Trysten remains unconscious—his face pale, yet peaceful—but I’m grateful to see that his blood pressure and temperature are holding steady. Earlier, I used a cautery tool to close the wound on his head, sealing the edges into a neat, clean line. He’ll most likely have a scar, but at least it will be a small one now.
I had to carefully clean the area and ensure no trace of sand lingered. It was slow work, all the while suppressing memories of the crash and his limp body bleeding on the glass console. Now, all that’s left to do is wait, praying that he will awaken and that I can figure out where the heck we are.
I can see the pages clearly, each vibrant with photos of the planet and facts surrounding it. I know Oxorion has five moons, all of which can be seen from the planet’s surface. Clearly, that’s not where we are, as I’ve only seen three. Kliax has three moons, but the planet consists of islands peppering the unending sea. I saw an island in the distance just before the sun set, but Kliax doesn’t have any freshwater lakes this large.
As my thoughts continue down this path, I am startled awake by an overwhelming rush of sunlight, warm and more vivid than any I have ever encountered. It dawns on me that I must have finally fallen asleep. Unfortunately, I feel as if I haven’t had enough, like it should be the middle of the night, yet I have no way of tracking time. I wish I had memorized Professor Mathison’s instructions for building the solar clock.
Beside me, Trysten gasps sharply as he draws in a sudden breath, his eyes flying wide and bewildered, taking in the surroundings. He sits up slowly, confusion etched across his features, his hair matted and covered in sand; the piercing on his left brow is red and angry, but otherwise, he looks fine.
“Hey, hey, you’re okay,” I say, keeping my voice low. “We crashed, we’re okay. You hit your head.” I wince when his hand flies to the bandage, and I swat it away.
“Where are we?” he rasps, still looking around like we must have those first few hours.
There isn’t much to look at from this little beach. Today needs to be the day we scout the surrounding forest for food and water. Without a fire, this water is unusable.
“We don’t know…yet,” I clarify. “As soon as they wake up, we are going to have a look around.”
Trysten’s eyes go wide, and his face flushes as he gazes down at my body, and I remember I am still in my underwear. At least this set covers more than usual. The white undergarments are made of silk and lace, hiding the most intimate parts.
I wrap my arms around my chest and stomach in an attempt to cover myself. “Our suits were soaked, and we only have winter clothes in the bags,” I chuckle nervously. “I guess next time we should pack for multiple seasons.” Trysten nods, refusing to look at me now.
“Here, let me get you some water.” I stand, taking the blanket with me and covering my bare backside.
At our bags, I see a trail of glowworms crawling around our bags. When I pick one up, little tentacles reach for me. “No, no, little guy,” I sigh, setting him back down with a huff of frustration. I didn’t knowthey were on beaches, too. Last I read, glowworms were only found in caves in Treon and Kadora.
I return with water and take a moment to check on our suits. They’re damp, and getting into them will be a hassle. Then I have a laughable idea. I walk back to our bags, pull out my long-sleeve shirt, and use the blade in my bag to remove the sleeves. There we have it—a summer shirt. I try the same with my pants, grateful they aren’t my Xori ones, but the blade can’t cut through the thick, strong material. At least the shirt is long enough to cover most of my bottom. It’ll have to do.
When I return, Trysten looks much better. His once-pallid complexion returns to a warm, golden tan. Even the intricate lines of ink that snake across both arms and extend onto his chest seem darker. “Thank you.”
I nod in acknowledgment and settle beside him, relieved he’s awake.
Tate jolts awake a few feet away, his eyes frantic, before the reality of our surroundings snaps back into focus. “You good?” I ask softly.
“Shit, I thought this was all just a bad dream,” he breathes out as his shoulders fall.
“Unfortunately not,” I sympathize.
Tate rises to his feet, his movements a bit unsteady, and heads off to the forest, clearly needing a moment to himself.
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts as I prepare to address the next pressing matter. “So, I plan on taking someone with me into the forest. We need to gather food and water. Do you want to come, or would you rather stay here?” I’m already searching for my boots.
Normally, I’d insist he remain to recover, but as the senior here, it feels right to respect his choice.
“I’m coming. There’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight. Ryker would kill me,” he sighs, running a hand through his hair, wincing a bit where I’m sure he still has a bump. “Hell, he still might kill me. I was supposed to protect you.”
I chuckle at the thought, though he doesn’t share my amusement.The notion of Anders getting pissed over something out of Trysten’s control is ridiculous.
It would be easy to tell myself that Anders being concerned about my safety strikes me as absurd, but I’d be lying to myself. Our connection isn’t going away, it’s getting stronger. He might have a grumpy demeanor and often act like a complete ass, but underneath that tough exterior, I see him—the real him, the vulnerable side. I see the prince who loves his family and his people. The man who’s willing to go above and beyond. He let me in, first on Kliax, then the night he took care of me and carried me across campus. Deep down, I know Anders does care. Or maybe I’m just deluding myself into thinking I’m special.
“Yeah, well, Ryker can get in line,” I reply, trying to sound lighthearted. “I’m pretty sure our parents have the quadrants out looking for us already.”
I spot my boots tossed haphazardly near the line of moss and sand. “I’ll talk to Tate while you get dressed. Just so you know, the suits are still wet, so take your pick.” I pat his shoulder and turn, leaving him on the beach where Ciara lies sprawled in the sun, blissfully unaware. I glance back at Trysten, finding him staring out at the horizon, deep in thought. I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he searching for the quadrants like I have been?
The quadrants, the kingdoms’ military, are organized into four distinct branches. Protos are our space force, monitoring the kingdoms from above. Terra oversees our ground forces, extending their watch to the skies. The Regils serve as the royal guards, loyal yet terrifyingly deadly, while the Fari keep watch over our seas. I know our parents won’t leave even a single area unchecked in their hunt for us. Honestly, I don’t know how we haven’t been discovered already.
The forest is like nothing I’ve ever encountered. As we venture deeper, it becomes clear that we are far from any planet I recognize. My booksand ancient scrolls don’t mention trees with spiraling branches resembling thick cords and glowing vein-like strands that pulse gently, synchronized to the soft humming of the planet beneath us. Branches adorned with luminous green leaves feel alive in the canopy above, attracting both bugs and animals.
With each step, I feel the moss squelching under my soggy boots, but it’s the strange energy that gives me pause. It’s a sensation that mirrors a slow heartbeat reverberating through the ground. It pricks at the edges of my awareness, sending shivers up my spine and leaving my hair standing on end. Here, there’s a wild energy that flows freely. It’s a little unnerving. It’s so similar to the lines of energy I saw on Ista.
