Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
I watch what the others do and try not to burn the hell out of my dinner as I hold the stick over the open flame.
I listen in on random conversations and smile at Storm when he comes to stand between Luna and me.
“Have you done this before?” I ask. “Camping out in the desert.”
“Yes. We do it once a year,” he replies.
“I never asked, but are you a charge or a guardian?”
“Neither.”
Curious, I ask, “Do you have talents.”
He just nods, and before I can ask another question, he walks away.
Glancing at Luna, I ask, “Did I say something wrong?”
She shakes her head. “Storm doesn’t use his talents, and he doesn’t speak about them.”
My eyes widen. “Why?”
She shakes her head again. “No one talks about it.”
I let it go, not wanting to pry any further.
Once the meat looks cooked enough, I pull a piece off the stick, and when it tastes good enough, I eat while glancing around the fire at my companions.
Turning my attention to Luna again, I ask, “Who are you training with?”
“My brother.” She gives me a smile, and glancing up at the moon, she lifts her arm and opens her hand.
My lips part with a gasp as a silver light starts to glow in her palm, and when she closes her fingers in a fist, the light snakes up her arm until it settles in her eyes, making them glow.
“Holy crap.” Impressed, I grin at her. “That’s cool.”
“Time for bed,” Raighne suddenly says from behind me.
I smile at Luna. “See you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night’s rest,” she says before turning her attention to Lucius.
Walking to our sleeping area, nerves start to spin in my stomach, and I wait for Raighne to lie down before I put a safe distance between us.
I try to get as comfortable as possible on the ground and tuck my pillow beneath my head.
Staring up at the stars, I whisper, “I can see the Milky Way clearly.”
“There’s no pollution on Vaalbara,” he murmurs.
We lie in silence, and my thoughts start to drift. The vision I had earlier pops into my mind, and I shake my head, trying to suppress it.
When I see Adeth’s face, Raighne must pick up on it because he says, “Adeth wasn’t always dark. She’s my mother’s sister.”
I turn my head, staring at him as surprise shudders through me. “She’s your aunt?”
He tucks an arm beneath his head and keeps looking at the night sky as he replies, “After my mother’s death, Adeth went to the shadowlands. To this day, we don’t know why he didn’t kill her.
“He?”
“Void. He’s everything that’s dark and will drive you to insanity while sucking your soul dry until there’s nothing left of you but an empty shell.” Raighne takes a deep breath before he continues, “Besides Adeth and Ares, Janak is the only other person who’s seen Void, and he never talks about it.”
I turn onto my side, my eyes locked on Raighne’s face.
He glances at me, then says, “He’s one of the few things that can kill us.”
My eyebrows lift. “What else can kill us?”
“Being beheaded, and Adeth has a blade forged from the ashes of the volcano in the shadowlands. I’ve heard rumors Ares can rip a soul from a body, but no one knows if it’s true.”
Horrified, I whisper, “Jesus.”
“Some of us have talents that can kill.” His eyes lock on mine, “But something like a bullet won’t be able to kill you.”
My lips part, and intense relief pours through me.
“It will hurt, though,” he adds. “We’ll have to be careful on Earth. The longer we’re away from Vaalbara, the more vulnerable we become.”
He pauses for a moment, then admits, “That’s where my mother died. She loved Earth. It was her destiny to bring the animals here before she was beheaded by terrorists.”
Oh my God.
Not thinking, I scoot closer to him and take hold of his hand. “I’m so sorry, Raighne.”
He pulls his hand free, and wrapping his arm around me, he tucks me against his side. When I rest my head on his chest, I whisper, “You can use my pillow.”
I feel his chest shake with silent laughter while he tucks my pillow beneath his head.
“Rest well, Alchera.”
“You too.”
I hesitate before I wrap my arm around his waist, and closing my eyes, I suck in a deep breath of his scent.
Besides the vision, today was actually a really pleasant day. I loved the time I got to spend with Raighne.
Maybe a month in the desert won’t be so bad after all.
Chapter 16
Alchera
It has to be a nightmare because there’s no way in hell someone is trying to wake me up ten minutes after I’ve fallen asleep.
“Go away,” I grumble sleepily.
“Alchera, you have to get up. We only have ten minutes to get ready.” It’s Luna’s sweet voice, whispering words of bitter reality.