We had formed an audience. Slowly, I stood. All around me, people touched their foreheads, lips, hearts, and dropped to their knees. I looked at Griff, admiration, relief, and awe warring in his expression.
He reached me in two strides. “I can’t believe you were able to do that.”
I smothered a yawn. “That makes two of us.”
Dizziness hit, and I began to tip over. I had been drained before this but now—there was barely a flicker left of my power. It was possible I’d overdone it. Again.
Griff caught me before I hit the ground. “Will you never learn?” His voice tried for irritation, but tenderness leaked through.
“Probably not.” I nestled against his chest. How did he smell this good after a fight?
“You are fucking amazing,” he whispered for my ears only.
“Freya could do better,” I muttered.
He hoisted me higher against his chest. “No one could have done better, my princess.”
I cuddled into him, relishing his strength as he walked toward the trees at the edge of the village, away from the worst of the destruction. A woman followed him, briskly brushing away leaves and debris before laying out two bedrolls and leaving. We were relatively alone in this corner of the village.
He gently placed me on my bedroll. “Sleep, Princess. You earned it.”
Right before oblivion took me, I could have sworn he kissed my head.
Griff stood across the battlefield,bodies of our enemy scattered at his feet. I ran to him, leaping over the fallen, and threw myself into his arms. Our mouths met in a punishing kiss as we clung desperately to each other, knowing this was the end.
“I have to,” I told him, tears streaming as I broke out of his arms again and started running toward the enemy.
“No!” he bellowed, chasing after me to grab my hand and yank me back.
“It’s the only way.” I twisted, trying to free myself.
“You are my soul!” he roared. “You will not sacrifice yourself!”
I bolted upright,searching for Griff. I found him by the fire, concern creasing his features as he started to rise. I shook my head, pausing his movement.
What the hell was that?
“A warning.” A man stood propped up by a nearby tree. He looked like the rest of the villagers, pelts draped over his clothes for warmth, but there was something different about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. His dark hair was starting to silver, but other than that, he was as ageless as everyone else. And he had the most vivid green eyes I’d ever seen, ringed in gold.
“A sign of what could be,” he continued. “Magic is fragile out here, with the Veil ripping to pieces. It doesn’t know what to show. The path is not set. The one who came before paved the path, but to decide to follow is solely your choice. More than one have been confused by what is, what could be.”
Who was this man? And how did he know my dream?
His eyes sharpened on me. “Lile Alastriona.”
My eyes widened. It sounded like my name, but spoken with layers of time.
How did he know my name? And why did he pronounce it like that?
His eyes unfocused, the gold overtaking the green as he spoke more of those ancient words. I only caught one of them:Orlaith.
His eyes shifted back to green as his gaze locked on mine. “The ocean calls me home. She beckons,” he said, barely above a whisper.He shook his head, as if to clear it. “Not the first, but the last. There are many paths you can take. The nightmares are the outcome of only one. Don’t wait too long to claim the bond. It may just save us all.”
With that cryptic-as-hell statement, he wandered away just as Griff disengaged from his conversation to make his way over.
He crouched by my side. “What’s wrong?” Concern filtered through his voice.
I shook my head, trying to clear the confusion. It took me a minute to remember what had awoken me. “Just a dream.”
