Chapter 32
‘I’ve seen what my daughter will become.
I only hope the world is ready.’
— Written entry from Aesira Deyanira’s personal journal
Airess
They walked inland, following a worn-down path that the commoners used to travel between the city and the country lands.
Airess glanced over at Taryn as they walked along the dirt path. She studied the way his brunette curls fell effortlessly over his brow, the curve of his full lips, and the straight line of his nose. It was a face she had come to know well. A face she could recognize anywhere.
Everything about him was starting to make sense. She had begun to put the pieces together–the puzzle that made Taryn the male he was. His time at the Guild, she realized, was not what he truly wanted for himself.
There were still a few things about him that were lost to her.
Primarily his childhood years. Airess had gathered he had a troubled past as an orphan, but she didn’t know much about the grandmother he kept mentioning.
He had yet to open up to her about it, and she found herself wanting to know everything about him.
“Are we going to the home you grew up in?” Airess asked.
“Yes, the one I lived in before my grandmother died.”
There was a pause, until Taryn spoke up again. “I met my grandmother when I was eight. She isn’t my grandmother by blood, you see. She adopted me when I was an orphan. I lived with her in the home I’m about to show you.”
Her heart twisted for him and the pain he endured. Of course he was too stubborn to ever admit such a thing.
“I’m sorry, Taryn. I’m sorry for your loss. I’m sure she was an amazing woman.”
Taryn chuckled, gazing at the moon as he was no doubt recalling a distant memory, “She was. She made my childhood–however short it was–worth living.”
“What was your favorite memory with her?”
“Oh, Gods,” Taryn smiled. “While she cooked, I’d sit on the floor and reteach her history and facts I learned in school.
She would always listen to the lessons I wanted to teach.
She took me shopping with her everywhere.
I miss her smile, her boisterous laugh. I…
I hope she’s doing okay, wherever she is now. ”
Airess grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I believe the other side is much better than our world here. Whatever it is like, I believe she is happy and safe watching over you.”
“I still feel her spirit existing out there,” he said. “Energy cannot be destroyed. It just changes forms. I hope one day I will see her again.”
“I have every confidence we will meet again with our loved ones.”
Taryn stopped walking and turned to face her. “I’ve never told anyone about my grandmother before. No one has ever really offered their condolences. Even after all this time, it means everything to me. Thank you, truly.”
Airess looked up at him and smiled. “You can tell me anything.”
He towered over her, eyes boring into her soul.
Airess’ smile melted into a frown as she noticed a smear of blood on his cheekbone from the duel.
Rising to her toes, she wiped the blood away softly with the pad of her thumb.
Their eyes met, their gazes upon each other intense, the moon and stars meeting again.
“I wish you’d stop getting hurt to defend me,” she whispered.
“What kind of ally would I be if I let you get hurt?” Taryn said lightly, a touch of sarcasm in his tone. “Besides, this cut is barely a scratch.”
Airess rolled her eyes. “A scratch? Your cheek is sliced and bleeding.”
“You underestimate me if you think that is a problem.”
“I don’t want you to keep getting impaled by a blade for me. Enough blood has already been spilled.”
“Oh, Airess,” Taryn said, his eyes darkening, “I would gladly bleed out for you.”
Her breath hitched at the words, at the claim they implied. She tried to calm herself, slowing down her quickened heartbeat that Taryn no doubt could hear.
Airess swallowed and changed the subject. “What was that Fae male going on about back in town? He said I’m an Elve, so he had a claim to me.”
“He was being an asshole, trying to use Fae customs that apply to mates so he could take advantage of you.”
Airess stilled. This was news to her. “Mates?”
“It doesn’t always apply to every Fae, but every now and then a Fae will find their Mate.
It’s a bond between Fae. Usually a romantic bond, but there have been some exceptions in history before.
That male back there was saying that since you’re not Fae, I can’t claim you as off limits.
You’re half Elven and Human, and therefore that makes you available in the Fae’s eyes.
