Tallulah never felt useful. Never clever or quick to learn things. She’d kept to herself and her books and her garden. She’d lived a life so many would consider simple. But in all the simple moments she’d lived, she’d forgotten howpowerfulsimple could be.
Planting a seed was simple. But to nurture it, care for it, watch it grow and evolve was powerful. To read was simple. A skill so many had. Yet, there’s power in words. In imagination and declarations. There’s power in picking up a story and not just reading it. Butlivingit. In your mind and in your heart. Your soul.
Her magick was simple. She could conjure any plant she pleased. But here she was. Calling upon a simple ivy and watching it wrap around the throat of her two assaulters. So distracted by Evren and his blade, the hunters paid no mind to the girl who could simply grow plants.
Underestimating her would be their last, fatal mistake.
Her energy faded quickly with her injuries, but she didn’t stop until the ivy had tightened all the way around their throats. Until they dropped to their knees. Until they stopped struggling completely and lay limply beneath her hands. It was only then she dropped her hands to her sides before abruptly falling to her knees.
Evren was there in an instant, as he always was.
“Tallulah,” he breathed against her skin as he scooped her up into his arms. His grip was firm around her as he carried her away and she winced at the pressure on her ribs.
“Evren!” a man shouted from behind them.
Evren froze.
His arms tightened even more as he turned. It was difficult to make out his face, but the man stepped closer and his blonde hair glowed in the sun.
“You sent them,” Evren whispered, not letting Tallulah go.
The man nodded, running a hand down his face.
“I didn’t think they’d do this,” the man said, his voice shaking. He looked to Tallulah but quickly looked away.
“You betrayed me, Markus,” Evren spat, his body beginning to tremble.
“I only sent them to look foryou! I didn’t think?—”
Tallulah’s body softly landed upon the dew-soaked grass. She sucked in a breath at the sharp pain to her sides, but she didn’t dare take her eyes off Evren.
She would never again.
“Their blood is on your hands.” Evren stepped closer to the man called Markus. “Youdid this, not her.”
The man shook his head, peering over his shoulder at the two men lying on the ground. “I was trying to save you, Evren. Trying to keep you here. Trying to rid your mind of the poison she’s been feeding you.”
Evren took a step backward, angling his body in front of her.
“Go.” Evren scooped her back in his arms. They were warm, a comfort. She could weep from the scent of him alone.
Her eyes were heavy again, the world around her spinning.
“Leave now before one more body lies lifeless on the ground.”
Tallulah shivered at his words. At what she’d done.
She cracked her eyes open one last time before they turned. Markus, she thought that was his name, gave her a wry look before returning his focus to Evren.
“I’ll go,” Markus whispered. “I'm sorry, Ev. I just?—”
Evren’s body flinched beneath her, but he turned before he could hear another word, leaving the town and Markus in the past.
Evren secured her to the horse, ensuring her comfort before settling in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her middle to grab the reins and kissed her once on the cheek.“You’ll be okay now, Lu,” he whispered.
Her head fell backward, meeting his chest, and his arm tightened around her protectively as they took off through the forest.
Into the horizon where their future awaited.
