Chapter 21
Aurora
Iwake to Camryn’s arm flopped over my shoulder, her hair tickling my cheek. Sunlight filters in through the window beside the bed, and I am pleasantly surprised to see a clear sky. The few days spent at the palace dimmed my spirit with its gloominess. Sunshine is a welcome sight.
I shift on the bed, brushing Camryn’s hair from my face. She groans into the covers. “Are we back home? Please tell me I’ve been stuck in a fever dream and none of it was real.”
I smile sadly at her as her eyes peek open far enough to take in our surroundings. “Fuck,” she grumbles as she pulls the blankets over her head.
It takes a little prodding to get Camryn out of bed, but when we emerge from the bedroom, Mei is standing over the hearth, the smell of freshly cooked eggs filling the air.
She smiles over her shoulder. “Good morning. I hope you slept well.”
Camryn scowls and I clear my throat, holding back the memories of last night around the table that come flooding back to me. It’s too early for a headache. My lips pull into a tight grin. “Yes, it was very nice, thank you.”
Mei scoops scrambled eggs onto two plates. “I hope you don’t mind them scrambled. They remind me of home, so I always fix them that way.”
I’m fiercely reminded that it isn’t just me I have to think about here. There’s an entire village of people that were torn from their families. Some as children. I will face whatever I have to, not just for me and Camryn. But for them, too.
“Those look great, thank you,” I say as I scoot my chair to the table. Camryn silently slides into the seat beside me and picks at her eggs.
Mei watches her for a moment before turning to me. “I know you are probably eager to meet the others.”
I nod, swallowing my mouthful of eggs. “Yes, I am. I’m just nervous about how Arc will respond to knowing travelers have had powers all this time. And then if he finds out Caelum hid you away ...” My eyes widen and I glance at the kind woman standing so calmly in front of me.
She slides into a chair and folds her hands on the table, her gaze catching mine.
“Yes, we weren’t prepared to tell him any of this.
At least not so soon. But I trust that there are stronger forces at play that will see it through.
I’ve spoken with Caelum. He’s ready to face whatever punishment Lord Arc may give him for such indiscretion. ” Her throat bobs.
“Indiscretion?!” Camryn balks. “He fucking defied Arc’s explicit order to deliver any female traveler who appears in the realm hoping to break his curse. Arc’s going to flip the fuck out.”
I wince at her words, knowing she’s right.
Concern flickers in Mei’s eyes and her voice drops low. “I know. I worry for Caelum.”
I exhale, hoping to ease the tension choking down our throats. “Has anyone else ever come here besides travelers and Arc’s sentries?”
Mei’s lips press into a hard line, and she shakes her head. “No. Our village is invisible to outsiders. Warded. Only a handful of Arc’s closest sentries may come and go.”
Dammit, Soren. I know it’s only a matter of time until he comes looking for me. And now I know there’s a good chance he will get lost, unable to find the village.
Mei smirks as if she can read my thoughts, and for a moment, I wonder if she told me she could last night, and I have forgotten.
The question must be written on my face, for she responds. “I can’t read minds. But I had a dream about your sentinel last night. He’s a stubborn one, but his heart is in the right place. You two will reunite soon. Don’t worry.”
My heart races. I stare at her. There are so many questions I want to ask. I want to know every detail. But words escape me as I imagine being in Soren’s arms once again.
“Oh, come on,” Camryn groans, dropping her fork on her plate. “We’re just supposed to believe you?” She turns to look at me. “I’m sorry, Rory, but this just feels like one big giant setup.”
My chest tightens as my friend criticizes everything that is falling into place. We are already fighting an uphill battle and Camryn is doing her best to drag us back down. I turn to Mei to apologize for Camryn’s outburst, but she is looking calmly at my friend.
“You don’t have to believe me. And it’s in your nature to be suspicious.
That’s okay. Everything is already in motion and there is nothing you or I can do to stop it.
I, like your friend, wish for nothing more than freedom and peace.
And there is nothing I will allow to stand in the way of that.
We are all risking a great deal. If you wish to return to that dreadful palace with Lord Arc and live forever under his thumb, be my guest. But remember which side you picked when everything comes crumbling down. ”
The calmness in her voice clashes with her harsh words and sends chills down my spine. My whole heart knows I can trust Mei. I’m on the right path. But my stomach churns at the thought of Camryn choosing darkness.
