Joy fractured my heart. “Yes, yes, it’s me. I’m here.” I released a sob, smiling at the sight of my best friend’s bright teal eyes.
He blinked a few times, his eyes widening once realization dawned on him. “Ro.” He launched forward, wrapping me in a hug. “You’re okay,” he said in disbelief.
“I am. You are, too.” I squeezed him tighter.
“What the fuck happened?” he whispered.
“It’s a long story. Why were you in Argora Vale? You know that place is cursed, right?” I laughed, and he chuckled lightly in reply. “I hear it didn’t work,” I said, solemnly.
“No, it didn’t. Mel was—Mel. Where’s Melody?!” Panic accosted his jovial features. He pinched his dark brows together, gaze searching until it fell over my shoulder. He darted upright, almost shoving me to the side to get to her. “Melody!”
He crawled, then cradled her like a lover. My heart ached at the way he assessed the unconscious beauty. He brushed his tan hand over her fair cheek. “How long have we been out?” he asked, peering around at the three of us. “And who are you guys?”
It was happening, the introduction I’d dreamed of. Hadn’t imagined we’d be in such dire straits when it did, but my heart flipped over itself. Dae stood tall, arms crossed before him, onyx hair slicked back in a knot on his head. “I’m Dae, this is Kasia.”
“Hiya.” She waved, sweat glistening over her ebony skin.
Tio grimaced, holding his stare on Dae. “You call yourself a god?”
“That’s what I said!” I gestured wildly with my hands, tears nearly springing forward at how much I’d missed him.
“Okay,Sparrow,” Dae’s lip twitched, that thick black beard framing his teasing smile. My name was mesmerizing on his tongue, and I drank him in.
“Woah, first name basis. She must really like you,” Tio said.
A flash of warmth no doubt tinted my cheeks. Dae dropped his folded arms and walked over. He blocked me from view of everyone else, swiped his thumb along the rosy blush, and said between us, “Don’t worry, I really like you too.” He gave me a wink and a charming smile, one that made me question how Icould ever feel embarrassment over my attraction to this man. Hell, how didn’t everyone want him?
He stepped to the side, though I couldn’t take my eyes off him for a few more moments. Whatever god was in charge of luck must have favored me to place Dae in my path. I wanted to climb that man like a tree, and on any other occasion, I would have. But the summer heat was setting in, and we had a long way to go.
Kasia revisited Tio’s former question, before Dae had stolen all the attention—rightly so. “You’ve been out since we found you, for at least six hours. I don’t know if you were awake before you made it to camp or not. Same with her.” She glanced at Melody.
A crease formed between Tio’s eyebrows. “I…I don’t think so. It’s fuzzy. We traveled for a couple of days, but I can’t recall anything after we cleared Witches Pass.” Tio fixated on the sleeping beauty.
Kasia’s face dropped and twisted in a way my gut told me I didn’t want Tio to see.“Kasia, let’s forage for some food before we continue.”
She peeled her gaze from Tio and nodded.
“Don’t go far,” Dae said, extending his hand to lift me from my crouched position.
Unable to stop myself, I tossed my arms over his shoulders and threw myself onto his lips. He didn’t miss a beat, hands roaming across my back and gripping my neck, holding me close.
“What was that for?” he asked with a smile that made my knees weak when I finally pulled back.
“Just…thank you for caring about me.” I flashed a simple smile, then headed into the woods with Kasia.
I didn’t look back. Couldn’t bring myself to watch him shrink from view as distance separated us. I cleared my throat. “What was that about?” I asked once we were out of earshot.
“What was what about?” She kept her focus on the ground, searching for something edible.
Morning light streamed through the leaves, forming shadowed dots over us like leopards. She wore a burgundy suede vest and rolled her brown linen sleeves high.
“The look you gave Tio when you heard him say how long they had been unconscious for.”
She chewed her lower lip. “The herbs they use, when mixed with magic for a spell of rest, well…it’s not a precise science. Sometimes the spell binds too strongly, sometimes the herb is too potent.”
An uncomfortable worry spread throughout my chest. “What does that mean?”
“Sometimes people don’t wake at all.” The look she cast me was grave, concern rooted deep in her brown eyes.
