“Any details will help,” Idris added.
“I remember grassy rolling hills with large boulders and a body of water behind me.”
“I believe I know where this path begins,” Zola said. “I’ve spent more time than any other living soul venturing across that desolate piece of our land, and luckily, Gunnar and Castor are already there waiting for us.”
“Of course,” Daxton said in agreement. “It seems our luck has changed, Spitfire. And fate is finally smiling on us.”
“Let’s hope.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Daxton Aegaeon
My mate had been quiet—too quiet.
It was decided that Adohan, Idris, and Astro would remain in Crimson City, as Finn and his legion of warriors had likely reached Castor and Gunnar. The rest of us would venture toward the clearing where my armies lay in wait, and the pathway toward Thira would be unveiled.
Adohan argued against not going, but in the end, I couldn’t allow him to come. Not with their realm under the threat of another attack and their newest addition needing them now more than ever. I was thankful he didn’t protest much further than he did. When the morning rays peeked over the horizon, Zola, Shaw, Skylar, and I would depart to meet the others.
And maybe, just maybe, by this time tomorrow, we would be free of the wilt.
However, something felt off. Amongst the discussions and various strategies that Shaw suggested, which Zola grudgingly agreed with, my spitfire was uncharacteristically quiet.
Shaw and Zola seemed at odds with each other, fighting a silent battle that I honestly didn’t have the time or energy to begin to decipher.
Skylar seemed to be drifting, silently floating amongst the chatter surrounding her. She was content to hide amongst the chaos, but she could never hide with me.
“Are you hungry?” I asked Skylar as we departed the gathering area.
I selfishly longed to whisk her away and keep her all to myself. So many aspects of our lives were drowning in disarray, yet all I wanted to do was steal the next few hours alone with her.
“It’s late,” Skylar said, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t want to bother anyone.”
“I’m sure the staff would be happy to—”
“I’m not hungry,” she snapped, stopping me in my tracks.
I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting to see Shaw nearby, but to my surprise, he wasn’t. I was unfamiliar with the inner workings of the beta and alpha bond, but I knew he wasn’t a threat. And thankfully, Shaw seemed to understand this and made himself scarce when Skylar and I needed to be alone.
“What’s wrong?” I asked
“I don’t have an appetite.”
“Since when?” I challenged, not buying for one second that she was all right.
Something was troubling her. Through our bond, I could sense her emotions rising and falling with waves of fear and uncertainty.
“It’s nothing, Dax.” Skylar sighed as she meandered to the railing and gazed upon the slumbering city below a blanket of moonlight and stars.
“Bullshit,” I cursed as I leaned my shoulder against hers, reaching out to brush her hair and tucking a strand behind her curved ear.
She was hiding something. I knew my mate. Whether she intended to or not, the pain swirling in her heart worked its way through my center. Her sorrow became my own.
“Tell me what’s wrong. You’ve been quiet since you read the scroll.”
“Leave it alone, Dax,” she said, refusing to meet my stare. “I don’t want to do this right now. I’m trying to keep myself together. I just—”
“You know I won’t stop until you tell me.”
