29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter twenty-nine
The relief is palpable when I slip the ring back on my finger, concerned to only feel the faintest buzz coming from it.
I managed to convince Cayzenn to wait in the main chamber, to avoid potential questions.
He's already refilled our canteens and is pacing by the time I return, and we start back down the dimly lit, winding path, jackets tied around our waists.
We hardly exchanged a word on the way up, conserving our energy for the intense pace he set to get as far as possible before the sun set. We're descending the steps into the final cave, a few turns from the exit, when I miss a step and slip.
He must see me about to fall, because he lunges for my wrist, pulling me so hard, I crash into his chest, and we stumble into the rough wall.
A thunderous rumble vibrates beneath our feet, making it feel as if the entire mountain is shaking.
Jagged chunks of rock splinter and crash around us, and Cayzenn yanks me to the center of the space, stretching his jacket above our heads protectively until it goes quiet.
"Are you ok?" he asks, frantically scanning my body for nonexistent injuries. Thankfully, we’re both fine, just covered in dust and shocked at the state of our surroundings.
I try not to let that escalate into full-blown panic when we see the exit is completely blocked by a huge pile of fallen rocks and debris.
Our attempts to clear it only succeed in making more dirt and stones tumble down.
"What are we going to do? We're trapped," I whisper, voice shakier than I would like.
"We're not. We can always go back to where the pools are, or even all the way up the mountain if needed," he replies soothingly, as if sensing my fear of being confined in this space with barely any light.
"Xaavi and your sister will be able to get us out in the morning once it's light.
In the meantime, I'll ask Witt if any of the other Amps can reach their riders to let them know what happened.
Otherwise, they'll try to hike back and look for us in the dark. "
Ignoring the horror of having to spend the night in here, I force myself to take a deep breath. "Ok, I'll check in with Aven too."
"You can talk to him this far out?" The look he gives me is a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"Obviously. Why wouldn't I be able to? Isn't that what you just said you're doing?"
"It is, but you have a new bond and…not the strongest magic." He drags the last part out like he didn't think it all the way through before speaking.
I flush and avoid a response by accepting the water canteen he's holding out, using it to rinse the grit from my mouth.
He does the same, telling me to get comfortable while he runs up the path to check it's safe and refill our water.
Pushing up my sleeves, I clear a small area as best I can while explaining the situation to Aven.
By the time Cayzenn returns, two light sticks in hand, I'm as comfortable as I'll get, sitting on the ground with my folded jacket for a cushion.
What are we supposed to do now? He sits against the boulder across from me and answers before I can ask out loud.
"Since we have nothing else to do, it's my turn to ask you some questions.
" There's no sign of the scowling, silent man I hiked up here with.
This version is grinning, eyes alight, completely unbothered at being trapped inside a mountain.
"Some is too many, and we have to be allowed to pass—or lie," I joke.
He laughs, "We'll alternate. No lying. I'd rather know what you choose to share. Yes to skipping questions, but then the other person gets to ask an extra one, deal?"
"Deal, as long as there’s no follow up questions,” I agree. “You start. What do you want to know?"
"Ok, tell me why you grimace every time someone hands you a plate of food."
Oh, hell no. I'm not touching that with a ten-foot pole. "Pass."
"What? That was an easy one."
"I don't want to talk about food. Try again."
He chuckles. "Fine, now I get two." I scowl and gesture for him to hurry up. "Why did you choose the Remedies?"
I thought he was going to ask about…actually, I have no idea what he'd even want to know about me. Something more surface level—not that it’s hard to give him a sliver of honesty about this. "It's what was expected of me. Next?"
He thinks about his second question carefully before asking, "Did you really leave Raviaz for the sole purpose of going to see the cerisus bloom?"
He smirks when I don't immediately answer, revealing the truth before I can decide if it's worth another two questions.
Eventually, I tilt my chin up and say, "No.
