Chapter Eight #3
Raevina’s sharp gaze snapped up to him, fire in her eyes. Her lips parted as if she planned to retort, but she turned to Gavin instead. “Are you unable to glamour a fire?”
Gavin’s cheeks heated. “Of course I can glamour the fire.”
Raevina turned back to Talon. “Then I suppose we’re fine. I’d rather my dinner be warm.”
Dinner? Within minutes, Arianna realized Tierney had gifted them an entire meal, one that would spoil if not consumed tonight. Zylah had pulled everything from one of the crates. At least that was one less burden for the horses to carry tomorrow.
Talon clicked his tongue and turned away, but Arianna was silently grateful to Raevina. A warm meal sounded nice. She turned back to Ellie, who still hadn’t moved from inside the wagon. Anything to get her sister strong again was a blessing she couldn’t take for granted.
Zylah retrieved a final sack, pulling out hard cheeses and bread. They’d likely save some of that for tomorrow. If all went as planned, they’d only need to live off the smoked meat for a day before reaching Nàdair.
Talon lifted himself into the wagon and helped Ellie to her feet. He whispered to her in a calm voice, but Arianna wasn’t sure she’d react any differently if he screamed at her. She sighed, trying not to let her emotions take over.
Once Ellie’s feet hit the grass, Arianna took her other arm. “I’d like to see if she’ll walk a bit before we sit her down again.”
Talon nodded. “Just stay around the camp. I’m not sure how far Gavin’s glamour reaches.”
Arianna looked over at the male who was watching them intently. “I don’t think he’d let Ellie out of his sight, anyway.” Gavin smiled slightly, but his face turned somber again as he watched Ellie stumble along beside Arianna.
Thankfully, her little sister didn’t resist as she led her around the wagon. They brushed past the horses, moving at a slow pace, each step jerky and uneven. Ellie didn’t groan, didn’t stretch, didn’t make any sort of facial expression that would reveal anything at all.
Arianna studied her sister’s vacant blue eyes.
Eyes that were nearly the same shade as her own.
As their mother’s. Ellie’s had always been slightly lighter, though one wouldn’t be able to tell without looking closely.
Arianna wondered what was going on in her head.
Where was Ellie’s mind if not with them?
Was she safe? Scared? Was she in the middle of a battle with no one to set her free?
After three rounds, Arianna led Ellie to the base of a tree that stood close to the fire.
Ellie’s skin was still icy to the touch, as if all the warmth had been seeped from her body.
Talon came to help lower her to a seated position.
He tucked the blanket around her for comfort.
Gavin lingered just behind Talon, a constant watchful eye.
What would happen if Gavin tried to pull on the bond? Would it wake her sister up, or send her deeper into the recesses of her mind? Maybe they’d try it once they were safe and others with more experience could tend to her sister’s mind properly.
With the camp secured, Talon lowered himself down by the fire. Closer to Raevina, Arianna noted. Was it on purpose or simply instinct that carried him close?
She dared to search for The Demon. Examine him. He stood on the outskirts, as far away from her as he could manage. He’d already walked the perimeter twice. The scent of his magic was everywhere, mixing with the scents of Saoirse’s and Talon’s. No one was taking any chances, it seemed.
A sapling erupted from the ground a moment later, drawing everyone’s attention.
Saoirse walked toward it, growing the thin tree until the trunk was as thick as her leg.
Saoirse bent it to her will and sat upon the smooth bark.
To Arianna’s surprise, Zylah sat close to her, each positioned to face the fire.
Everyone’s faces were haggard, shadows lining their eyes.
They’d all gone through so much. Finding out the truth about Vairik and their land.
Discovering Levea’s destruction. Attempting to accept that Connell’s group might no longer be alive.
That her father and her people might have fallen prey to Vairik’s monstrous forces.
She sat beside her sister, soul heavy. Kirian was gone, too. So much loss, yet they had to keep moving. There wasn’t time for grief.
Arianna massaged the back of her neck, trying to ease the dull ache there. Silence settled over the space, broken only by the crackling noises from the fire. It was so quiet, so—
A violent curse shattered the stillness, followed by the metallic scent of blood. Arianna’s heart jolted, and she watched The Demon shove off from the tree he’d been leaning against, shaking his hand vigorously. He’d already dropped his knife.
Talon lifted a brow as if concerned, but a smirk played on his lips too. “You all right?”
“Fine,” Rion bit out from under his breath. The Demon rummaged through a pack with one hand, his other clutched tight. Blood dripped from the edge of his palm. He withdrew a bandage, and Talon’s smile faded altogether. Her friend’s gaze flickered toward Arianna, a question there.
The Demon didn’t look at her once. He moved back to the tree at the edge of their camp and poured water over the wound, examining it before securely wrapping the bandage around his palm. It bled through immediately.
Arianna tried to ignore the way the others were not so subtly glancing at her. She knew what they wanted, but to get that close to him. To touch him. A shiver ran through her body.
The Demon settled against the tree again and slid down to his feet, knife forgotten in the dirt. He just stared into nothing, reminding her far too much of Ellie.
An uneasy silence filled the space, and Arianna chewed her lip.
The Demon was helping them. It would be in their best interest if she healed him.
Even something small could take a bad turn.
But if Ellie snapped out of her stupor and their opportunity to escape arose, wouldn’t an injury, no matter how small, give her some advantage?
She almost laughed at her own logic. As if a small cut on his hand would do anything to hinder The Demon’s abilities. He had a reputation for a reason.
Once the food had warmed, they ate, then returned to their resting positions. Ellie, thankfully, didn’t require prodding this time, but she still wouldn’t feed herself. She opened her mouth each time the spoon came to her lips, a habitual instinct rather than conscious thought.
Ellie would return to herself, eventually. She had to. Arianna would accept no other alternative.
She adjusted another blanket around her sister, then settled against the same tree, leaning her head against the scratchy bark.
Arianna stared up through the trees, searching for the stars between the thick clouds.
Her gaze snagged on a loose strand of fabric trapped in the branches, billowing in the light breeze, reminding her of a youngling’s kite tail.
But there weren’t any villages nearby. None that she’d seen on the map either.
Arianna furrowed her brow, squinting. Another strand moved with the wind.
Then another. She sat up slowly, counting them.
Four. Eight. Twelve. They were everywhere, on all sides.
She glanced toward the others, but no one else seemed to have noticed.
A break in the clouds revealed a sliver of moonlight.
It reflected off one of the tendrils, revealing the silky white surface. Arianna’s heart sped up.
“What is it?” Saoirse asked first, the warrior automatically following Arianna’s gaze. The female stood slowly then, her hand reaching for the sword at her side.
“What are those?” Arianna whispered.
Saoirse didn’t have time to answer. Not as something white shot out from the shadows and latched around the female’s waist, yanking her back into the growing darkness beyond.