“Hey love, you alright?” Wyatt asked Nev quietly.
“Hmm?” she replied, being pulled back to the moment.
“Where were you just now?” he gently questioned.
Nev took his hand in hers and sighed before saying, “I have just been thinking about things.”
“I see. You know you can talk to me, right?” Wyatt asked, pulling her hand up and kissing it lightly.
Nodding, Nev replied, “I know. I will. Just… not yet.”
Wyatt desperately wanted to press the issue. He would like to help her. Yet, as much as he disliked it, helping, for now, meant being patient. “Okay. Just don’t make me wait too long. I’m worried about you,” he pleaded. His expression and tone were full of concerned affection.
“I know you are. Look… I know I’m not always as strong as I should be and that I’ve leaned on you a lot. But trust me, I’m alright. Thank you for being understanding,” Nev stated, giving him a warm smile and nudging him playfully.
Wyatt rubbed his shoulder in feigned pain. “I think you are plenty strong. And you are welcome,” he stated. His tone growing a little lighter.
Nev kissed his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his before sighing contentedly.
They walked in relative silence for the rest of the day. As the sun eventually surrendered its struggle against the dark clouds, a heavy, steady rain started to fall. Despite it barely being evening and early for them to stop, Addi found the remnants of an old barn for them to make camp in. “It may take us a little longer to reach Nellis if this rain doesn’t ease off by morning,” she conceded.
“Thanks for finding us a roof for tonight, sis. You need any help?” Wyatt asked Addi. While waiting for her answer, he watched as Nev walked off to the far corner of the barn and sat down.
“I am fine. How is Nev doing, though? You two were awfully quiet today. Not nearly as annoying as usual. To be honest, you two kind of have me worried,” Addi replied quietly. She looked closely at her brother’s face and could tell he wanted nothing more than to go check on Nev. “Wyatt, just go. Check on her. I’ll be fine,” she directed, not waiting for Wyatt to answer her earlier question.
Wyatt nodded gratefully to Addi and then went to join Nev. He sat down close to her and waited for her to be ready to talk. After a few minutes passed and she still hadn’t spoken, Wyatt gently picked up her hand in his.
Nev leaned her head against his shoulder for a moment. “You have… do take such good care of me,” she said softly.
“When I met you, all you had was an injured shoulder. Now, not only is that still bothering you, but you have a cut on your cheek. I’m not so sure your assessment of how I have been doing is accurate,” he countered. Sighing, he turned to face Nev and asked, “Now, what is really bothering you?”
“Sometimes, I wonder if it would be kinder if you couldn’t sense what I was feeling so well,” Nev thought aloud.
Wyatt brushed her loose hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears. “No, it wouldn’t be. Being close to you is amazing, even if it sometimes worries me. So, tell me. What is troubling you, love?” he asked tenderly.
“I think I finally understand something about myself and my path,” she stated, sounding resolute. “The amulet. You saw it steer me to the chest, but that isn’t all it has led me to. It also… it guided me to you,” Nev explained quietly but self-assured.
“Me?” Wyatt asked, feeling confused.
“Yes. It started glowing just outside of Serenity Falls. I should’ve told you all of this sooner, but I didn’t understand what it all meant, and I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily,” Nev replied. She glanced at him with regret.
“But you do now? That is why you wanted more time earlier. And why you’re telling me now?” he asked, curious and concerned.
“When my father gave it to me, he said, ‘When you need it, your path will become clear.’ I think I needed to find the items in that chest. And I know that I needed to find you,” she explained, her hand firmly pressing around his.
Wyatt leaned close to her and kissed her tenderly. “I needed to find you too,” he added lovingly.
Nev smiled and then sighed deeply.
He could sense there was more, something menacing she hadn’t told him yet. “There is something else, isn’t there? Something dark?” questioned Wyatt. His expression was drenched in worry.
Nev nodded. “Yes. And I realize how this will sound, but I think my amulet is leading me towards it… my destiny. All of it. Now, I love thinking I was destined to meet you. You are my heart. But the amulet also seems determined to steer me towards… him,” stated Nev with a heavy certainty. She took a deep breath before continuing.
“I know you were right. It does help me see Sagrine, and it also helps him to see me. But, since our face-to-face encounter with him, I can also sense him. It is weaker and much less pleasant than what I felt with my father or what I feel with you. Still, there is something familiar about it. And like with you… it is always present and growing stronger. I think that is because I’m supposed to find him. To face him. Eventually, I won’t be able to run or hide from him,” Nev said, her voice was quiet and steady. While she spoke, her free hand absentmindedly stroked her amulet through her shirt.
As Wyatt listened to her,
