Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
We’d been walking for the entire day. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a deep purple hue over the darkening forest.
Torin and I trekked through the desolate landscape, our supernatural vision guiding us. Despite our abilities, exhaustion weighed on my shoulders like a heavy shroud.
"We should rest here for the night," Torin said in a low voice. “According to Seraphina, tomorrow morning we should be there.”
It wasn’t the hike that tired me but mostly the presence of constant danger. I eyed the shadows warily, aware of the demonic creatures lurking within them. The thought of encountering any of these monsters, or worse, Hayden, sent shivers down my spine.
But Torin was right—we needed to conserve our energy.
"Okay," I said, and we settled in a small clearing.
The rustling of leaves nearby made my pulse accelerate. So far on our way to the Poison Garden, we’d hidden from giant insects. I wondered if they grew as big as an average dog size because of the dark magic.
I couldn’t believe the massive-sized spiders skittering across their thick webs between trees, their prey wrapped tightly in silk cocoons. I tried not to think about what could be inside.
Torin sat against a large, thick stump, positioning himself as a barrier between me and the dangers of the forest. He patted his lap, beckoning me to sit with him.
I snuggled against his broad chest. His arms circled me protectively, his warmth enveloping me as though shielding me from all harm.
"Sleep," he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. "I'll keep watch tonight."
"Torin," I protested weakly, my chest tightening. "You're tired too. We should take turns."
"Please," he insisted, his tone firm yet tender.
Even through the fogginess of exhaustion, my mind recognized that Torin hadn’t put his foot down as usual. He hadn’t bulldozed his way.
"Let me do this for you."
I didn’t have much energy left to stay awake. I surrendered to the allure of sleep, lulled by Torin's steady heartbeat beneath my ear.
When I stirred later, a delicious warmth radiated through me. Even before opening my eyes, I sensed Torin's gaze upon me.
"Hi," I mumbled sleepily, stretching my legs before facing him.
"Morning, little witch wolf," he replied, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through my entire being. "You didn’t move a muscle while you slept. But thankfully, I could hear the steady beat of your heart."
His lips stretched in a tired smile.
"Better than I have in a long time.”
After waking, I realized the tightness in my chest remained. I studied Torin's handsome face, his eyes filled with wariness.
“You must be very tired," I said softly, unable to resist touching his cheek.
He captured my hand and pressed a kiss to my palm. "I've never felt better because you were in my arms, and I could feel your soft breathing the whole time."
My heart swelled, and I couldn't help but lean in to brush my lips against his. "But you need rest too. You can't always be the one protecting us both. I’m also strong."
His smile broadened. “I know. Next time, you keep guard.”
A rustling in the underbrush caught our attention. We exchanged worried glances before scrambling to our feet.
A giant spider emerged from the shadows, its multiple eyes gleaming maliciously as it skittered toward us.
This time, we couldn’t avoid it. Standing at the height of my waist, this nightmarish creature was covered in coarse, jet-black hairs that radiated unnatural chill.
Its legs shimmered with an oily, iridescent sheen—a sign of being infused with dark magic.
It was much larger than the spiders and insects we’d encountered last night. Its long, sinewy legs ended in razor-sharp, obsidian-like claws, and its eyes transformed into orange orbs.
When one spider emerged, many more would materialize from the darkness, similar to the demonic-looking dogs.
Exchanging silent looks, Torin and I seemed to agree that the best strategy was to flee rather than fight. The last thing we needed was to draw more attention to ourselves.
Torin grabbed my hand, and we raced deeper into the dark forest, our breaths coming in ragged gasps as we dodged gnarled roots and low-hanging branches.
Behind us, the spider's chittering grew louder, and my skin crawled at the sound. My heart thrashed behind my rib cage, but Torin's grip on my hand anchored me.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the spider's pursuit halted, and we skidded to a stop, panting heavily. For a second, the absence of its scuttling sent a wave of relief washing over me. We had outrun the monstrous creature.
But looking into the distance, I realized the spider had turned back because we had reached the Poison Garden.
Mushrooms. Rows and rows of mushrooms. The garden was an open space like a meadow where even the dark, bare trees stood away from the fungi.
We ventured closer to the red-spotted mushrooms on the forest floor. Seraphina had warned us that they were dangerous and poisonous to the touch, inducing hallucinations.
