Chapter 31
Camryn
When we’ve both had our fill of breakfast, I cross my arms over my chest and lean against my chair. “What do you have in store for me, big guy?”
Caelum rolls back his shoulders and I jolt as his wings burst out to the side, sending a whoosh of air into my face.
I gape at him as I tuck loose strands of hair behind my ears.
His grin is disarming. “It’s a beautiful day for a ride.”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “A ride? My ass is still sore from yesterday.”
He chuckles, and I prepare myself for a raunchy comeback. But he lets it slide. “Not on a horse. I thought I could fly you to one of my favorite spots. Unless you’d like to hole yourself up in this dusty place and spar with me all day?”
I couldn’t even spar with Aurora. I can’t imagine what it would be like to train with Caelum.
I narrow my eyes on him. “Is this just a way to get me in your arms?”
He bites his bottom lip and looks at me as though he has the sexiest of secrets. What have I gotten myself into?
“What if it is?” He lifts his eyebrows at me. “I promise to behave. But wouldn’t it be nice to just relax for a bit? Let someone carry your load for a while? Literally.”
I sigh because he’s right. In truth, it’s been so long since I’ve been held by a man.
In fact, Caelum was the last one who held me in his arms several months ago when he whisked me to this hellhole.
Even though I will be high above the ground, I don’t balk at the thought of being cradled in his warm arms for a while.
“Fine.” I do my best not to sound excited about the idea of him touching me.
Caelum beams. “Excellent.” He rises from his chair and extends his hand to me. I glance at it before placing my palm in his. His hands are warm and surprisingly soft as he pulls me to my feet.
He leads me toward the patio doors. “We can take off from the garden.”
Outside, the sun beams down, forcing me to shield my eyes. The temperature is mild, but the slight breeze makes me grateful for my outfit choice.
We walk silently through the garden, my hand in his. Flowers open, drinking up the sunshine as bees and butterflies flutter about. We pass under the pergola covered in moonflower vines and crest the hill at the edge of the garden. He drops my hand and turns toward me.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I start second guessing this decision to throw myself into the eager male’s arms. I’m not fond of my body at the moment, and I fear what he will think about touching my sharp edges instead of soft flesh.
“How far is this place? You sure we can’t just ride there?
Or what about a walk? It might be nice to stretch my legs and get some exercise. ”
Caelum chuckles. “It isn’t far, but it would entail more than walking. Tell me, how are you at scaling rock?” He arches a brow.
I groan. I’m adventurous, but not mountaineering adventurous.
Reading my face, Caelum stretches his arms wide open. “Your chariot awaits, my dear.”
I hate how happy he is about this. But I also kind of like it.
I step to him, watching his face as my body gets closer to his.
When my shoulder grazes his firm chest, he grins widely and lowers himself to scoop me into his arms. He lifts me with ease, not even expelling a breath with the effort.
He cradles me to his chest, and I link my hands together around his neck.
He beams down at me. “Ready for a ride?”
I swallow as my heartbeat roars to life. “Behave.”
He doesn’t reply, only grins at me. The next moment, he leaps into the sky, his wings beating behind him. I squeal, pressing to his chest and clinging tighter to his neck. He chuckles, the sensation vibrating along my ribs.
It’s a good thing I’m not afraid of heights because Caelum soars us high into the sky.
I don’t look directly down, but the view is spectacular.
Without a cloud in the sky, I can see for miles.
Small cottages are tucked into lush pastures of wildflowers.
A stream carves through the land, sparkling like liquid diamonds.
Caelum banks slightly to the left, flying parallel with the Silverveil mountain range that separates the Northern Shadows from the rest of Silverveil.
I peer ahead as Caelum flies us closer to the ridge. Below, a silver pool of water glints like a mirror in the sunlight. Rising above it is a waterfall, pouring over the edge as if liquid silver leaks from the heavens.
Breathtaking.
Caelum drifts down near the ledge of the waterfall, landing gently on the rocky ground. He lowers me to my feet but keeps an arm around my waist while I make sure my legs are in working order. I take a few steps and he releases his soft hold on me. I frown at the loss of his touch.
“That wasn’t so bad, right?” He asks.
“I guess not,” I answer without meeting his watchful gaze. But I know he has a smug look on his face.
I walk to the ledge where the water spills from the mountain. Caelum stands behind me, watching.
Sunlight reflects off the silvery surface below, casting the vista in an extraordinary light. I inhale sharply and turn back toward Caelum.
