“A little busy at the moment.” I sway gently, the only sound is the faint whispers of our voices. “Thank you for giving me back my memories that you took.”
She shakes her head. “I told you before, I didn’t take them. Khaysus did, to try to corrupt you, as he did to someone else before. I thought blessing the one your heart callsnot of Antalian bloodwould help and I shielded him —”
I cut off her words before she can finish, unable to hear the rest. “Blame it on whomever you want. I’m tired of this. I’m tired of being involved in a prophecy I didn’t ask to be a part of.” I swat her hand away as she tries to reach out. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I want the drop restored between Thylas and I … you took it away, you can give it back.”
“You didn’t ask to be the daughter of prophecy, but here you are. I can’t bless something already inhabited, just like Khaysus can’t fully command him. Listen to me.” She steps closer to me. “Where water runs, water can carry. Your father doesn’t have long and neither does anyone else. The world is changing, Daughter.” Her body shifts from my mother to the woman I saw before. Her dark blue hair is now tipped with silver, as her blue eyes glint in the darkness.
“Who are you really? You call yourself my mother. You also said you are Drahenå. You change each time you visit me. How can I trust you?”
“Have you not figured it out by now? Soon.” A secret smile spreads across her face. “You were born to do this, even if the paths don’t lead where you expect.”
As she leans in, her lips gently touch my forehead, pulling me away from the abyss of darkness.
forty-seven
Carnaxa
“Drink this.” Someone has a glass of water tipping towards my lips as I wake. Ereon sits beside my bed, looking frazzled. As I drink the cool water, I feel it soothing the scratchy sensation in my throat. The rain pounds on the top of our tent, creating a cacophony of sound. I sit up on my forearms as he brushes strands of hair out of my face, his bruised fingers caressing my cheeks. “You were amazing. We will try again tomorrow to leave, but I didn’t want to travel with you in the stateyou were in.”
“Tomorrow then.” I finish drinking the water before I meet his gaze, worrying if we will ever get home and the words from my mother come back to mind.
He studies me for a moment before taking my now empty glass. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing ... just a dream. Where is everyone?”
He sighs. “Siphonie and Rhenor are in their own tent. Thylas is ... outside.” He looks towards the entrance to the tent. “Said he was standing guard to make sure you are okay.”
I laugh silently to myself. “Tell him to come in. Why did you keep him outside?”
Ereon doesn’t meet my gaze. “I didn’t. He chose that himself. I told him to come inside where it is warm. He’s being stubborn.” Ereon walks toward the tent’s entrance, beckoning Thylas in.
His cloak dripping wet, Thylas enters with his head hidden from view, his tattooed arms peeking out from the fabric of his shirt. Before releasing the clasp at his neck, he shakes off the droplets clinging to the fabric, watching them fall to the floor. “Sorry,” he mumbles, before he walks to me. “Are you okay?”
As I look at him, I can see the fear and hesitancy in his eyes. Things have changed between us, even if we don’t want to admit it, but it’s not my doing. He’s the one who performed theneni. He didn’t give me a choice. He didn’t wait for me.
I grab Thylas’ hand as he sits on the edge of the bed, shooting a look at Ereon, but I know my husband won’t say anything. What more could Ereon have to prove? As he bent on his kneesto proclaim me queen in front of everyone. Ereon smiles at me, leaning down before whispering, “We are here for you,Rheyo.”
Thylas’ deep green eyes meet mine, and in this moment, I can almost feel his fingers itching to reach out and touch me, to bridge the distance between us. Although our twin drop connection has vanished, the feelings and memories still whirl around in my mind. Siphonie and Rhenor don’t have a twin drop between them and they still have love. Perhaps we will too. I still need him ... in a way I can’t explain. Just like the night we shared before we reached Shaston — I knew I needed Ereon and now — I need Thylas.
I don’t let him speak before I spring up, letting my arms wrap around his neck, pulling him into me. I hug him close, ignoring the rhythm of his heart that doesn’t beat in time with mine. It means nothing, because I know at some point, we will find it again.
“Noh?.”His fingers delicately trace a path along my spine, causing goose bumps to erupt across my skin. “I’ve missed you.” He sighs, his voice filled with a mix of joy and sadness as he continues, “I shouldn’t do this … we’ve tried this before and it only brought you pain.” Thylas stops and pulls away from me.
“But you did nothing wrong … what happened wasn’t because of you.” I smile at him. “I want this.” Perhaps it’s the looming presence of mortality or the allure of the unknown future, but as the words leave my mouth, I feel an undeniable urge for a fresh beginning. I want to go back to the beginning of what we started before we even reached Shaston’s borders. The absence of my soul’s longing for him does not erase the years of desire I have harbored.
“I made an oath to the Goddess … I’ve broke it once. I can’t do it again,” he says, his soft whispers tickling my hair.
I know he’s scared … and I am too. But I know what was done wasn’t his fault. And I need him to know that there is still something between us. “Thylas … please.” The words tremble from my lips. “I only saw the ripples the first time we were together, and then during theNle Shom. I’ve always heard the Goddess doesn’t grant something and take it away.”
“No, I chose to have it taken.” He looks down. My fingers reach out and brush against the side of his face.
“We can try to get it back. I know it has to be there.”
A grunt escapes from Ereon in the room's corner, breaking the silence. Ereon’s presence behind me becomes clear. I feel his fingers gently explore the curves of my hips and breast, igniting a fire within me. He kisses the back of my neck, his lips trail towards the freckles on the side. He leans closer and whispers in a hushed tone, “Do you want me to leave, once my men cared … but now … it doesn’t matter.”
I shake my head. “No. I want ... It doesn’t matter.” I realize that Thylas is still too scared, too worried, and I understand.
I pull away from Thylas, already missing his warmth. I start to stand up when he grabs my hand, pulling me towards him and delivering a forceful, overpowering kiss.
