Sixty-Four
Odessa
Balanced on the edge of a sheer cliff, I stood at the mercy of this realm. The winds thrashed and pulled and pushed, threatening to topple me into the sea. A storm brewed in the distance, the clouds mirroring the chaos in my heart.
Forty feet below, waves crashed against rock, the water's spray white as it broke against stone. Oh, how I wanted to jump. To feel the freedom of falling. To let go of the burdens for just one godsforsaken moment.
A gust lifted me to my toes.
Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders, anchoring me to the earth. To him.
"You found me." I rested my head against Ransom's chest, my curls whipping around us both.
"I always will." His thumb stroked the elfalter rings on my fingers as the silver circlet across his brow shone in the afternoon light.
"The Mavins are back. My father hired them."
"Good. We'll need their help."
"Can we do this?"
"We can try. Together."
I closed my eyes, lacing my fingers with his. "Together."
Ransom bent as I lifted my chin. His mouth brushed across mine, and with a kiss, the realm seemed to calm. The waves below stopped their crashing. The storm on the horizon wasn't quite so fierce.
And when he broke away, I let myself dive into the green of his eyes.
"I love you, Odessa Wolfe." He spoke the words I'd been desperate to hear for months.
But I didn't need them. Not really. "Yes, you do. Don't forget."
"Never. Let's go in before it rains." He took my hand, pulling me away from the cliff's edge.
Something tugged me right back.
A tingling sensation crept up my arms. My blood stirred, and something inside me pulled so hard I stopped.
I stilled, looking over my shoulder.
A thrum pulsed through my chest, like my heart was beating too hard. The vibration spread from my heart to my hands. It was there one moment, gone the next.
But it would return. If the visions in Mother's green journal came true, the thrum would return.
"Dess? Is something wrong?"
I stared into Ransom's eyes, as green as the Turan wilds, and told my husband what I feared would be the first of many lies. A lie that broke my heart. "No. It's nothing."
…
A silver-eyed warrior falls to his knees as the ground trembles. Dark-green blood drips from his fingertips. A deafening scream pierces the air. The beat of massive wings blows the hair from his face.
He stares at the monster and sets down his blade.
And before the warrior meets his end, he whispers…
"My queen."