Elurra woke to the first rays of sunlight coloring the sky. Her vision confused her. It was so different from the others, as it stuck to a storyline, whereas her dreams were typically sporadic and confusing.
Maybe I should tell Terrin, she thought. He might be able to help me figure this out.
She rolled over and opened her mouth to speak, then realized Aleah was lying beside her, not Terrin. She rolled to her other side and was astounded to find Tristen sleeping peacefully. Elurra sat up and looked around, trying to remember the sleeping arrangements from the night before. Gray morning light filtered through the trees, dimly illuminating the campsite. The air was thick with dew, and her skin felt damp and clammy. The fire was reduced to a pile of charred wood even though the sentries were supposed to keep it blazing during the night.
She spotted an empty cot next to Tristen and looked over at the rock they’d designated for sentry duty the night before. Sure enough, Terrin was positioned with one knee resting on the outcropping. His chin was balanced on top of his knee, and his arms folded around his leg, making him look like a statue deep in thought. Elurra tried to get up quietly so she could go over and speak with him, but she accidentally kicked Aleah. Her former governess woke with a start and threw her arms out to hit whoever struck her. She accidentally whacked Kai in the face, and he cried out in pain, waking Plague and Tristen. Elurra slowly backed away, hoping no one would notice her, but she forgot Tristen was behind her and accidentally stepped on his foot. He yowled in pain, and she jumped. She felt the tips of her ears grow red with embarrassment. Aleah was apologizing profusely to Kai as he gingerly held his face and avoided her attempts to see the damage she’d done. Plague yawned and rubbed his eyes sleepily, and Rowan stirred from his slumber.
“Doth anithybothy hath somthinf toh blowh meh nothe on?” Plague asked stuffily, reaching aimlessly for a tissue. Rowan grumbled and dug through his pack until he found a handkerchief.
Elurra discreetly rolled up her mat, wishing she hadn’t woken the entire camp. Kai shook Snore, then asked Rowan to help him. Together, they lifted Snore and swung him around until he woke. In another few moments, the entire camp was alive with activity. They all agreed they’d eat some dried meat and fruit in the saddle for breakfast. An air of anticipation bubbled around the motley group. They could tell they were nearing Amora. Within a half hour, everyone was ready to leave. Elurra climbed onto her horse, ignoring her aching muscles. Terrin walked toward her, and she braced herself for their traditional fight over who got to steer, but he moved right past their horse.
“Where are you going?” she asked, calling after him. He ignored her and mounted a different horse. “Terrin?” she called, doubt crowding her mind.
“Yes, Your Highness? Is there something you require?” he asked sharply. His tone was angry and annoyed. She flinched and recoiled from him. Large bags surrounded his eyes, giving away that he hadn’t slept at all.
“Are you not riding with me?” she asked, uneasiness creeping into her voice.
He stared at her, his face a mask. “Do you wish me to ride with you, Your Majesty?”
Elurra felt her bottom lip quiver and hastily regained control of her expression. “No. Never mind.”
He spun around swiftly, and she glared at his back. His behavior cut her like a knife.
What was that about? she thought, completely taken aback. Tristen climbed up behind her.
“Is something wrong, Princess?” he asked, seeing her expression.
“No,” Elurra replied, feeling dazed.
Terrin spurred his horse forward, and Elurra did the same. The six horses thundered down the narrow dirt road, which was widening into a trading lane. Terrin stayed at the front of the pack, matching Elurra’s pace every time she tried to pass. His sour attitude didn’t diminish in the slightest during the entire day. By the time they made camp for the night, everyone noted the tension in the air. Elurra wanted to sleep, and more importantly continue her dream, but she couldn’t. Every time she fell asleep, Terrin invaded her dreams, and her stomach tied itself in knots.
The gap between them became more pronounced the next day. He refused even to speak to her. The entire company sensed the fight and tried to avoid them both. Even Rowan left it alone. The silence became intensely awkward, and by unspoken mutual consent, the companions cut down their breaks between riding to only a few minutes. When they made camp on the second day, she felt exhausted and sick to her stomach. Elurra fretted she wouldn’t be able to sleep again, but mercifully, her vision dragged her into unconsciousness.
A moment later, she was in Lira’s room again. Zavier was hovering over Lira, who was sprawled on her bed. Two deep cuts marred her left arm. She was covered in blood. Her face was pale, and she was sweating. Zavier was clearly panicking.
“Lira, the only way to cure silver Cythraul poison is to fight it, understand? It’s a mental poison, so the antidote won’t help if you succumb to it,” he said forcefully.
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Elurra wasn’t sure if Lira was even conscious, but then her eyelids snapped open to reveal her eyes were turning black. All pretenses of calm quickly fled from Zavier’s tone.
“No! Lira, please! Fight it!” he screamed as he shook her limp body. “You can’t die on me now. Not after all we’ve been through!” The halo of light around him dimmed noticeably, and his shoulders sagged. He cupped her face with one hand and brushed his thumb across her cheek softly, as if he were afraid of breaking her. She grunted and tried to move her hand.
“That’s it!” he cried, lifting her head off her pillow. He rocked her back and forth, coaxing her back into the world of the living. Lira struggled to reach up and touch his cheek.
