Page 16 of Winds of Ruin
I scoffed. “The man is impossible to reason with—he’d like to be a tyrant across all of Henosis. Luckily, he doesn’t have the resources to conquer any land.”
Cass rose and circled her arms around her petite partner’s shoulders. “What if we’re really, really careful?” she asked as she rocked her side to side.
Wyeth dropped her pestle to hold Cass’ hands and stifled a laugh. The Soil-wielder sighed. “I know better than to tell you two what not to do.”
“That sounds like permission to me, Red,” Cass lobbed over her shoulder with a grin.
As I watched Wyeth tip her head back to meet Cass’ gaze, a pang struck my chest—unwelcome and unwanted.
I didn’t need the romantic love they shared. Maintaining the expectations of an intimate arrangement sounded exhausting. I’d been shit at it once with Ryn already.
Though, my friends’ silent exchange of adoration stirred up that age old question.What if?
There used to be a loneliness in having an abundance of friends who had all coupled themselves with the other half of their hearts.
When I’d found the enchanted mirror, I hadn’t expected it to remedy that resentment.
Now, there was someone that I longed to speak with each day.
After sneaking through the palace, I loitered at his bedside once again.
“Puppy, are you there?” I whispered into the glass until a twirl of smoke revealed him. I grinned, taking him in. A stray dark curl rested across his forehead, and his eyes crinkled when he spotted me.
“Elsedora.” The way he said my name made it sound like salvation.
I’d do anything to live up to it.
“Miss me?” I settled into the chair beside his bedframe.
He stretched, and I caught a glimpse of brawny forearms. “Always. How are you today?”
“Restless,” I admitted.
A faint frown tugged at his lips.
Before he could press me on it, I said, “Better now, though. Stretch again. I liked the view.”
He shook his head with a chuckle, cheeks darkening, which left me satisfied. “You’re incorrigible,” he answered.
I smirked. He had no idea.
“I’m heading off on another search with Cass,” I said. “We have a promising lead.”
He frowned before correcting his expression into a weak smile. “That’s incredible. Please, be careful.”
I nodded, though we both knew I’d risk almost anything to find those relics. For Lark and the realms, yes… but also for him.
Chapter 6
Emmerick
“Ifound it!”
I pulled myself toward Elsedora’s voice. Caym’s claws had grown sharper by the year—his punishments more taxing. He forced me to relive the deaths he’d taken with my hands—over and over.
I grunted as I heaved myself across molten rock and through cloying amber smoke until Elsedora’s face consumed the space before me. Her copper braid hung in disarray over one shoulder, and a crimson gash on the other shoulder soaked her light-colored tunic.
“Else, are you alright?” I frowned, taking in her injuries. There was also a scrape on her cheek. Every sign of exhaustion written into her features spiked my nerves.