I pressed my free hand to my side. Torin’s hand still engulfed my other one, but it felt cool against mine now. A subtle tremor ran through his fingers, causing me to glance up at his profile. His expression had hardened, and tension tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He met my gaze, and a flicker of vulnerability flashed behind his amber eyes.
“I can’t shake this awful feeling,” he whispered. “Like I’m about to lose you.”
At this moment, Torin looked so…human. I squeezed his hand gently, but I knew it wasn’t enough.
We had no idea what awaited us in this garden, from which none of Seraphina’s warriors had returned.
But seeing wariness etched on Torin’s face, a sharp contrast to his usual stoic mask, ignited a fierce protectiveness within me.
“I’ll protect us, Torin.”
Nodding, he gave me a half smile.
The ornamental blooms that sparkled like precious jewels drew my gaze, but I knew better than to be lured by their fairy-like allure. The garden was as treacherous as it was beautiful, with dark, ivy-covered tunnels and flame-shaped beds of flowers.
All the vibrant colors of the garden looked unnatural against the surrounding forest of burned, ashen trees and shifting shadows. A cold chill traveled down my spine.
The lovely but poisonous garden reminded me of the mesmerizing spider’s web—breathtaking but trapping those who touched its poison.
"Look over there," I said, pointing to the heart of the garden.
In the midst of this deadly landscape stood the Goddess Fairy Oak Tree, its magic unmistakable even from a distance. It was unlike any other tree I had ever seen, majestic and ancient, its leaves shimmering with a luminescent glow while tiny lights danced around the crown.
Torin still held my hand, his touch grounding me as we navigated the garden's lethal terrain. I nodded as we approached the magical tree, careful not to disturb the surrounding mushrooms or vines that snaked across the ground.
As we approached the oak tree, I marveled at it. It was like the tree possessed a soul and was a living organism. It seemed to hum with life, its presence a symbol of hope and new beginnings in a place that thrived on death and decay.
The Goddess Fairy Oak Tree thrived in the midst of poison. A garden of mushrooms that killed surrounded an oak tree that healed.
As we stepped closer to the tree, our surroundings became more treacherous. Mushrooms, big and small, littered the ground, their vibrant colors hiding danger.
The vine leaves snaked around us, making it almost impossible to see where we were stepping. As I took another cautious step, a vine wrapped around my ankle and pulled me toward a giant red-capped mushroom.
A cold chill surged through me, but before I could react, Torin's sword flashed, cutting the vine away. He panted even though he’d swung his sword just once.
"Are you okay?" I asked. “Did you touch the mushrooms?”
Shaking his head slightly, he gave me a weak smile. "No, but I need to tell you something," Torin said in a trembling voice, and my stomach tightened. “Just in case.”
I frowned.
His breathing hitched as he looked around at the poisonous garden surrounding us.
"I've spent my whole life pretending to be strong, sometimes putting up an arrogant front,” he said.
I smiled, knowing too well what he meant.
“But the first time I felt true fear was when I realized you were my fated mate when you were younger. I've never known a bigger fear than losing you."
My heart ached, and then I realized that he might be afraid of the effects of the mushroom poison. Was he worried about the effects of the hallucinations on him?
My heart clenched as he continued.
"And then, after Cordelia showed you my memories, I lost you. I also lost myself. Now you're here with me. At first, I couldn't believe it, but then that fear of losing you again is taking over me again,” he said. “Anna, I'm terrified."
I sucked in a sharp breath. Torin must have been under immense pressure to admit this in the middle of the garden.
His imposing size and rugged appearance were at odds with the softness emanating from him. It wasn’t the broad shoulders, muscular physique, and thick, dark hair that captured me at the moment, but rather the gentleness residing within Torin. His willingness to be exposed and vulnerable with me.
I thought I’d never live to see the day for this man to open up to me. I’d tempted and provoked him in the past, but nothing worked.
I blinked repeatedly, but then I reached for his face, brushing my fingertips over his skin.
"But that's what humans feel when they love someone," I told him. "It's not about trying to protect me, but it's about going through it together. That’s enough for me, Torin."
I offered him a grateful smile in response to his confession. He nodded, and releasing him, I dropped my hands to my sides and looked around.
My eyes widened as a mushroom close to our side prickled its spores—tiny openings all over its cap.
