Chapter 24 #3
The true beginning of allowing me to remember. What I’d yet to share with Rage was that I’d had another dream, one in which my mother told me of a great warrior who would be my mate for life.
She’d even described him, although I had a feeling she was stating the words in the prophecy.
There was no longer any doubt how important Rage was to my life and those of everyone else left alive.
I crouched in front of the wood, taking several deep breaths while Blade watched with clear curiosity. Since I didn’t like being watched, I closed my eyes and eased my hands over the wood.
I’d heard gifts of this nature were rare, learning to use them more so. But I also realized that I needed to relax so I could help us stay alive.
Another test and one so very personal.
With my thoughts drifted into a peaceful place, I could feel vibrations tickling my arms. Electric in nature, they were unlike before when all I’d wanted to do was to unleash the beast from deep within.
In those moments of learning to control every emotion, Rage’s face remained in the front of my mind.
“I’ll be damned. She did it.” The excitement in Blade’s voice allowed me to open my eyes. Seeing the flames tickling the dried wood made me smile.
I sat back, realizing Wren was no longer with Vicious and she was happily playing with the dog while the powerful warrior was twisting his arm, not a sign of a cut anywhere on his hand.
“How long did that take?”
“Ten minutes or so.” Wrath answered the question. I’d been out of it, lost in the activity.
“Where’s Rage?”
Vicious looked at Wrath before answering. “He’s not interested in coming inside.”
“What are you talking about?” I was on my feet, immediately shoving my hands into my gloves.
“He doesn’t like…”
Why wasn’t he answering me? “He doesn’t like what, being with me any longer? Is that it? Does he suddenly think this mission is a joke?”
Vicious crowded closer to the fire. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I said to him. Maybe if the two of you worked more closely together and dropped your armor completely, we’d get out of this shit.”
“What does that mean?” I was incensed.
“It means we all know how much you need each other. He’s claustrophobic. The scientists could alter just about anything in our DNA but our fears. The weakness could be used against him if discovered.”
We all had at least one weakness, a fear so innate we couldn’t react as we normally would. He couldn’t crawl through the tunnel.
I didn’t hesitate, grabbing one of the light sticks before moving to the tunnel. As I crawled through, I thought about my greatest fear. Not of monsters or even barbaric men. Not of disease or famine but heights. I couldn’t stand heights.
Once I was outside, I was amazed how quiet it had become. I could even see stars above, a further indication the storm was gone. However, the bitter cold was still dangerous.
I found him moments later, finding some shelter crouching by a bank of snow. He didn’t flinch when I came closer, knowing who was there.
“Get back inside,” he growled.
“Not until you come with me. You’ll freeze to death.”
“So will you.”
“Then come inside,” I insisted and moved beside him.
He shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“You’re stubborn. And you’re afraid of tight spaces. Do you trust me?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“A simple one. Do you trust me?”
Rage turned his head, studying me in the darkness. “Yes, I do.”
“Then trust me enough to allow me to guide you through the opening. This is another test, Rage. We must confront our fears. You are strong enough to do that, but the gods are telling you that it’s okay to ask for help.”
“Now you believe in the prophecy.”
“Maybe I do. Let me prove it to you.” I stood, backing away and holding out my hand. “I started a fire because you had faith I could harness my gift.”
“Are you so certain about that?”
“I am. Trust me. Come with me. I need you.”
“What do you need me for, princess?”
Maybe I didn’t truly mind him calling me a princess. “Everything.” Still stubborn, I had to grab his hand, refusing to let him go before he’d give in.
I backed away and he reluctantly followed, shaking his head the entire time. When I slipped on the ice, he swooped his arm under me, pulling me tightly against him.
“Careful, princess. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“I guess you’ll need to keep me from doing so. Won’t you?”
“I guess so.” The attraction was even stronger than before, but there was more of a desperate need not only for each other, but to reach our destination. He lowered his head, brushing his lips across mine. “I do trust you, princess.”
“Then you need to place trust in yourself. In the darkest of nights, there will always be a light. While sometimes it will take all your courage to face the monsters, never give up for you are destined for greatness. There will be one who will always protect you. If you have faith.”
He allowed me to guide him to the entrance, growling the entire time as I forced him to his knees. “Something Peter told you?”
“No,” I said as I pulled him down. “My birth mother did. Right before she was murdered.”