Grumbling Addi splashed water towards the rear of the boat and said, “That will be quite enough, from both of you.”
Wyatt laughed quietly to himself and focused on rowing the boat.
Nev, meanwhile, decided to let herself enjoy the moment of calm she found herself in. Her shoulder’s pain had been subdued to a dull, throbbing ache, and the cool lake water felt refreshing on her fingers. She watched the sunlight dance on the relaxed waves of the lake for several minutes before turning her gaze to Wyatt. His curls had started to reappear and were now being bounced lazily around by the cool lake breeze. She wanted to capture this moment in her mind and hold on to it forever because something told her there was far more than just Nellis waiting for them on the horizon.
She hadn’t told Wyatt yet, and she hadn’t decided if she was even going to—but something had changed since her face-to-face encounter with Sagrine. She could sense him now. It was similar to the connection she felt with Wyatt but more subtle and far less pleasant. Staring down at her now-dormant amulet, she knew there a was a piece she was still missing. She knew the amulet, the ring, and the connections she felt with Wyatt and Sagrine all had to all fit together somehow, but she couldn’t see how yet.
Nev’s thoughts turned to her father, her heart missed him terribly. Sighing, she yearned to know if it had really been him in the clearing near their cabin or if her desperate mind had just imagined him. I wish you were still here. I wish I could tell you about Wyatt, and you could tell me what I was missing, she thought. She shook her head and took in a deep breath. No, I can worry about that later. Be here. Here is worth it, she reminded herself. With that, Nev went back to watching Wyatt’s curls being caught by the breeze. For a few precious moments, she let herself get lost in that simple pleasure.
Chapter 27
Sagrine never liked taking time out of his hunt, especially when he was so tantalizingly close to his prize. Still, he was eager to tell General Razine of his progress and what he’d learned. Hopefully, the general would be pleased, and he would finally take another step towards redeeming himself in the general’s eyes. Sagrine had lived with the disgrace of failing to bring in the lost heiress for twenty years. Having that failure shape every moment of his last two decades. He had failed the Oracle, emperor, general, and his training that day. Now he was on the precipice of righting his most painful mistake.
Finally he had a name and a face. He found an isolated spot just outside of Birclan and meditated, grinning momentarily as he savored the memory of tasting her wound. He allowed only thoughts of her and his hunger to exist. Suddenly feeling a faint and distant pulse, he grinned again. It was her. The sensation was not as strong as it had been previously when it beckoned him, but it was unmistakable. Once he was done meeting with Razine, he would track her essence. Then she would be his and his alone. At least, for a while. He knew he must present her to the emperor, but not until his appetite was at least partially sated.
For now, he waited until night to fall. Once shrouded in the comfort of darkness, he would approach General Razine’s door. Sagrine breathed in deeply and savored the sense of anticipation. He would pass the time replaying his encounter with the lost heiress over and over in his mind, relishing every moment and hungering for the next time he would encounter and then ensnare her.
Chapter 28
Nev, Wyatt, and Addi had reached shore by mid-afternoon. After walking for a few hours, they decided to set up camp just inside the woods that bordered the north side of the lake. They were all tired and opted to call it a day a little early. Besides, they figured, the impromptu boat ride had shaved off at least a day’s hike around the far west side of the lake.
Once settled in, Nev offered to go find food for dinner, but Wyatt insisted she rest her shoulder. Nev relented quickly. Her shoulder, while improved, still ached. So, the group dined on some dried fruit, bread, and jerky that Addi had packed.
As dusk settled onto the camp, Nev was sitting at the edge of where their campfire’s light reached. She had only taken a couple of distracted bites of food as she stared out past the fire and into her memories. She was replaying the encounter with the prowler over and over in her head. Perhaps if she analyzed his moves enough, then things would go better the next time she encountered Sagrine. She could not afford to be unprepared again. Next time she had to be able to beat him.
Addi had been watching Nev closely since they stopped to set up camp, trying to determine what it was about her that her brother had fallen in love with. She was pretty enough, and her hair and eyes unique. However, her brother had never seemed swayed simply by looks. Addi couldn’t remember her brother ever even having a crush on a girl before. Indeed, Nev must have done or been something special to make her brother fall for her so hard and so quickly. Perhaps Wyatt simply appreciated her stubbornness. She had, after all, proven that stubbornness by rowing with an injured shoulder. Addi sighed. Guess that means I get to take care of two stubborn pains in the ass now, instead of just one. Lucky me, she thought. With that in mind, Addi leaned over towards Wyatt and whispered, “You’ve noticed she has barely eaten, right?”
Wyatt nodded and replied, “Yeah. Unfortunately, it’s kind of her thing,
