39. Lora
Lora
Golden morning sunlight filtered through the trees as Erion and I slid our bags into the boat. Father and Vela shuffled their feet on the docks beside us. Breakfast had drawn out far too long. None of us were ready to say goodbye.
My chest tightened at the thought of leaving my family again, but resolution thrummed beneath my skin. Father’s words from last night still echoed in my mind.
The world is saved by those who choose to fight.
Father’s eyes widened. “Wait, forgot something!”
He hurried back across the street just as Corin emerged from an alley, his hunting pack slung over his shoulder. His gaze swept past Erion and me, snagging on Vela.
She caught his stare and color flooded her cheeks.
A smile spread across my lips. “Off on a hunt?”
He nodded, tossing the pack into his boat. “You’ve been missing out. Hunting’s been good these past few weeks.”
Unease prickled my skin. “You’ve heard about the new rifts, right? How towns and villages have been swarmed?”
“Yeah, but most of those are in the west. We haven’t heard of anything like that happening around here.”
I bit my lip. “Still… Be careful out there, will you?”
Vela smirked, her hand trailing up Corin’s arm. “That’s my line.”
He pulled her close, and I turned away to offer them privacy. I steadied our boat as Erion climbed aboard.
Corin vaulted into his boat and loosened the rope. With practiced sweeps of his arms, he pushed upstream. A crooked smile played on his lips as he glanced back at my sister. “Dinner tonight? My place?”
“Of course!” Giggling, Vela managed a tiny wave, fingers fluttering.
Father came rushing back with a large waterskin in hand. He held it out to me. “Here, you should take this.”
I brushed the smaller waterskin at my belt. “I already have one.”
“Where you’re going, you can’t count on always having water nearby. It couldn’t hurt to bring more.”
“Good thinking. Thank you, Father.” Gratitude warmed my chest as I swapped my waterskin for the larger one.
Vela’s arms wrapped around me. “Come back safe.”
I squeezed her tight. “I will. I swear it.”
Father enveloped us both in his large embrace. He said nothing, but the pride shining in his eyes told me more than words ever could.
As I climbed into the boat, I sensed Erion’s eyes tracking my every move, burning with flaming intensity.
Warmth threaded through my core. Not the same kind of heat burning in his gaze, but a wistful ache. A longing to look at someone the way my sister looked at Corin—soft and unguarded, like nothing else existed in the world.
Turning tides, I couldn’t let thoughts like that take root. I had to stay focused on the mission.
But I couldn’t brush him off either. Erion needed support, not rejection.
At least his smoldering gaze was better than the guilt and fear that usually haunted him.
As I pushed the boat into motion, I offered him a small smile. Whatever he needed from me, I’d give it. Even if it meant enduring the weight of his affection.