*Jared*
“How are you feeling?” Abe asked.
“Hmm?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.
“You still don’t rember what happened in the cave?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “No. It’s all kind of... blurry.”
I rubbed the back of my neck and ran my hand down my face. Whatever had happened drained completely. I still felt a little weak and shaky in the legs. My skin was cold to the touch, and my clothes hung off like I’d lost a bunch of weight.
I didn’t think I had lost weight but I still felt weak and thin.
Abe was looking at with a concerned, scrutinizing look in his eyes. He seed reluctant to tell what had happened.
Not that I was particularly interested in what had happened at the mont... I was more concerned about how long we’d have to stand here and wait for Eliza to return, or how much ti could go by before I could assu she was in trouble and break down every door in this place looking for her.
“I’ll be fine, Abe. You don’t need to worry about .”
“Right....”
The door swung open and Eliza appeared.
Instantly, a smile tugged at my lips but it faded again quickly.
Eliza’s head was bowed. She didn’t have that normal gleam of curious light in her eyes.
“I’m ready to get the hell out of here,” she muttered.
We left Myrel the sa way we entered. This ti, we didn’t encounter any ghosts or lights that flickered on when we were close. It seed like the city had gone back into slumber.
I kept shifting my eyes toward Eliza, wondering what was wrong. She’d been so confident that this was where we needed to co to get answers.
All I could think was that she didn’t like the answers she’d gotten. But it wasn’t the ti to ask her.
We went back through the damp, narrow corridor, and the sounds of the waterfall and river faded behind us. When we got back to the cave door, Eliza hesitated.
“What is it?” I asked, turning to her.
“Are we sure we want to go back in the cave after....”
“It’ll be fine,” Abe cut her off quickly.
She didn’t argue.
I creased my brow. Usually, this was the part where she put on the stubborn, yet adorable, fierce look that I loved and started arguing.
Eliza’s fire had faded for the mont, and it had worried.
We made it back through the cave without any problems. I had to admit that I almost argued with Abe. Not knowing what had happened made uneasy about going through the cave again. I wasn’t going to voice those insecurities, not when the others didn’t see a problem with it.
As soon as we got outside, I took a deep, clear breath. It tasted like I was breathing fresh air for the first ti in my life. The cave had been so damp and stale.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. I could feel my strength returning already.
“We need to get out of here, now,” Abe insisted.
“It’s late. Shouldn’t we make camp?” I asked. I looked at Eliza again, wondering if she had the strength and energy to travel.
“Look, personally, I think coming here was a mistake,” said Abe. “I think it would be best if the three of us get as far away from here as possible, or at least get a few miles before we make camp.”
“I agree,” Eliza nodded.
We traveled until the sky started to turn gray and the stars faded as the sun peeked over the horizon.
Rather than fully set up camp, Abe and I threw the tents up and we crawled inside for a quick rest. We weren’t planning on staying long, and there was no need to light a fire and put the whole camp together.
Eliza curled up with on the bedroll. She sighed and rested her head on my bare chest, her silky hair tickling my skin. Soft, smooth arms ca around , hugging and clinging to like she thought I’d vanish.
“What’s going on in there?” I asked, running my fingers through her hair and massaging her scalp.
“Not tonight,” she murmured quietly. “I’ll tell you everything... tomorrow.”
“Alright.” I kissed the top of her head.
If I hadn’t been so exhausted, I might have pushed the matter. I could tell she was exhausted, too. Her arms trembled around .
The softness of her skin ward to the core, and even the thin layer of my boxers and her tank top and shorts seed like too much of a wall between us.
I listened as her breath evened out and she mumbled in her sleep.
Closing my eyes, I drifted off quickly, keeping my arms tightly around Eliza.
***
After a quick rest, we packed up our camp again and were on the move.
We camped near water, so we all took a mont to wash up and change our clothes. It lifted my spirits a little to feel fresh and clean.
Eliza was still quiet and not as bubbly or spirited as I was used to, but she also seed like she was in a better mood than before.
“We should head to my territory. It’s the closest, and we can take shelter there while we sort through all this... whatever this is,” Abe said.
He had a map spread on the ground and ran his finger along the border of his territory.
“Agreed.” I nodded.
Slipping my eyes sideways, I gave Eliza a quick once-over.
She had on a pair of hiking leggings that clung to her hips and thighs perfectly. With every step, I could see the definition of her muscle, and it accented her long legs. She had her hair up off her neck and I couldn’t help imagining marking her....
“So, are you coming, Jared, or are you just going to drool all day?” Abe called to .
He was far ahead, waving his arm over his head. I rolled my eyes and picked up my pace.
