“There,” he murmured in my ear. His voice sounded louder, stronger. “You’re controlling it,leika. A little more. A little bit more.”
With one last desperate attempt, I slashed my hand, which was still entwined with his.
The barrier dropped.
And when it dropped, itdropped.
I felt the earth tremble. I felt a ripple of energy blow my hair back and freeze my bones as it rushed towards us. The pain left me and I dragged in lungfuls of air, so relieved that I wanted to sob. So relieved I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.
Then it was still.
Sostill.Soquiet.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the barrier was gone. The Dead Valley was gone. The Dead Mountain was shrouded once more. The fog had returned, though it swirled wildly when before it had been calm. Was it angry? Was it closer? I couldn’t tell.
“Rowin,” I croaked, feeling the world tilt. I gripped his hand tighter with the last of my strength, fearing I would fall.
Then behind us, as sudden as the quiet had come, I heard it broken by thecheers.
Behind us, the horde was celebrating, exuberant and exhilarated cries filling the air. They shocked me. Their excitement was contrasted with my own feeling of fear, of exhaustion, and the memory of the pain…and it made me feelwretched.
Rowin turned me in his arms. One hand slid around my back, keeping me upright, and I let my weight sag into his hold. I trusted him enough to keep me from falling.
His expression was tense as his horde cheered. Watchful. That red gaze flickered back and forth between my pupils and I felt his hand drag underneath my nose, wiping the blood away, though it coated his fingers.
I couldn’t see the horde beyond his broad shoulders. I couldn’t see anyone but him.
“Take me back,” I whispered.
I’d meant thevoliki—to sleep and recover away from the hundreds of eyes—but his mouth pressed at the words and I realized he thought I meant the Dead Mountain.
Before I could say another word, he swept me up into his strong arms, cradling me against his chest. My cheek met his warm, bare flesh and I heard the strong thud of his heartbeat. A familiar position. One I’d been in before, hadn’t I?
Yes. Under the Dead Mountain. When he’d tried to keep me warm when I’d been so, so cold.
“Rowin,” I huffed, feeling my vision go hazy. I thought I blacked out for a second. “I’m going to—”
My exhaustion won. I gave in.
Everything fell away.
Though…I swore I heard Rowin’s booming voice. Like a dream. I swore I heard a familiar word as it tumbled around my quiet mind, mingled with raucous cheers.
Morakkari.
I didn’t have the strength to remember why that word sounded so familiar.
Chapter Thirty
“Have you ever seen anything like it?” Valavik asked quietly, his eyes pinned on the slumbering female.
Laying Mina down onto the fur roll, I was careful to be gentle. Valavik’s presence, so near to her in such a vulnerable state, was making discomfort prowl in my chest and I covered her body with the other fur blanket. It didn’t make sense. I trusted Valavik more than I trusted anyone. Why did I feel this potent jealousy then?
“Nik,” I said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
That was the truth. What she’d done…it was like going back in time. Seeing the Dead Valley uncovered once more, seeing the Dead Mountain loom, made me remember the battles waged there against the Ghertun stronghold. Made me remember how the land had once been lush and brimming with life.
She’d cleared the valley of the fog entirely, if only for a brief moment of time. Then it had flooded back in and I, for one, was glad of it.