I rise from the table. “Maybe some fresh air will do us some good. Come on, Camryn.”
She glares at Mei but follows me to the door. I pull our cloaks from nearby hooks and grab her hand, dragging her across the threshold.
The sunlight blinds me as we step outside. The air is cool but holds a promise of warmth. Snow-covered peaks loom over us like guardians. Plumes of smoke drift up from neighboring chimneys.
“It’s like a fucking storybook,” Camryn huffs, her warm breath colliding with the mountain air.
I exhale. “It really is something.” I turn to look at her.
She sighs. “Sorry, Rory. I want to believe everything is going to work out. I really do. But it’s going to take some time to snap out of the darkness that crept in.”
She stares blankly into the distance.
I follow her gaze, trying to see what she sees. Understand how she feels. But it’s as if I’m looking at the ghost of my friend. A cold and critical replica has replaced the warm, adventurous woman I knew and loved back home. I need my friend back. I need to bring her into the light.
I squeeze her hand. “I understand. And I’m right here with you. You’re not alone anymore.”
She turns her head and gives me a weak smile, a shadow behind her brown eyes.
“Top of the morning, ladies!” A booming voice echoes through the valley behind us. Camryn rolls her eyes, and I know before turning around that I will find the commanding dark-haired Caelum.
He circles around to the front of us, and it is criminal how his bronze skin glows in the sunlight. He flashes his gleaming smile and deeply inhales. “Gotta love the mountain air, am I right?!”
I stare up at him, realizing I know nothing about this male that stands before me. He hides a secret and masks it so well with his disarming attitude.
“Pretty sure the high elevation is killing your brain cells.” Camryn smirks at him and for a moment I worry she’s going to expose his secret right here in the open. But she exhales, and I see the thought slip from her eyes. “Where is our almighty lord this morning?”
Caelum’s brow furrows, his face sharpening. “Oh, he was up early. You know, to sacrifice the goats and eat the babies as one does as a dark lord.”
My face pales and I glance nervously around me, expecting to see Arc emerge from the tree line covered in blood.
Camryn stares at Caelum, her arms crossed over her chest, when suddenly he bursts into thunderous laughter.
I take a breath, feeling my heart rate ease. Am I really that gullible?
“You’re such an asshole,” Camryn says as she shoves the massive male’s shoulder.
He cradles his arm in mock pain. “And you are no fun.” He collects himself.
“He’ll be out soon.” Caelum nods toward Mei’s house, his eyes softening.
“How was your sleepover? Mei treat you well? She makes killer eggs. You could say they’re egg-cellent.
” He looks at me and grins before turning toward Camryn and biting his lip at her annoyed expression.
I can’t help but chuckle, and the lightheartedness eases the knot between my shoulder blades.
My head tilts to the side as I study the winged male.
Caelum is such an enigma. A large, intimidating figure with striking looks who works for a malicious lord, betrayed him and is harboring a deadly secret, and yet, he is so jolly.
How has he not hardened by centuries of doing Arc’s dirty work?
Camryn purses her lips. “Mei cooking breakfast for you? Isn’t that something? It’s almost like she’s special.” She scans Caelum up and down, before returning her gaze to his.
He shifts on his feet. “Yeah, she’s a gracious host when I visit. A nice lady.”
“A nice lady?” Camryn chuckles coldly. “Yeah, okay.”
I clench my jaw, and Caelum’s face hardens.
I can sense the two about to enter a battle that risks exposing everything when the air chills. I don’t need to turn around to know Arc is making his way toward us.
His icy gaze bounces around the small group. “Did you make any progress in identifying Camryn’s magic last night?” Arc’s voice is gruff and husky in the mountain air.
“Good morning to you, too,” Camryn sneers.
His eyes shift quickly to her before returning his gaze to me.
I feel the warmth of my magic tightly wrapped around my mind. Afraid he’s going to find out about the revelations of the previous night, I stammer. “What? No. No sign of her having magic.”
Arc’s lips press into a hard line. “Follow me. The other travelers are gathering in the common lodge.” He narrows his eyes.
“And I guess it will be the moment of truth. Either what you say is true and there are other travelers who hold such powers. Or your story is nothing more than a fable and the travelers are, in fact, fully human, capable of breaking my curse.” He looks at Camryn, and she fidgets under his gaze.
I don’t miss Caelum stiffening beside me. “I guess so,” I mumble before following him down a snow-cleared path.