“You’ll need to get accustomed to how territorial the Fae can be. We are, after all, the animalistic cousin to the Elven species. Society is different here. Fae people will try and make advances on you, something you aren’t used to,” Taryn explained.
“Fae people can be mated?” Airess asked in disbelief. This was certainly something she never learned about in her schooling. It was moments like these that she realized how sheltered and in the dark she was about the outerworld. Living in Luciena made her blind.
“Yes.”
“And… do you think you will find your mate now that you’re back here?” Airess asked sharply. She wished she could stifle this sinking feeling in her stomach, an emotion cutting true and deep to her very core. If Taryn found his mate here it would change everything. It would be… devastating.
Perhaps this was the moment she realized she was starting to fall for him. Hell, maybe she already had. The thought of someone else having him, touching him, being with him, made bile rise up her throat. Her body rejected the idea. Her chest tightened as she waited for his response.
“No, I haven't," Taryn confirmed. “And I hope it stays that way.”
Despite her relief, his last comment puzzled her. “Why do you hope it stays that way?”
Taryn shot her a look, eyes boring into her before answering, “I have my reasons. And I don’t think I would be a deserving male. You can’t choose who you are mated to. I don’t think anyone would willingly want to be with me after my past.”
Her shoulders sagged in relief, but she couldn’t help the nagging feeling of the possible what ifs.
What if he does eventually find his mate here in Rune? What if he wants to be with them?
She realized all these thoughts about something that hadn’t even happened was anxiety flooding her mind, invading her self-assurance. She breathed in and out, and let it go.
I am not my anxiety.
She mustered a fake smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
Taryn let out a bitter laugh. “I am a criminal. I am a killer. I’ve lied, and stolen, and have done so much wrong in this world. I don’t deserve a mate. I certainly don’t deserve love.”
Airess’ eyebrows shot up at the raw confession, at him finally admitting out loud his thoughts and fears. Before she could say anything further, his eyes averted to something behind her.
“This is it.”
Airess turned and followed his gaze, noticing the circular hut instantly. The pair walked forward, cutting through the knee length overgrown grass. Something about it looked so familiar to her. Her eyebrows creased as they neared.
“It looks empty.”
“Let’s go inside,” Taryn said, and burst down the door with a gust of wind that shot out of his fist.
Dust clouds swirled around in the moonlight that streamed through the door and into the hut. Two cots, coated in dust, were on one side. A tiny kitchenette was on the other, old pots and pans hung upon the wall. In front of them were two wingback chairs facing a small fireplace.
Airess stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. Yes, it certainly was familiar. She had been here before.
“I can’t believe it's all here. This is crazy,” Taryn muttered, dark brows drawn together.
He crossed the threshold into the hut. “Another family inherited this house when I was sent to the orphanage, but it looks like they kept all the furniture.” He walked up and put a hand on one of the armchairs and turned to face her, “This is where she used to sit. Wait–I’m sorry.
I don’t think I even told you her name. It was –”
“Ima.”
Airess scanned her surroundings, wide-eyed, as Taryn’s hand dropped from the chair.
“How did you know that?”
Her gaze met his, “I was trying to tell you on the ship, then everything happened so fast. I… met her. In the dreamworld.”
His eyebrows rose in disbelief. “You what?”
“I didn’t know who she was. I just appeared here.
” Airess motioned to the hut. “It was such a brief conversation. She told me to travel with the male to Rune. I didn’t believe her at the time.
I thought maybe I truly had gone crazy. It was my first time meeting another dreamwalker.
It’s why I knew I was safe to travel with you. ”
“And you didn’t think to tell me about this sooner?” Taryn asked as he folded his arms, his tone speculative.
“I had just met you. We were in jail. How crazy would you have thought me to be if I told you something like that?”
He studied her, making that face she knew he made whenever he was thinking about something deeply. “Fair enough. I suppose we are even on that end, then.”
She visibly relaxed. He strode to her and looked at her with an intense expression. “Tell me everything that happened with Ima.”