Eliza smiled lightly and hurried to catch up with Abe.
We made it through the narrow rocky trail back to the river that Eliza had jumped into when we were attacked. Further up from where we’d had to jump in, there was a crossing. It wasn’t a bridge, just large rocks that allowed us easy passage across.
We hopped from one rock to the other until we got to the opposite river bank.
Abe stopped on the trail ahead and held his arm up. I stopped, and Eliza stopped next to .
Abe pointed to his ear. He’d heard sothing.
I focused on my hearing and reached out as far as I could with that sense. In so nearby bushes, I heard so rustling and a few snapping twigs. The sounds were closer to Abe.
“Wait here,” I told Eliza.
She nodded. Again, her lack of argunt worried more than the potential threat sneaking up on us.
I joined Abe further ahead on the path. Just when I got to him, the bushes burst open and several scouts jumped out.
“Wait, don’t attack!” one of them shouted imdiately, throwing his hands up in surrender.
Abe scrunched up his face. “What are you doing here?”
I recognized a few of Abe’s scouts.
“We were coming to look for you,” the scout reported.
“Is sothing wrong?” I asked.
Abe and I both knew that his scouts wouldn’t co after him unless there was an ergency, not when he was on a top-secret mission of utmost importance.
“We received so disturbing intel and knew you’d need to know... both of you.”
“Stop beating around the bush. What is it?” Abe asked moodily.
“Aeris is on the move. He’s tead up with Hestia. Or, at least, they are traveling together.”
I glanced at Abe and he t my eyes.
“This is not... great,” he admitted with a sigh. Abe stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I’ve got to get back to my territory.”
“Go. Eliza and I will head ho and take care of things there.” I nodded down the road.
“Are you sure?” Abe asked.
“Yes. You have your responsibilities. I’ve got mine. Just keep updated,” I said.
Abe nodded. He reached his hand out, and I grabbed it and gave him a quick hug with a clap on the back.
“Take care of yourself. And take care of Eliza,” Abe said.
“I’ll do my best, on both accounts...”
Abe chuckled and headed into the forest with his scouts.
Eliza and I continued on toward my village.
When we stopped to make camp for the night, I made a fire and sat down, patting the space beside . Eliza sat too and rested her head on my shoulder.
I looped my arm around her hips, tucking her as close to my body as possible. She giggled lightly. It dropped off quickly and she sighed.
“Jared....”
“I’m guessing you didn’t learn how to break the curse in Myrel?” I asked when she trailed off.
“Well... not exactly.”
Eliza gave a quick rundown about what she learned. She told how and why the Crpytex was created, and what that poor woman, Draven’s mate, was going through. She told about the last piece being impossible to find.
“I just... with the ti we have left, should we spend it scouring the realm for sothing we might never find?” she asked after recounting what she’d learned. “Is that what you want to do?”
I stared at the fire. The flas jumped and crackled, spitting sparks into the air.
“Not particularly,” I admitted.
I turned toward her and brushed my nose against her bare shoulder. Her soft skin slled so sweet and fresh.
“And if we break the curse, it will condemn her to suffer for all eternity. Could you... would you be happy knowing that breaking the curse caused her so much pain?” Eliza asked, her voice hitching.
I saw how glassy her eyes were. I wasn’t sure if she was holding back tears, but she had a lot of deep emotions about this.
Her question raised an interesting point. Was it right to save my own life if it ant destroying soone else’s? Hadn’t Draven’s mate suffered enough?
“Honestly, Jared, I’m not sure if there is anything else we can do. Finding the witch that has the missing piece and convincing her to give it to us... those seem like impossible tasks.”
Eliza’s voice was full of defeat.
I didn’t want her to think she’d let down.
“Eliza,” I grabbed her chin and turned her face so she was looking at .
Her wide, green eyes were so filled with affection and concern.
My heart lted, and I wanted to pull her into my arms forever. I wanted to hold her against and feel her heart, her life force. It would give strength.
“Eliza, you haven’t let down. I knew it was a long shot at best. I never would have gotten this far without you. It ans the world to that you tried so hard, so passionately,” I told her, holding her gaze.
Her lower lip quivered. She seed so vulnerable and fragile at that mont.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t....”
“Shh. I love you more than anything in this life,” I said. “The ti we have together, that is what matters to . And you know what? I’d rather spend what ti I have left enjoying every second with you than chasing after sothing that might not exist.”
I cupped her face gently, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks.
“I love you too,” she whispered. “And I’ll spend every mont you have left at your side.”
I smiled lightly and leaned in, kissing her. My heart pounded heavily as our lips t. Even if the curse took my life, I was the luckiest man alive for having soone like her who loved .
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