" He doesn't even look the slightest bit surprised.
"And if that's how we're playing this, why did you really let us tag along out here, knowing we would slow you down? "
"You already know why. Waste of a question," he huffs.
"I don't, not really. You said you couldn't leave us at the inn, but you know the twins would have listened if you'd insisted."
"The two of them listening was never the problem.
" Now, I'm the one smirking. He sighs. "Fine, I'll admit it.
Just try not to get angry and ruin the game, or it will be a very long night.
" Eyes narrowed, I wait impatiently. "I thought you'd change your mind about the whole thing when we got to the tree wall.
I even had the horses wait for a few hours just down from where we camped. "
He glances at me warily, worrying about my reaction. It doesn't sting, though. It's not like I didn't think about giving up once or twice. I snicker, and he visibly relaxes. "Valid, although I'll have to have words with Aven for not telling me that last part."
"I was obviously wrong, and you're not slowing us down that much. It's pretty impressive, actually, considering you're…unprepared." My smile at the unexpected compliment dissolves when he asks his next question. "Why were you bleeding that night in the garden?"
Oh, stars, of all the things to ask. I really don't want to dredge this up from the depths where I buried it.
I let out a long breath. "If I tell you, you have to promise to let it go once I do.
Or, like you said, it will be a long night.
" This is a terrible idea. I'm already regretting it.
When he agrees, my gaze drops to the ground, darting between a white pebble and a pile of rock shards.
I have to get this out quickly, with as little emotion as possible.
"I was in the storeroom at the Stonewood Tavern, and two men followed me.
I guess they were drunk and got a little carried away, but I made it out.
Nothing happened." Silence stretches between us until I force myself to look over at Cayzenn.
The blaze in his eyes is the antithesis to his low, icy voice. "Nothing happened? You were fucking bleeding. That’s not nothing." Horror melds with the rage when realization dawns. "That cut was from a blade, wasn't it?"
Shifting uncomfortably against the rock at my back, I try to figure out how much more to say, knowing full well he’s not meant to ask follow ups. "It was, but–"
"Please, don't. Do not say you got away or it was fine after telling me a man not only held a gods damn blade to your throat, but cut into you with it," he whispers shakily, jumping to his feet to pace around the area I cleared.
Definitely a bad idea. I should've skipped.
"Who were they? Wielders or Triv? What happened to them?
" Shadows fissure across his glowering face as he turns to look down at me, the muscles in his neck and clenched jaw tight with a rage I wasn't prepared for.
I get to my feet and go to him, speaking softly. "I didn't see their faces, so I don't know who they were. Just two lowlifes taking advantage of a shitty situation."
"You don't know if they were Wielders or Triv, or you won't tell me?" His insistent need to know battles with obvious effort not to direct the fury at me.
"They had Amplifiers, ok? And that’s all I’m saying. I’d really like to stop reliving this, so can we please get back to the game? Or have you already run out of questions for me?"
While the attempt at lightning the mood falls flat, his face softens at my request. "Just please tell me if you healed ok?
I seem to remember a certain someone not even having it cleaned or bandaged properly.
And now I know what happened…the fact that you went to the party at all…
" Cayzenn drags his hands through his hair, giving me a pointed look.
Pulling down the neckline of my training shirt, careful not to show skin that shouldn't be blank, I reveal the smooth area where the slice was. "All gone. It wasn't deep. Now, can we move on? Tell me something people would find surprising about you?"
Tearing his eyes away, he leans against the boulder, sucking in a deep breath. "Don't tell our resident Endurers, we all know their thoughts on the evils of sugar, but I love the stuff. The sweeter the better, as far as I'm concerned."
I bite my lip, holding back a laugh.
Raising a brow in challenge, he tilts his head and asks, "Why have you been hiding in your tent and resorting to drinking shitty coffee?"
Oh, we're doing this now? I swallow the embarrassment and shoot back, "Did Jeska tell you what happened between us when you two had your little chat about me?"
