Page 109 of Wraithwound

Taryk.

“Cross, what happened to your face?” she asked, a little softer this time.

“What happened to your hand? Your arm?” Cross shot back.

“I burned it and—never mind. What’s going on with you?” she asked again, concern evident in her tone. Cross seemed to soften at this, blowing out a breath and letting his head hang. When he looked up, she read an apology there.

“We had a chat last night,” he said, nodding once in Taryk’s direction. “I thought he’d heed the warning, but it looks like I’ll have to be more convincing next time.”

“Why?” she asked, unwillingly to let it go.

“The wound I had. The one you healed when you first found me in my tent,” he clarified. “It was from an infected ursus, and I only got it because of Taryk. Prior to that, we’d been friendly with each other, but I don’t trust him,” he said. Horror must have flashed on her face because he added, “It’s not as simple as you’re imagining—” He sighed, collecting himself. “The short of it is, I wouldn’t have been injured had it not been for him.”

Lena glanced beyond the ridge again, taking in the small figure making its way toward them. Cross grasped her chin, gently pulling her face back toward him. When their eyes met, the air around them became charged, the tiny hairs on her arms rising.

“Who was that? The one that came after you yesterday?” Cross asked, his sapphire blue eyes searching her face.

“Vince. He, uh— I had a run-in with him in the Overgrown Forest, where I killed one of his men in self-defense, and then again in Enora, when I was captured.” She shrugged off the ache in her chest at the thought of Jessa. “He meant to deliver me to the Commander, to take my head or experiment on me. I’m not sure. They must have done something to him after I escaped . . .”

Her voice trailed off as the anger that seethed beneath those brilliant blue eyes guttered. Cross took a step back, releasing her chin, something like devastation flitting across his face, but the expression was gone just as quickly as it’d appeared.

“And what, uh, what happened to your arm? Did the eleuth really bite you?” he asked, shifting uncomfortably as she brought up her arm to show him.

“Yes, she did, but it wasn’t to harm me. It was like a means of communica—wait, do you see that?”

The puncture wounds on her forearm had healed completely, and instead of a scar, there were interspersed dots, connected by thin lines. The marking was nearly invisible, only shimmering slightly in the dim light when she moved. She had never seen anything like it although it reminded her of the constellations outlined in astrology books.

“Somehow, I’m not surprised. Eleuths are rare, elusive creatures,” Cross said. “Not much is known about them at all.”

Lena nodded. Cross stood there, taking in the details of her face before he seemed to lock away his emotions once more.

“We should go,” he said, turning to leave.

She stared after him as he strode away, the charge in the air going with him.

Chapter

Fifty-Nine

An heavy sadness settled over Lena the further along they rode through the mountainous terrain. She’d have to find the temple on her own after she entered the gate. After the last several weeks, she’d gotten used to the company. Her final hope resided with the eleuth, praying that somehow Wyn would be able to enter with her.

Laney’s soft voice pulled her from her thoughts: “I think we’re getting close to the entrance.”

Rounding the bend, Wyn screeched from above just as Cross came to a sudden halt, yanking on Kharon’s reigns. In front of them was a break in the trail, like a landslide had taken that portion of the terrain with it. And sitting proud on his horse across the gap was Taryk.

He must have taken another route in an attempt to cut them off and ended up on the right side of the slide. But before anyone could say anything, Laney slid off her horse and walked over to the drop off.

“Careful not to get too close, Laney. That part of the slab could be loose,” Riley called. But Laney didn’t turn to look at her.

“Who are you?” she shouted across the distance.

Taryk didn’t seem to know how to respond, confusion flitting across his face.

“Your name? What is it?” Laney demanded.

“Taryk Blaise,” he said.

“Are you a friend or an enemy?” she continued.