”

Mariana stared into its thick branches, the pine needles blocking off the rain and finally allowing them to dry. She could feel the power emanating from the tree, a subtle thrum that resonated through her body.

“Wow, it’s a marvel. A monument.” She chuckled, amazed at its absurd size and beauty. The tree seemed ancient, timeless, a living testament to the history of Dax’s people.

Dax sat down, leaning his back against the tree and sighing as he rested his head. The soft glow of the torches cast shadows across his face, highlighting his strong jaw and the determined set of his mouth.

“Why did you bring me here?” She couldn’t help but wonder; this seemed like a sacred place where outsiders wouldn’t be welcome. The air felt charged with significance, each breath a connection to the past.

Dax shrugged, resting his arms against his bent knees. “I think everyone should see it, feel the power that grows from its roots. ”

Satisfied with the answer, she sat beside him, bringing her knees up to her chest and resting her hands on top. The ground was surprisingly dry beneath the tree, a small sanctuary from the dampness surrounding them.

“How did you come by a rune stone?” he asked, touching the blue star sapphire charm on her cord bracelet. His fingers were gentle, careful, as he touched the stone.

“A what?” She shifted closer to show him. The warmth of his body was comforting, and she ached to close the distance between them.

Dax lifted the stone and brushed his thumb over the smooth, domed top.

“A rune stone. They’re incredibly rare and supposed to have the essence of a god’s magic.

I’ve only ever seen one in red, not blue.

It’s beautiful,” he murmured, and then met her eyes.

His gaze was intense, filled with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

“My mother gave it to me a long time ago.”

Mentioning Cybele made her mouth pinch and her gut tighten. Anger at what her mother did to her still made her blood boil. But no matter how she felt about Cybele, she would follow through and find Astra. For Luna. Her sister was all that mattered now.

“I’ll go with you, Dax,” she said, pulling his gaze toward her. “To Aurelia. No fighting, no bindings—or drugs.” She pointed at him, and he let out a low laugh. “Just, please, help me get my sister out safely. That’s all I ask.”

They stared at each other. Mariana’s eyes pleaded for him to agree, while Dax’s remained unreadable. Finally, he dragged his gaze away to stare up at the Mother Tree’s branches .

“I’ll do what I can,” he murmured, and her heart began to dance. “But you have to understand something, Mari.”

“What?” she asked, looking away. She hid her satisfied smile behind her hands and warmed her chilled cheeks.

“When we get there, you’re still subject to the orders of the royal family. I can’t do anything that would jeopardize my agreement with them.” His words were a stark reminder of the complexities of their situation.

Her smile faded. “Because you want to keep your people safe,” she finished for him, understanding the loyalty he felt to protecting his family.

It was exactly what she was trying to do.

Once she got to Aurelia and had Astra safe beside her, they would find a way out and, somehow, find the amulet together.

And Dax … well, she’d probably never see him again.

She shifted uncomfortably as the truth started to sink deep into the pit of her stomach. The thought of losing Dax—of never seeing him again—was a pain she hadn’t anticipated.

“Will you come back here? After you take me to Aurelia?”

“No,” he clipped. The finality of his answer hit her like a physical blow, a cold realization settling over her. Lifting her head to look at him as he stared off into the distance at the mist curling around the trees, she wondered why he was so quick to answer.

“Why not?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His frown deepened. “A slave doesn’t get to go home.”