“Zavier…I…ca-can’t…” She shuddered as the venom tried to take hold of her.
“I won’t let you go like this. Hold on!” he said willfully. He grasped her hand in his and squeezed tightly. For a moment, Elurra wondered if anyone else could hear him screaming. “Remember the last few years? Remember all the things I told you about Yamoi and the Prath? I told you about the different types of Cythraul poison. Cling to your memories! You’re the only one who can save your people. You just have to fight.”
To Elurra’s surprise, a golden tear rolled down his cheek. Lira moaned wordlessly, her breath coming out in gasps.
“Your people need you, Lira. I need you. You can’t leave me like this. I’m stranded here. Without you, I…” He trailed off as another tear trickled down his cheek.
Her swelling eyelids parted again, and her tainted eyes stared up at him before she looked away with a hiss. Her skin was turning an ugly gray color, and her blood started to look green.
“Please…” He gave up speaking and kissed her on her pale lips in a burst of pent-up emotion. It was more an act of desperation than anything else. Sparks of light jumped between them before he pulled away. He held her hands tightly and urgently begged her to fight the poison. He turned his head, hiding his tears from view. He knew she was losing the battle.
Then her breathing sped up, and she cried out in agony. Zavier looked down in disbelief. Dark poison leaked out of the deep cut on her arm, spilling into an oily puddle on the floor. Her skin slowly but surely started regaining its natural hue. After what felt like an eternity, her eyes fluttered open, and blue irises stared up at the Guardian. She weakly reached up to Zavier, who took her hand and clutched it tightly. Light radiated from his being, tripling his average luminescence. Her eyes clouded, and creases appeared on her forehead, and she brought her fingers to her lips.
“Zavier? What happened?” she asked weakly. “I feel I may have imagined it, but did you…kiss me?”
Elurra watched Zavier’s face closely. His expression fell, and he abruptly retreated across the room. Lira sat up slowly, tendrils of light and darkness radiating off her.
“Why did you…Zavier?”
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…” Zavier stuttered, looking stricken. “This was never supposed to happen.”
Lira stood up shakily and steadied herself on the side of the bed. She managed to stumble over to his side. She tripped, and he immediately reached out to steady her but held her at arm’s length and averted his gaze. She reached out to touch him, but he pulled away. She was persistent, though. He finally gave in. Her fingers brushed across his cheek, causing him to glow with new fervor. He closed his eyes and shuddered out a breath. White light danced in the wake of her fingers, running down his cheek like liquid.
“Why do you shine brighter when I touch you?” she asked softly, her clear, unflinching gaze focused on him.
He pulled away reluctantly and took deep breaths, trying to control his reaction. He couldn’t bring himself to look at the princess.
“I’m…attracted to you,” he admitted awkwardly. “This was never supposed to happen. I took an oath.”
“You what?” Lira asked, perplexed. He didn’t seem to hear her.
“You’re a native. We have polluted your genetic pool too much already, and I’m not allowed to…I should leave,” he decided suddenly. A new fire of responsibility burned in his eyes. “I will leave. I will find another way to thwart the Cythraul.” But as soon as he took one look at Lira, the fire in his eyes flickered and died. She looked utterly heartbroken.
“But I need you,” she said softly, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. “You are the only person who has ever cared about me besides my mother. She’s been gone for years, and you want to leave me, too?” Silent tears slipped down her cheeks. Zavier looked astonished.
“You don’t want me to leave?” he asked, completely taken aback.
She shook her head. He stepped forward hesitantly, closing the gap between them. The light around him pulsed to his heartbeat. She reached up and trailed her fingers down his face, tracing paths of light across his skin. Her fingers made their way up to entangle themselves in his hair. Zavier lit up the room. He held his breath, afraid to do anything that might destroy the delicate moment.
“I never want you to leave,” she breathed, stepping even closer.
He froze, his breathing elevated. Abruptly, he made up his mind, leaned down, and kissed her softly. Elurra felt like she was intruding on an exceedingly private moment, but she had no control over what happened in front of her. Lira wrapped her arms around Zavier and pressed herself against him. Light played over her skin, spreading from her hands and lips to the rest of her body. Elurra watched curiously. The light faded slowly with the scene. Much to Elurra’s relief, the king’s throne room replaced the romantic moment. The same Demon with the glowing red eyes was speaking to the king, telling him in a level, gravelly voice of a few Demons vanishing every feasting night for the past few years.
“Someone has learned how to slay us. We have lost a considerable number in total.”
The king’s jaw clenched. “Why is this the first time I have heard about this, Tiberius?”
“Because we have not been able to find them until now. We did not see any reason to inform you. It was an internal matter. One of us scratched the killer last night. We can track the assassin now, but only during the next one moon.”
The king leaned forward. “How?”
“We infected the killer with a poison. It was meant to kill them, but we did not feel their death. However, we can trace the poison. I will have to send someone through the rift to use our technology, and the time differential will not allow them to get me the findings until the next time the portals open.”
The king raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Do it, then. We shall destroy this menace and crush any hope the people have of a savior. I am sure they have already started singing in the streets about this Demon slayer.”