"Did you just answer a question with a question? Because I'm pretty sure that's not how this works."
I laugh, relieved some of the lingering heaviness is lifting. "Fair point. I stayed in my tent because I was avoiding you, and my question about Jeska still stands."
"She told me she warned you too. I told her to stay out of it. She should begrudgingly leave you alone now." My cheeks flush, and I break eye contact, feeling like I'm the one who needs to pace now, or at least put distance between us.
A feeling that only increases when he waits for me to look at him again and asks, "Who was the last person to kiss you?"
“Goddess, do I really have to admit to this?”
His laugh is so loud, I worry it will trigger another rockfall. "You don't have to, no. I hope you will, though."
"Fine, but I'm asking you the same question after." He shrugs nonchalantly, and I squeeze my eyes shut so I don't have to see his reaction when I mumble, "It was Kentiz."
Turns out, hearing it is humiliating enough when he makes an overexaggerated gagging sound. "Oh, Aly, you can't be serious. What are you doing letting that slimy creep anywhere near you?"
Aly? That's new. Why do I like it so much?
"Hey, we said no follow ups," I protest. "I don't want to talk about it. Your turn, same question."
I'm not even sure I want to know, especially when he replies, "I think it would’ve been Coria."
A damn princess. Why did I even ask? "Of course it was.
" The words slip out before I can stop them, and he gives me an intrigued look I can't decipher.
"Why haven't you matched with her yet? It's no secret the King wants magic in the family, and you're choice number one, with all those stars. " I wave a hand toward his chest.
Cayzenn grins, pushing up off the boulder and coming to stand in front of me, holding out a hand to pull me to my feet.
"That definitely counts as another question," he teases, answering anyway.
"I don't want to spend my life with someone because of my power any more than you want a man chosen for you because of your bloodline.
Now, I need to move. Want to stretch with me? "
If I feel like being honest, after that answer, there are other things I'd much rather do.
I have to settle for wondering what it would be like as I follow him through one of our usual morning routines, pleasantly surprised to find muscle memory kicking in.
"Your technique has improved a lot in a few weeks," he murmurs.
"A little more work on your stance and arm strength, plus proper breathing, and you'll be flying onto Aven's back in no time. "
I look up to see a hint of pride in those sparkling blue eyes. It's been a long time since I've craved a man's good opinion, so I'm shocked to find how much I want his. "Will you show me again?" I whisper before I can think better of it.
His face splits into a wide grin. "Of course I will.
" Widening his feet, he starts talking me through how the position should feel.
Not that I'm listening, too busy trying—and failing—not to focus on the way his shirt sticks to him in patches.
Thankfully, he doesn't take it off. It's already hot enough in here when he shoves the long sleeves up to bunch around his biceps, revealing rippling muscle thick with veins and copious amounts of beautiful black ink.
It's impossible not to stare at the intricate tattoo encasing his entire left arm, and I’m completely caught off guard when he takes my hand, places it flat on his stomach against the damp fabric, and makes me feel the way the muscles clench when he locks in the abdominals I can damn near count through his shirt.
I eventually nod, somehow managing to indicate I understand what he's demonstrating, and he hovers a tentative hand on either side of my midsection, waiting for permission.
"Can I…" He pauses, clearing his throat. "Can I touch you?"
"Yes," I stammer, he splays his fingers across my stomach and lower back at the same time, and I think I might combust. The heat of him searing through my top and I forget to worry about being sweaty or the softness under his palm, because I need every brain cell to keep me breathing.
A feeling that continues long after we stop training, deciding to head back up to the hot pools for our second bath of the day.
There's an easy quiet between us as Cayzenn reaches up to grab the water canteens from a crack in the cave wall. In the next second, six glowing red orbs explode out of it, long, white fangs sinking into his right wrist while furry, spindly legs encircle his arm in a death grip.