I did not need Cyara’s maps, however well-crafted they were by the librarian’s daughter. The rift called to me. It was a soft hum in my bones, a trill in the back of my mind that never quite stopped.
It hadn’t been like this before, back when we went through the rift at Eldermist. But I had not accepted my power then, either.
Now, I knew that if I closed my eyes, stepped through the void, I would appear at the rift itself. I’d have done it to save us from this tedious journey. Except I had never taken more than one other along with me through the void. The glowing ember of power inside of me was strong, but would it be strong enough to carry two or three companions at once?
I had never even taken myself from one realm to another, let alone done so with another. Had never taken another step like that, deeper into my power, without Arran at my side.
Even if I took my companions through one at a time, there was nothing to stop Percival from using the moment of vulnerability to slide a dagger between my ribs. I was not stupid enough to believe his compliance would last one second beyond his first opportunity to escape.
This was the best way, the safe way. Over land to the rift near the Spine. It would deposit us in the exact same geographical location, but in Annwyn. Then we could travel on to Eilean Gay.
I would not endanger my friends. The arrogant use of my power had already lost me my mate. My partner. The strategic one, the steady one. The warm body that wrapped around mine at night and soothed away the fears that the others could sympathize with, but only Arran could truly understand.
I stood on the edge of the camp, staring out into the darkness. I listened to the sounds of Diana and Percival being settled in for the night, even more tightly bound, separated. The rustle of a tent flap, the even quieter rustle of wings. Cyara was going to sleep. Lyrena was on first watch.
I lingered still. Until Percival stopped grumbling about the cold the open tent flaps let in—open so that Lyrena could watch both him and the camp—and his breathing evened out. The rhythmic sound of Lyrena sharpening her blade on a whetstone merged with the animal sounds of the forest around us.
When the moon was fully overhead, just visible, and all human and fae sounds had ebbed away to nothing, I shot a look back over my shoulder to Lyrena.
Her bright eyes were already waiting.
I tipped my head toward the darkness of the forest.
She shook her chin sharply to the side.No.
One casual step.I am going.
Her lips thinned into a line.No.
I glanced up at the moon, then back at the tents.I will be back in time to take the next watch.
Lyrena stood up, hands on her hips, gripping her sword. As if she might charge me, try to subdue me and tie me down to keep me from slipping away. But mere ropes could not hold me now.
She looked meaningfully at Percival, a dark form in the tent a few yards away. She could not leave him and follow me. She took a step toward Cyara’s tent.
I shook my head sharply. But it was everything else about me that held her in place. The way I squared my shoulders, the imperious tilt of my face. The command from a queen to her sentinel.Stay.
My golden knight dropped back down to her seat and glared at me.
I winked, and then disappeared into the night.
17
VEYKA
I did not use my void power this time.
I wanted to feel the earth beneath my feet. As I wove my way between the roots of the mighty pine trees, I tried to feel the power that lay there in wait. Arran could pull the power up in a second, use the roots and branches to do his will. I knew it was a desperate, sad attempt at a connection to him. But I tried nonetheless.
It did not come.
The trees were just trees, the roots solid and unmoving.
When I settled myself against one, my thighs cradled by the thick roots on either side, I did not let myself imagine it was my mate holding me. That was much too dangerous to my precious wall of ice.
My hair was just long enough to braid now, though tendrils of it still snuck free. Most days I left it loose around my shoulders, enjoying the lightness of it. But tonight I took the time to braid it back, though even the motion of flipping it over my shoulder had a few wisps of white coming loose at my temples.
I ignored them, turning my focus inward.
