Nev nodded, and then they both waited silently for fate to finally meet them. While they waited, she replayed their most recent conversation over in her mind. He could always make her smile, even when she was surrounded by so much darkness and danger. It was definitely one of the things she loved most about him. Huh, love? Love indeed, Nev mused. She smiled to herself and then cleared her mind, focusing on the battle that was almost upon them.
Chapter 17
The prowler was deep in meditation, having stalled his own progress to Birclan to run through his drills. He had neglected his training the past several weeks, and he blamed his lack of diligence on his recent setbacks. His mentor had always said his hunger was his greatest weapon and his greatest weakness, causing him to continuously struggle to find a balance. His difficulty had only intensified over the last few weeks.
Ever since coming across the blue-eyed woman, he had felt his hunger grow to an insatiable yearning. The knowledge that she was different than all the rest he had hunted pushed him into a near frenzy. She was the one, the realization gradually dawning on him even before he saw the amulet she carried or felt its draw. He’d been so close to claiming her for himself. Then she had clutched it, and a purple light temporarily blinded him. The residual taste of her essence, the amulet’s energy, and the understanding of who she was had driven him to forsake hunting all others. He would have her, and he would present her to his master. If, however, she made him kill her… Well, then he would consume her life. In every sense of the word.
He centered his thoughts to one, her. Then he allowed himself to fall into a state of deep concentration. Several hours past, when energy abruptly surged through him. It was so intense it nearly knocked him over. He sprung up quickly and grinned back towards the direction he had just traveled from. “Yes, there you are. How perfect that you’ve returned there,” he observed before grinning. With an intense desire, he sprinted towards her and the energy she emitted.
He tore through the woods towards his singular purpose. Branches lashed out against him, but he ignored their failed attempts to penetrate his armor. He drew upon his ravenous craving for her, pushing his body to extremes. He must reach her. Moving with an unnatural swiftness and ease, he navigated the woods as if almost by instinct. It would not take him long to reach her. With each step, his appetite for her grew.
Chapter 18
The rain had returned, and lazy fat droplets fell all around them. Nev and Wyatt had been waiting for the menacing figure from their nightmares to appear. Almost an hour had gone by since they had left the cabin. He wanted to believe the prowler wasn’t coming, but he knew that wasn’t the case. Regardless of how long they were made to wait, Wyatt’s support would not waver. He wasn’t much at fighting, but he was determined to stand with Nev regardless. He would find a way to help her somehow. He just hadn’t figured out how yet.
For now, he kept his focus squarely on Nev. She was standing only a few feet in front of him, and he grinned as he gazed at her. He had just learned Nev, the woman he loved, also loved him. Even if she hadn’t fully admitted it yet, he knew the truth of it. So, he was certainly not about to let something bad happen to her, especially before he playfully extracted a confession of her feelings for him.
As they waited, Wyatt contemplated their journey so far. Their connection since Serenity Falls had slowly evolved over the past few days. After focusing on the amulet with her at the cabin, however, it had rapidly grown intense. Without even trying, he could feel her. Her pulse, breath, fear, resolve, and… love. It was like she was a part of him. He was aware of her the same way one is aware of their own limbs. He did not need to be able to see or touch Nev to know she was there or to know she was tired or hurting.
Wyatt felt like he was being pulled by some unseen force. Saying it was destiny or fate made it sound like something made up to embellish a story, but he could think of no other words that fit. All he knew was he was completely in love with her. So, he wasn’t about to let anything, not fate, destiny, or his own fear, get in the way of that. We will find a way… even if this is crazy. Wyatt let the thought die. He couldn’t, wouldn’t let his thoughts wander. Not now. She needed him, and he had no intention of letting her down, ever.
Time seemed to pass slowly as Nev kneeled on the ground, stretching her senses out beyond the edges of their normal boundaries. The amulet she wore glowed dimly and helped her see even farther. It hummed warmly against her chest, and she welcomed it. Its power stretching from her chest and out into her limbs and up her neck.
In a flash, his presence came suddenly and sharply into focus. The prowler was just beyond the clearing she had often visited as a child. Standing up and turning slightly, she was now facing his approach. “Make it right,” she whispered before drawing her dagger in her right hand and the newfound short sword with her left. She watched as the rain slid down their blades, and a few of the droplets glistened and swirled with light. Nev
