Chapter Fifty-Eight
A s we continue in silence out of the gates, I wonder if he’s referring to Licia or me. But I realize my mind was always made up. As soon as Thaliya spoke the words of my past and Thaddeus told me about my sister, I knew my time left in Merula was limited.
There’s a whole wide world out there, and now I know I need to be a part of it. The people of Merula have struggled under Hadeon’s rule at best. A pang in my chest reminds me that now the crown will sit on Killian’s head. I fear he’ll continue in Hadeon’s footsteps until there’s nothing left of Everguard.
Know yourself, know your path.
With my power awakened, and my understanding of my origins, I believe we’ll be able to reach the north and reunite with my sister in time so we can save the realm together. I just hope I’m not too late.
After traveling for hours and watching as the stars fill the sky, my body feels it when Thaddeus and Baylor agree that it’s time for the horses to rest. It’s all I have the energy for to unload my sleeping roll and spread it out along the ground beside our small fire. Muscles I didn’t even know I had strain and pull as I do simple tasks like bending over and bringing food to my mouth. Gryphon and Licia look to be in the same shape as me, but Baylor goes through the motions of watering the horses with ease and Thaddeus already built the small fire and now weaves in and out of the trees with stealth, making sure our simple campsite is safe. They are no stranger to being in the saddle for hours.
Despite the pain shooting through me, I lean in close to Licia and Gryphon, sharing our warmth and our smiles, the only part of us not yet worn out.
We did it. We made it out. Together and whole.
Together. I don’t know how I could’ve done it without them and I don’t think I’ll get far into my journey without them beside me.
And now, they also have each other. The way they watch each other, communicating without words, is beautiful. Something I never even came close to with Avicii and can’t imagine with Thaddeus. I look at him, limned in the light of the full moon above.
He tilts his head toward the darkness surrounding us and raises his thick eyebrows in question. A smile tugs at my lips—this is the solid language we have between us. I nod, wondering if Gryphon and Licia will notice if I sneak away.
He’s already up and disappearing into the dark tree line before I can peel myself off the ground. I lose sight of him as I struggle to rise from the ground, but I move toward the tree line where he just disappeared, the cold winter air kissing all the parts of my body that were just wrapped in the warmth of the fire and my family. But the pull to Thaddeus is strong and the promise of him pressed against me, finishing what we started earlier in the stables before our escape leaves me with a warm, heady feeling.
Waiting against a tree, I bite my lip in anticipation.