Chapter 36
Aurora
I’ve gnawed my nails to nubs. Living in the middle of a fae rebel camp hasn’t exactly been a vacation. Olin arrived in Eldersmoor a few days ago, and it’s been a joy having him around. His sunny disposition and disarming charm has kept my anxiety in check. But it isn’t the same without Camryn.
I’m biting off a thin strip of skin from my middle finger when Soren walks up behind me, gently pulling my finger from my mouth. He’s sweaty and dressed in his full battle leathers. If I wasn’t so in my head, I’d insist he block the canvas door to our tent so I can have my way with him.
“You’re worried.” His voice wraps around me like a warm blanket. He folds his hand around mine and brings it to his lips, planting a kiss on the back of it before releasing me.
I turn my head to look into his honeyed eyes. “I have a weird feeling about Camryn. Like we need to be there.”
Concern clouds his face and his lips press into a thin line. “Hmm. I will talk to Thorn. Training the rebels has been going well, and they can handle it just as well as I can.”
My eyes lift. I love this man. “You’d do that for me? You don’t think they need you here?”
His eyes soften, and he grins at me. “I would do anything for you, My Flame. And no, I don’t think they need me here. I may have once believed I needed to be a vigorous leader, but now I know my place is beside you. Wherever you need to be, I will follow.”
My heart flutters.
“Besides, it might be beneficial if a small team of us goes up north to see how they are faring there.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. You talk to Thorn and see who might want to join us. I will call Camryn and let her know.” I’m giddy at the thought of reuniting with Camryn.
He kisses my forehead before leaving me alone in the small tent. I pull the compact mirror from my pocket, flipping it open. I pace as it pulses in my hand.
It doesn’t take long for Camryn to answer. “Hey, Rory,” her voice echoes through the glass. I glance at the image in my hand. Her hair is tied in a high bun and there are faint purple circles beneath her warm brown eyes. She looks tired. But also blissful. What has she been up to?
It’s then that I realize she isn’t alone. Framing her face is a chiseled bare chest and bulky arm. My eyes widen.
Camryn bites her bottom lip, and I hear a familiar male chuckle.
“Are you with … Caelum?” I whisper.
The gorgeous male tips his head toward my friend as she flashes the mirror in his direction. “Hi, Aurora. I was just keeping her warm,” he beams.
I’m speechless, staring at my friend grinning deliriously while tucked into the crook of his arm.
She laughs, a warm sound I haven’t heard in far too long. “We’re just cuddling.”
My mouth gapes. “Uh huh. I guess you took my advice.” I grin at my friend.
“Not yet,” Camryn replies.
I arch an eyebrow. “Yet?”
She bites her lip.
Caelum’s large body shifts. “As much as I love being the center of attention, I’ve got something to do.”
Camryn looks his way, discouraged by his sudden absence.
“Camryn, I’ll see you at dinner.” Caelum leans back into frame to press a kiss to my friend’s forehead. I am so shocked at the tenderness that my mouth gapes again. What have I missed?
A few seconds of silence pass as my friend watches her winged companion leave the room. She sits up in bed and I realize it isn’t hers.
“Where are you?” I ask.
She glances down at her lap. “Caelum’s room. We must have fallen asleep.” I stare at her with raised eyebrows, causing her to roll her eyes. “I swear, Rory, nothing happened. Kind of.”
“What?! What does that mean?”
Her brown eyes flash to my waiting gaze, and her cheeks darken. “Well, we haven’t slept together, but he gave me the best orgasm of my life earlier.” Her face scrunches as she watches my reaction.
“Oh. My. God.” I shake my head, grinning like a fool. I’m happy for my friend. “What happened?”
Camryn leans back against a mountain of pillows and pulls the mirror closer to her face.
“I don’t know. We’ve just been spending a lot of time together and there was some serious tension growing between us.
And today it just happened. He went down on me and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced.
He didn’t even want anything in return.”