So she did. She told him everything about their encounter– the chairs, the sewing, and their odd conversation. He listened intently, searching her eyes for more information.
“At the end she said, ‘The Obadiah awaits the both of you’.”
“Hm,” Taryn hummed as he took a step back. “Ima was Tevyen. It’s how I know what I know about my lineage and its forgotten history. She never once mentioned The Obadiah, or being able to dreamwalk, for that matter. This is… an interesting development.”
“Wouldn’t Ismene have mentioned such a thing?” Airess questioned.
“You would think so,” Taryn said. “If my grandmother knew Ismene, that would raise a whole new level of questions. Come on. We need to get answers.”
After a brisk walk through town, they finally arrived outside the temple. Taryn banged on the door while Airess tapped her foot impatiently.
What was the connection between the Obadiah, Ismene, Ima and Esper Crawn?
Should Airess be taking this prophecy and her Tevyen lineage seriously, or were they being deceived?
Ismene claimed the young King Roz was also a Godling, so if that was true, Airess planned to have a meeting with the King first thing tomorrow.
The wooden arched door creaked open a crack. A royal guard peeked out, her face annoyed–until she saw who stood on the other side of the door.
“The temple is closed tonight,” the guard said curtly.
“The temple is never supposed to be closed,” Taryn retorted, folding his arms. “We need to speak with Ismene. It’s urgent.”
“The Queen Dowager is occupying the temple at the moment. Come back in the morning.”
The guard slammed the door in their faces, leaving no room for any more interruptions.
Airess huffed in frustration. “Unbelievable.”
Taryn’s jaw tensed as he turned to face her. “We will come back at sunrise, then.”
They turned and walked away in sync, gravel crunching beneath their sandals.
“Do you want to walk on the beach with me?” Airess asked softly.
Taryn looked down at her, warmth flooding his gaze. “There’s nothing I would rather do.”
He grabbed her hand and led her past the buildings in town and onto a sandy path that cut through the tall grassy dunes.
They left their sandals in the sand. Airess felt the soft sand glide through her toes each step she took towards the ocean.
She breathed in the salt air, the warm breeze ruffling her hair.
None of those sensations compared to the sound of the beach–each wave crashing after another.
A poetic melody of life’s push and pull.
They walked onto the flat shoreline, their surroundings surprisingly bright beneath the moonlight. Airess glanced at Taryn, noticing the breeze rustling his loose tunic and pants as they began to walk along the water. The silence was comfortable. It felt like home.
“I never thought I’d walk the beach again,” Airess confessed. Her heart rate increased, anxiety welling in her chest at the vulnerability. She breathed the anxiety out again, letting it pass and flow away in the breeze.
Taryn grabbed her hand in response and squeezed. Sometimes actions spoke louder than words ever could. Airess understood exactly what he was trying to convey with one simple touch.
I’m here for you. I know. I’m sorry.
“The Salamoon is in just a few days,” Taryn said, looking down at her.
Her eyes widened. A few days?
“I can’t believe how fast time has passed.” Airess elbowed Taryn playfully. “It will be our birthday.”
“Indeed it will,” Taryn agreed, pursing his lips together in thought before speaking again. “You know, Rune throws a huge ball at the castle every Salamoon. There’s dancing and food. The whole town comes together to celebrate. It’s customary to bring a date, a companion.”
Airess met his gaze at the implication and smirked, waiting for him to say it.
“Would you be my date to the Salamoon ball?” Taryn asked with a grin, a playful hand over his heart.
Airess smiled. “Of course I will.”
They walked for miles until they took a break and sat on the shore.
They were the only ones on the beach, feet in the sand as they talked through the night.
Airess told him things she never had told anyone before: the truth about her anxiety, the night she was taken to the Luciena capitol, and how it was living with Arzhel Lucien.
Taryn caressed her hair as he listened, watching her intently as she spoke. He told her he cared. He told her she didn’t deserve it. Taryn listened, and promised they would have a better life here.
Airess hoped with everything in her that the promise would come true.