The top of the mushroom looked like the gills of a fish out of water, pulsating.
The mushrooms' spores opened, releasing clouds of tiny specks like dust. Seraphina had mentioned that some of the pollen could cause heart failure.
Drawing his sword, Torin approached the mushroom cautiously. He sliced through the thick stem with a swift swing, and the red cap fell to the ground. As it lay there, the gills beneath the cap moved as if they were breathing.
The spores released another larger cloud of pollen that filled the air around us. Slicing the mushroom had been a mistake.
We placed our hands over our faces. Stopping breathing was useless—the pollen had already invaded our lungs, and I sensed the world around me changing.
My vision blurred as my mind turned to mush, playing tricks on me. I couldn’t differentiate between reality and my imagination. I felt disoriented.
Suddenly, Hayden, with an expression twisted with malice, appeared in front of me, but he wasn’t alone. He stood in front of Torin. With a fluid movement, Hayden plunged a dagger deep into Torin's chest.
I gasped, feeling an intense, stabbing pain in my own chest, as if the blade had pierced my heart as well.
My heartbeat turned erratic, and panic that my heart would stop functioning properly gripped my chest, making it tighten.
"Anna." Torin’s voice sounded so loud in my head.
Two strong hands yanked me to the side, and lips pressed against mine. The kiss was real and grounded me, pulling me back from the horrifying vision that had consumed me. It was only a hallucination, my mind finally reasoned.
My vision cleared as I took deep breaths, and I saw crimson eyes filled with worry. Tears streamed down my face as I pulled away.
"Even if it was for a few seconds, I saw Hayden. He stabbed you in the chest. It felt so real." My voice trembled.
"Shh," Torin whispered, wrapping his arms around me. "It wasn't real. That won't happen."
"But how can you be so calm?" I asked. "Didn't you hallucinate too?"
We’d both inhaled the particles flying from the mushroom.
His eyes filled with pain as he nodded. "For a short moment, I did. I saw the same thing, but it was Hayden killing you instead of me. I panicked, but then I kept telling myself that it didn't happen. You're okay, and you're right here next to me. That's how I got out of it."
I clung to him, my heart still racing from the vivid hallucination. While we stayed embraced, my breathing started normalizing.
“At least the mushroom seems to have stopped spreading those things in the air,” I said.
Suddenly, as if we had angered the garden spirit, a loud hiss cut through the air, silencing the low hum of the oak tree. I stepped back from Torin, quickly scanning the surroundings. All the mushrooms released a dense fog of hallucinating pollen from their spores.
Within seconds, the thick cloud that enveloped us made it impossible to see through, and I knew we couldn't avoid breathing it in.
This was why none of the others had ever returned. They hadn't perished due to extreme temperatures or battles with demonic creatures. They’d died because their worst fears became their reality, and their hearts couldn't take the pain, or perhaps they became mad.
Torin and I sprinted around the mushrooms while my vision blurred again, and I fought the urge to close my eyes and succumb to the trance once more.
We approached the fairy oak tree, standing tall and proud. Torin handed me his sword, and I accepted it.
“Hurry, Anna.”
Calling on my wolf strength, I swung the blade twice, cutting off a piece of the tree’s bark. I stepped forward to retrieve the bark while Torin kept a watchful eye on our surroundings.
As my fingers brushed against the oak's rough surface, I talked to it. "Sorry," I whispered, mentally apologizing for the harm I'd caused it.
"Anna, we need to go now," Torin urged, his face tense.
The fog of pollen was closing in on me, threatening to pull me back into my nightmares. I clutched the sword and the piece of bark tightly.
Suddenly, I halted. Hayden's image flickered before me like a broken hologram, his eyes filled with dark intent. I blinked, trying to dispel the vision, as Torin's voice broke through the haze.
"Anna, Hayden isn't here. Focus on me. I'm here with you, and I love you."
But Hayden, in his true form, stood before me, sword raised high above his head, striking down at Torin. The blade sliced through Torin's side, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake.
A scream tore from my throat, raw and primal, fear gripping my heart like sharp talons. My pulse raced, my breaths coming in short gasps. The pain in my chest was agonizingly sharp.
I gasped for air as my body shook violently. Sweat formed at my temples. A feeling of being trapped, constricting my lungs, welled up inside my chest.
Was this how I would die?