It doesn’t stop my thoughts of Wren. She left me on that cliff, a sorrow along the breeze. I long to hear her voice again. She would no doubt think my lusting over two males hilarious, even though it is torture.
She’d probably say something crude about Gideon’s muscles and how they would reflect the package below. A puff of air comes out of my nose at the thought.
“What’s so funny, love?”Rivern’s words travel through my head, wrapping it in a hug.
“I was just thinking about my sister.”I don’t elaborate more than that. Talking about Wren isn’t on the cards for me. That door shut long ago. Even this moment of reprieve, where her smooth skin and bright green eyes flash before me, is a rarity.Usually, her features are drip—
No,don’t think about that.
Stop it.
Stop.
I try to push the image back into the cave.I knew I shouldn’t have thought about her.Little bits and pieces slip past Argus as he drifts into slumber more and more, letting me take the reins for the first time, my strength slowly becoming my own since leaving Haven.
My face must be contorting into one of pain and anguish, a silent scream tearing through my limbs. My body is manoeuvred so I’m sitting on Rivern, his hand cupping my cheeks, soft, velvet words finding my ears, not just my thoughts.
My hands shake down by my sides, my eyes caught on a horrifying sight. One I haven’t seen in several rotations—not since I locked it in the cavern of my heart, far away from my own prying eyes. The eyes of a small child who witnessed her…
This is all wrong. I’m not meant to see this. To see her this way.
Firm fingers are pressing into the sides of my face, urging me to open my eyes.I can’t.
I should’ve stayed in the temple.
I should’ve never tried to learnthe song.
I should’ve stayed in my safe place with Wren and Argus. Then she would still be here,and Argus would be taking his duties more seriously.
Sure, it wasn’t perfect. It was safe. Safe from the mangled, dripping object in my mind’s eye. Green orbs, wide and filled to the brim with tears, call to me. Melting fingers reach for me.
A deafening sob escapes my lips, my body limp, eyes closed in Rivern’s lap.
This time, the darkness doesn’t overtake me. Instead, two black eyes blink into existence before me.“Breathe, Pet.”His voice is controlled and filled with strength—something I siphon like a baby bird taking its first breath. I need his strength to bolster me. With my breaths evening out, my fingers fly up to grasp a hard chest and wrap around Rivern’s neck, pulling my body roughly into his.
Fury says nothing else as my eyes blink rapidly back into focus.
Running my hands into silken hair, I breathe Rivern in. Summer nights under pine trees watching the starry night sky come to mind. My body slowly moves into a calm state.
From outside of our bubble, I hear a rough growl.
Gently pushing back from Rivern, I find a hard line crinkled between his eyes—worry. I feel it along the bond. Reaching up, I run a finger along the furrowed line.
“Love.” It’s almost a gasp as he says it, making me wonder if he can see what I can.
“No, but I felt what it made you feel.” His hands are gripping my hips with a bruising strength. I don’t mind. I want to feel his hands on me long after they are gone.
“I’ve scouted the path. We are not far off the void,” Moyrie’s voice comes from behind me. I turn around to find the Silver Sands princessstanding next to Gideon, who is practically seething within his beast form,pacing.
What’s his deal?
Moyrie appears unfazed by the turmoil surrounding her.I wonder if she just missed my mini breakdown.Gideon didn’t. I don’t know how to take his reaction. His eyes are black as night, and his teeth glisten with ferocity, directed towards me.
A loud squawk comes from overhead.
Time to go.
After Rivern makes sure I eat and drink, we are moving back towards the void, following a flying shadow on the sand before us, my earlier psychotic blip cast aside. He understands that it isn’t something I am willing or able to talk about.
