Page 74 of Wraithwound

“For now,” she said.

Cross didn’t answer, dropping his gaze. Lena sighed.

“The reason I remain in control of my body is because I have help. I think it’s some sort of spell. But I don’t know how much longer it will last,” she said.

“Magic? How?” he asked.

“My brother. I don’t exactly know how he’s doing it, but he’s weak. There is a Seer rumored to live in The Whispers who might be able to help me get some answers. To help him,” she said.

As if sensing Lena wouldn’t elaborate, he nodded and, after a moment, strode away, leaving Lena to her soak in the spring. She couldn’t help but watch the muscles of his back flex through the pulled fabric of his tunic as he did.

When she’d scrubbed enough of the day’s dirt and grime from her skin and hair, she reached the water’s edge only to remember she hadn’t brought any spare clothes with her. Silently cursing her impulsive decision to bathe in the spring she debated how she might return to her pack for a spare set of clothes when she noticed one of Cross’s tunics had been laid out by her pile of filthy clothes. A warm sensation filled her heart as she pushed herself out of the spring and dressed quickly.

Once she was tolerably warm and dry, she settled next to the eleuth, watching its small chest rise and fall. As she settled in, she wondered where it had come from and why it’d chosen to help her. It was such a strange creature with a heightened degree of intelligence and intuition . . .

“Lena?”

The tenor of Cross’s voice was low and rough. It stirred something in her belly, causing heat to form between her thighs. She rolled over to see Cross staring at her from across the cavern. She wasn’t sure what it was about his stare that stripped her bare and left her feeling so exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn’t been in years.

“You’re not a monster.”

The earnest look on his face made her throat close up and chest feel tight.

“Aren’t I?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure what horrors you’ve endured since that thing attacked you, but I’ve seen evil. You are neither of those things. Even with that wraithwound, you are more human than others I’ve met.” The gentleness with which he said it struck her, and she struggled to fight back tears.

“I have committed atrocities,” she said, barely able to speak the words aloud.

“As have I. That doesn’t mean we can’t yet upset the course of the harm we’ve caused by contributing something good to this forsaken realm.”

Lena let his words sink in. It was true she might yet contribute something positive. She considered Nora’s words about helping to educate the Healer’s Organization on wraiths. Even so, that would never absolve her from the things she’d done.

Would Cross still be able to say that about her if he knew?

She could only nod in return, the emotion too overwhelming to produce any more words.

With that, he settled on his own bedroll and turned over, leaving his back exposed. The gesture of trust, albeit foolish, did not go unnoticed. Lena only hoped if the wraith attempted to surface again, he’d be ready.

Willing the emotion she felt to subside, she couldn’t help the gratitude that bloomed inside her. With one last look at his large form, she turned back over to keep an eye on the eleuth. A sense of peace settling over her, Lena let the bubbling of the spring lull her to sleep.

For once, Lena wasn’t the one waking up in a panic. She sat up, her gaze zeroing in on Cross, who flinched and jerked on his bedroll.

“Cederic,” he mumbled in his sleep.

Lena’s sleep addled mind slowly cleared, and she debated whether she should wake the soldier herself or if he’d soon wake on his own.

“You’re staring,” Cross said from across the cavern.

Lena startled and noted that she had indeed been staring.

“I—You were having a nightmare, I think,” she said by way of explanation.

Cross stretched his neck and sat up, leaning into the stone wall at his back. The soft glow of the crystals highlighted his strong jaw and the angular planes of his face. Even so, his features appeared softer somehow. It made him look more handsome and less death soldier, she realized.

“Something we both have experience with, it seems,” he said.

“Seems so,” she said, lying back onto her bedroll. “Who is Cederic?”