“Nice place,” I say casually.
He steps to my side. “It’s one of my favorite places in the realm. It’s calming. Pure.”
I look up at his face, studying his features as he gazes into the distance. Why does he have to be so damn beautiful?
He turns his head to regard me with glimmering eyes. “You think I’m beautiful?” He gives me a crooked smile.
My mouth gapes as quickly as heat flushes my face. “What? No. I didn’t say that!”
He laughs and taps a temple with his finger. “You forget I can hear thoughts.”
My mouth slams shut, anger replacing my embarrassment. “What the hell?! You can’t just invade my mind like that!” I turn from the ledge and stomp toward a boulder.
He reaches me in two strides. “I’m sorry. Really, I am.”
Silence hangs between us.
“Camryn, look at me. Please.”
I take a deep breath and turn to look up at his crestfallen face. I do my best to keep all my thoughts locked up tight in my head.
“I really am sorry. I can usually tune it out and not focus on any thoughts I hear. But yours have been loud lately.”
I scoff. “Of course, because I’m loud. Is that what you mean? I’m so annoying that even my thoughts drive you nuts?”
His face breaks as if I slapped him. “No, that’s not what I meant. Shit. Sorry. I just mean I can hear your thoughts clearer than anyone else. But I do my best to block them out for your sake.” He grips my hand in his. “You don’t annoy me. Never. And I’m sorry if I’ve ever led you to believe that.”
I look at him in surprise. His sincerity crumbles my frigid heart and ruffled demeanor. “Thank you for saying that,” I reply weakly.
He offers me a sad smile.
My heart drops to my gut. “Wait. If you have been listening to my thoughts, is that why you came to my room last night?” I swallow down the memory of submerging myself in the tub, contemplating my decision about my sense of purpose.
His throat bobs, and he nods slightly. “I’m sorry. Your voice just broke through the silence, and all I heard was that maybe you didn’t want to be here. And I got worried.” His voice is so low I barely hear him.
I glance down at my hands, still wrapped in his. “I wasn’t going to harm myself. I just needed a moment to think. Sorry I scared you.”
I look up into his downcast gaze.
“No need to apologize.” His lips quiver in a slight smile.
I look over his shoulder, ready to move past this tense conversation. “What now? Are we cliff diving?” I smirk at him.
He grins. “We can do whatever you’d like. But I don’t know how your friend would feel about you plunging to the depths below. After all, I promised her I’d keep an eye on you.”
I think of Rory and how she would panic to see me leap off a cliff. “You’re probably right.”
He looks at me with yearning in his eyes. “How do you feel about the ocean?”
My eyes widen. “You have an ocean here?”
He laughs. “Of course. Would you like to see it?”
I nod and eagerly leap into his unsuspecting arms. He catches me with ease and clutches me to his chest. He looks down at me. “Do you trust me?”
Words get caught in my throat and he doesn’t wait for an answer because a second later, he is sprinting toward the edge of the waterfall.
A scream erupts from my throat as he leaps into the air, throwing us over the fury of water plunging to the pool below. I close my eyes, expecting to slam into the surface of the lake.
But it never comes, and I open my eyes to see us soaring over the land. I look up at Caelum’s smug face. “You jerk!” I want to slap his chest but keep my hand clinging to the back of his neck.
He laughs as he soars us over the mountain range, following it like a route to the water. As I watch the mountains dwindle into rocky bluffs, he lands us on the tallest peak.
I squint toward the horizon until I realize I am looking into a sea of churning blue waves crashing into rock. I breathe in the salty sea air. “Why did you stop here? Can’t you take us any closer?”
He shakes his head. “Trust me, the ocean isn’t a pleasant place. You don’t want to know what kinds of creatures lurk beneath the inky water. I’m not risking you getting too close.”
I sigh, but smile at his thoughtfulness. He’s protecting me. “Thanks. But now I’m going to have nightmares of sea monsters.” I stare at the sea, squinting to catch any signs of life. “Wait, if there’s an ocean, are there any other lands that lie beyond here?”
Caelum steps to my side. “There are a handful of islands that broke off from the mainland a long time ago, but they’re occupied by outcasts banished from Silverveil.” His gaze narrows. “Arc suspects it is where his father fled.”
I follow his gaze, expecting to see a wave of black charging toward the shore. Chills run down my spine. I turn back to Caelum. “Fly me back,” I say, turning my back to the sea. “This place gives me the creeps.”