My shock shifts into sadness and then happiness as I think of how my friend has always been a giver. She’s always put others before herself and consequently has been taken advantage of by guys who don’t appreciate her for who she is. Who’ve used her.
“Wow,” I reply. “What does this mean? Are you guys like … together?”
I think of Caelum’s cheery and cocky demeanor and see how it could be good for Camryn, whose spirit has dimmed since arriving here. Maybe he’s the sunshine to her rain cloud.
She sighs. “I don’t know. Maybe friends with benefits? It’s weird and complicated and I don’t really feel like treading that conversation yet.” Her eyes widen. “Oh yeah, and get this, we can read each other’s thoughts!”
I stare at her. “What? You can read his mind?”
“Yeah! I think I’ve got that listening gift.”
My brow furrows. “That’s unbelievable. When did it start?”
“This morning, after I talked to you.”
“Huh,” I reply. “Can you hear anyone else’s thoughts?”
She shrugs. “It’s only been the two of us here, so I don’t know.”
Sometimes I wish I had the gift of The Listening like Clara. But then I think I have enough chaos in my mind as it is.
“Speaking of magic,” Camryn squints her eyes at me. “Caelum seems to think I have dreaming powers, like you thought. Kind of like Mei, but more intense.”
I hold my breath for a moment before expelling it. “And …”
“He thinks I have the pure magic of dream weaving, which he says is pretty rare. Non-existent, actually. Arc’s dad is the last remaining Dreamer, or so we’re called.”
My brow furrows. “What does that mean?”
Camryn’s face hardens. “I guess I can foretell events in my dreams and transcend into the dream realm.” Her brows pull together. “Remember that dream I had after you arrived at the palace? I told you it felt so real.”
“I think so.”
“I think that was my magic. I think I transcended into your dream without realizing it.”
My eyes widen. “So you can just wander into people’s sleeping minds?”
She bites her lip. “I guess so. I need to do some reading. Learn how to use it. Hopefully, Arc will return soon and I can pick his brain. I’m sure he can help me.”
“That sounds kind of scary, Camryn.” My mind whirls. “Why is it awakening now?”
Her gaze veers off screen. “Caelum thinks it has something to do with the king returning.”
My heart sputters. “Oh, my god. Do you think he’s dreamed of you?”
Camryn grimaces. “I had a dream about him returning. I guess if I’ve dreamed of him despite never meeting him, it’s likely he’s prophesied of me, too.”
My heart pounds in my chest. “I don’t like the sound of this.” My eyes focus on my friend. “I guess this explains why I’ve felt so worried about you lately. Something’s wrong. I’m coming to you.”
Maybe I should talk to Maeve. See if she knows anything. I don’t like the idea of putting so much pressure on a child looking for answers that she has no control over. But it might ease my nerves.
Her eyes flash to mine. “You’re coming here? When?”
“Soren is talking to the others and arranging things. I’m hoping to leave tomorrow.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Don’t they need you there?”
I shake my head. “No, things are going well here. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Camryn sits up and runs a hand down her face. “You don’t need to worry about me, Rory. Caelum assured me everything will be okay. I just need to learn how to harness my power and what my dreams mean. And I don’t know if you can help me with that.” She looks forlorn at me.
“I know I won’t be able to help with your magic, but if you are suddenly in the middle of King Caledor’s return, then I’m going to be there with you. Maybe we will bring Mei and Maeve to see if they can help, since it’s within their realm of magic.”
Camryn relaxes a fraction. “Okay. It’s not like I don’t want my best friend here with me.” She offers me a sad smile.
I stifle the anxiety burning a hole through my chest. “Good.” I return a half-hearted grin. “Now go eat dinner with your man.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss her cheeks darkening. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. See you soon.” I snap the mirror shut as Soren strides into our tent. “We have to go as soon as possible.”
He takes one look at my face, washed with worry, and nods. “Tomorrow. First light.”