Page 101 of Wraithwound

Lena wasn’t sure how long they sat there gazing at the crystals above. The mood shifted slowly as they both realized the respite, as lovely as it had been, was over. Cross packed up their picnic. Once he was done, he lifted her cloak from where it lay on the ground and swept it across her shoulders. Lena steadied herself by placing her hands on his chest as he worked to fasten the clasp. His hands lingered there, and she wondered where he might place them next. They stood there staring at each other, the air between them becoming charged as Lena focused on the beat of his heart under her palm.

Cross cleared his throat and took a step back. Lena exhaled a shaky breath as he went to retrieve the sack. And then they were moving again, squeezing back through the narrow passageway into the corridor, where the opalsilk went dark, and the silence between them grew heavier with each step.

Once they reached their rooms, Lena checked on the eleuth and then discarded her cloak on the bed. She was just about to enter the washroom when Cross called out to her. He was standing at the threshold of the doors that connected their rooms, a bundle of clothes in his hands.

“I picked these up for you,” Cross said and handed her the bundle.

Not just clothes, fighting leathers, she realized. She looked up to thank him and paused, once again drawn in by the golden flecks in his eyes. Cross reached up and tucked a strand of hair, coarse and unruly, behind her ear. She could have sworn the skin of her cheek tingled with a slight current where he’d grazed it, and the words got lost on her tongue.

“Goodnight, Lena.”

“Goodnight,” she managed before Cross shut the door.

Chapter

Fifty-Five

She knew morning had arrived when the eleuth somehow slid open the window in the door to squeeze out of it, like it had done most mornings. She took her time in the washroom, enjoying the fragrant soap and cool running water that flowed out of the stone, delighted she knew where it came from. Despite her efforts to stay focused on reaching the Tower of Two Worlds, her thoughts constantly strayed back to the picnic she’d shared with Cross in the crystal-studded cavern.

When she was done, she braided her hair and eyed the leathers Cross had given her. She’d never worn leathers before but found the soft material to be comfortable with a near perfect fit. She decided on a light blouse underneath her vest, aware of what could happen should she overheat again.

She packed her room and, after much deliberation, decided to leave her grandfather’s journal with Dauen. A strong knock on the adjoining door had her walking over to open it when another knock sounded at the main door. She let Cross in, who was already dressed and fully armed, before answering.

Jade waved enthusiastically before settling against the doorframe, a wide smile on her face. Lena was so glad to see her. She’d enjoyed getting to know the young woman whose personality seemed to brighten any space she entered. Lena had long suspected there was more to her than she let on.

“I left my ‘book’ on the bed,” she said with a smirk. “Can you make sure Dauen gets it?”

Jade nodded dramatically. And then added, “Consider it done,” her smile somehow growing brighter. Then, she walked to the bed and picked up the journal. “Hello, soulbound.”

“Jade,” Cross said giving her a curt nod and then asked Lena, “Are you ready?”

“I want to see Laney before we go,” Lena said.

It was a miracle Laney had been able to expel the wraith, and she was curious how it happened. She also wanted to confirm the details about where the entrance to the Tower was located, but mostly, she wanted to say goodbye.

“I’ll take you,” Jade said.

They walked along silently as Jade led them to the infirmary, but when they arrived, they found no such maiden.

“Do you know where she is?” she asked Jade, who had a frown on her face.

“No. We could try the dining hall,” Jade suggested. She led them back into the corridor where they ran into Riley.

“Leaving for the Tower?” Riley asked.

“Yes,” Lena said.

“We’re going with you,” Riley replied, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“Who’s we?” Lena asked.

“Taya and I. She’s already made arrangements with her men,” she said.

“Men?” Lena asked.

“We have a small force here. Mostly family members of the infected who have chosen to stay and guard what The Whispers represents. Taya trains them herself,” Riley said.

“Where?” she asked.