Chapter 11 – Sera #2
I run all day, pausing only for a few minutes at a time to catch my breath or steal precious sips of water from nearby streams. How far could the swan have taken me?
When the sun starts to dip below the horizon and I still have no idea where I am, choking despair takes my breath away.
I’m bent over, hands on my knees, gasping for breath as reality hits me: I’m not going to make it.
The sky dims, and I lose myself to the swan once again.
Loneliness was my only companion these last few months.
I never realized how much I enjoy the presence of even strangers until I spent almost four months never seeing a soul.
After days of fruitlessly fighting the swan’s pull south, I awoke in Narvae, at the southern tip of the continent, and I knew it was over.
I stole a dress from a clothesline and managed to send a note home to Elsmont.
It was the best I could do. There was no way I could outrun the swan’s evening flights, my attempts utterly futile.
The following day, I awoke on one of the uninhabited southern isles.
It was just me and the wildlife, all alone with my thoughts for months.
I dreamt of my years in this realm, the good memories and the bad.
I replayed every moment, every memory. Of course I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about Alex, from the ridiculous flirtations when we’d first met to the moment he’d saved me from the lake beast .
. . but worst of all was the last memory.
The complete brokenness on his face when I’d told him we could never be together.
Was I wrong? Was there a way we could have made it work? Maybe if it weren’t for the damned swan.
The moment the weather shifted, I found my way back.
It was foolish of me to run to him first, but I couldn’t ignore the pull for one second longer, the damned bond faint but still there.
I knew the closer our proximity, the stronger the bond would become, but I went anyway.
If we had bound our bodies, it would have been undeniable and impossible to resist, but thankfully, we hadn’t done more than kiss.
Could the gods really have been cruel enough to bring me someone who smells like home, feels like home, knowing it could never last more than a few decades?
Jokes on them; I’m rejecting it. They chose wrong.
Letting myself into the small cottage, I breathe in the familiar scents of home. To my relief, there’s a fire blazing in the hearth and stew bubbling in a pot. Johnny’s not alone.
It’s been too long. I should have come here first, but I needed to see Alex and find out if I still had a position in the palace. Thankfully, the kitchen staff didn’t even blink when I showed up ready to work.
“Sera!” Tommy exclaims, entering the room wearing one of my old frilly aprons. “Where in the hells have you been?”
“Oh, you know. It was my turn for an adventure.”
He laughs and draws me into a hug. “You look like complete shit.”
“Thanks,” I grumble, pulling away and crossing my arms. “Nice apron.”
Tommy grins. “It’s practical when cooking. The extra pocket is perfect for holding a knife.”
I shake my head, unable to keep the smile from creeping onto my face. I missed him. Walking over to the stew, I pick up the wooden spoon and give it a taste.
“Don’t burn yourself!” Tommy yelps.
I put the spoon back and turn to him. “Pretty sure I’ve burned all my taste buds off by now,” I lie. “It needs more salt!”
Tommy crosses his arms. “It tastes just fine as is.”
“Sure it does,” I tease, throwing in a handful from the salt dish when he’s not looking.
“Papa’s been asking about you every day,” Tommy says, and guilt grows the pit in my stomach.
“I got stuck down in the southern isles,” I say. “I came back as quickly as I could.”
Tommy snorts. “Must have been nice to spend the winter down south.”
I try not to roll my eyes. Yes, so nice. Being completely alone and turning into a swan every single night, living off whatever it decided to eat. I sunk into such a deep depression, I didn’t even bother to forage for food during the day.
“It’s so quiet,” I say. “Where are Papa and Jamison?”
Tommy drops onto the worn settee in front of the fire. “They’re out somewhere. I don’t know.”
“He’s well enough to leave the cottage?” I ask.
Tommy yawns, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Yeah, the healer, Margot, came by a few months ago and did him a wonder of good.”
“How in the hells did you afford that?” I ask, knowing Papa almost always refuses to spend any coin on a healer. He prefers to tough it out.
“Strangest thing,” Tommy says. “She said it was covered, part of your pay. You must have a damned good job at the palace for them to keep paying you while you were off gallivanting in the isles.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and I smile. Rae did what she promised. She looked after him when I couldn’t, and it sounds like he’s better off for it. “The princess is more than generous,” I agree.
“Come sit. You look exhausted. I meant what I said about your lookin’ like shit.”
I groan and drop onto the settee next to him, resting my head on his broad shoulder. “I missed you all.”
“We missed you too, Seraphine. Now what’s really bothering you?” He prods me with his elbow.
“My heart hurts,” I admit, staring into the fire, allowing my element to soothe me from afar and wishing I could command it like I used to.
“Who do I need to kill?” Tommy asks, an edge to his voice.
“You’re not killing anyone.”
“Are you sure? I’d be happy to at least give ’em a good beating. Maybe I could leave word for the Shadow.”
I raise a brow. “The Shadow, huh?”
Tommy chuckles. “Yep. If there’s trouble, Lou knows how to get him a message.”
“Well, as much as I appreciate the offer, I hardly think my broken heart is worthy of the vigilante’s time.” My brother would die if he found out I knew the Shadow personally. I could hardly believe it when Rae let it slip.
“That’s why I don’t bother with love,” he says. “Too much trouble.”
“You’re not wrong.” I sigh.