24
Elyse
An iron door loomed before Elyse. A vast ocean lay behind her, its mists spackling her back and legs. Waves surged for the small dock, biting at it with vigor, yet Elyse’s focus lay on the door ahead, and the suffocating tunnel beyond. High above them and miles away, their destination awaited them: Zubir’s secluded cottage.
“Let’s get on with it,” she said to Sera. She sliced her knife across her palm.
When the door bade them entrance, Elyse and Sera stepped into the dark tunnel. They’d left the men back in Sevhella with their own mission: report to Maelor and plan a defensive strategy for the Sammerhan Games. Meanwhile, Elyse and Sera would recruit an ally.
It was better they had split up, for a few reasons. Elyse couldn’t bear to be back inside the palace gates, nor could she faceMaelor. She’d murdered his father after all. Even if Killian had spun it as a demon possession, she was certain Maelor wouldn’t stand to be in the same room as her.
The other reason Elyse was glad to be on this mission was Sera. Elyse hadn’t had a chance to be alone with her friend since her outburst in Mrs. Southwick’s kitchen. But the two of them on a remote island with an hours-long hike would be the perfect opportunity to find out what was going on.
First, though, she had to get past these stairs.
They waded through the darkness and humidity, fumbling about to maintain their course. There was no magic allowed on the island past the iron door, so Elyse couldn’t even summon a flame to guide their way.
Four hundred and thirty stairs later—or something to that effect as Elyse had stumbled over her count—they reached the cliff top. This time, Elyse didn’t mind stopping. They had the whole day to hike to Zubir’s cabin, and she still wasn’t sure what she would say to him.
She doubled over as soon as the ground evened out. Sweat trickled from the ends of her hair and splattered on the dirt. Elyse glanced toward Sera, who leaned against a nearby tree. She breathed hard, her sweat-drenched tunic rising and falling fast with each breath, but her gaze was trained ahead with a clarity that made the hair on the back of Elyse’s neck tingle.
Elyse twisted her head to the north, toward where Sera stared. The edge of the cliff was no more than ten feet away, and beyond that, an endless ocean spanned everything. Rocks scattered the sea at the base of the island, but that was it. The rest was blue,and blue, and blue. Sky and sea. And it was the most beautiful thing Elyse had ever seen.
Her heart suddenly felt like it was being pulled across that sea. Killian was out there somewhere. Hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Still entranced by the oceanscape, Elyse heard as Sera joined her. The cadence of their breaths slowed as they watched the sea together, as sisters. Forever joined in that moment.
“Sera,” Elyse began, but her friend let out a soft shush that echoed the waves below.
Elyse looked to Sera. Her black hair was plastered around the edges of her face, and her cheeks and neck were splotched with red. Yet she was just as breathtaking as the view she so lovingly observed. Men had always adored Sera for the way she painted her lips, or the way her breasts filled out her dresses. Elyse loved her friend for these quiet moments where neither of them spoke, but they were entirely themselves.
After a few moments, Sera pivoted toward the path that would take them to Zubir. “Let’s go,” she whispered, and marched toward the forest. Elyse took one last look at the sea that separated her from the world she knew, and turned to follow her oldest friend.
Shade was scarce, even as they penetrated the forest. Elyse hurried after Sera, endeavoring to match her long strides.
“What’s going on with you?” Elyse asked.
Sera said nothing. Her face remained stony, except for a hint of pain in her eyes.
“I don’t mean to sound judgmental,” Elyse corrected. “I want to know so that I can help.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Sera answered, her voice barely audible but firm nonetheless.
“Are you pregnant?” Elyse blurted out.
Sera stopped, her eyes wide as she faced Elyse. “No, I’m not pregnant!” She placed both hands on her stomach. “Are you trying to say—”
“No,” Elyse quickly amended. “Not at all. If anything, you’ve lost weight. You barely eat or talk. I never see you smile anymore. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
“Oh,” Sera uttered. She dropped her hands to her sides. Before her gaze fell to the ground, Elyse caught the flash of guilt in her eyes. “I’ve been worried—about Lazarus.”
“That’s a load of demon shit,” Elyse retorted. She took a tentative step toward her friend and softened her voice. “We’re all worried about Lazarus. But you’re the optimist. You’re the one who makes sure the rest of us don’t get too broody or cynical. You don’t let anything bring you down.”
Sera kept her attention trained on the ground. “Sometimes I do.”
“Then talk to me about it,” Elyse pleaded. She shook Sera’s shoulder, forcing her to meet her eyes. “Let me help.”
Sera’s eyes shimmered as they searched Elyse’s face. Her lips curled in the slightest of smiles. “Why did you think I was pregnant?”
