She adjusted the mask. A sarcastic comment about Svistra wisdom hovered on the tip of her tongue but she was afraid, very afraid. And he was trying to comfort her. “I’m ready.”
He nodded. They edged down the slope leading to the barren landscape. As Jaden had described, the grasses near the Wastes grew patchy and stunted, layered in a film of white.
“It is better if we don’t speak. Breathe through your nose. It filters the air better than your mouth.”
Selia nodded and continued. She hesitated to take the final step from the incline down onto the Wastes. Jaden kept walking and the distance between them grew to a few feet. She clenched her jaw and hurried to catch up.
“Don’t run unless we’re being followed and I say to,” he said without turning. “Your body uses more air that way. Stay close and copy my pace.”
She tried to keep her eyes on Jaden’s back, but her gaze drifted back to the Wastes. The land was not as white as it first appeared but variegated and patterned, like the bark of a tree. In places, the white dust swirled into ghostly currents, revealing rock, blackened and sharp like the knives she’d seen some of the southerners wear.
The hazy air was laden with a dryness Selia could taste, even through the cloth of her mask and closed mouth. Toward the east, in the distance, ghosts of long dead trees stood against a turbulent sky. Above the pale mists, blackened clouds churned against the horizon. Shifting flashes of purple, yellow and green shone deep inside the mass, as though attempting to break free. It was a world Selia didn’t know or understand. A world where frightening things happened.
Silence stretched around them as the thick dust muffled their footsteps. She glanced back to the tracks tracing their route from the now blurry forest, knowing that soon, the forest would be out of sight and she’d be swallowed whole. How long would the tracks remain until they too were consumed by this dead and barren land?
She reached for Jaden’s hand. He held it without comment.
It seemed they’d walked for the better part of the day, but she had no way of knowing. Thick clouds held the sun at bay. She wondered if perhaps Jaden had been too confident of reaching the other side, or if, like the White Forest, the land could change, forcing you to walk farther into its depths instead of out of it. Her heart pounded in her chest.
He pointed ahead. She squinted and could just make out the outlines of a forest.
For a moment she leaned into him, relief washing through her, then straightened, walking with a renewed energy, using all her self-control not to break into a run toward the forest. Jaden gripped her hand tighter and shook his head. She easily read the warning in his golden eyes, nodded once and kept to the same slow, plodding pace.
A fine layer of white covered her boots and pants. For a moment, she was certain the land would consume her as the White Forest had attempted to. Her breath came in short gasps.
He tightened his grip again. She focused on the feel of his hand in hers and taking one step after another.
When Jaden glanced to the sky, Selia followed his gaze. The clouds were low and heavy, almost close enough to touch. She risked hurrying a few steps to look into Jaden’s face. He glanced at her, brought his other hand up and wiggled his fingers.
Rain. Okay. Then she looked around, remembering the rust-colored water. This land didn’t absorb liquid. Rain would mean…
She swallowed. The finger of the Wastes was at a lower elevation than the surrounding lands. In the east, lightning born from the ground arched up into the sky, throwing everything in stark relief. This is the Wastes. She pulled a little on Jaden’s hand to try to persuade him to quicken the pace.
He shook his head, his eyes stern.
Fuck. You’re not a child. Get a hold of yourself. Selia glanced back to the sky, willing the drops not to fall.
Chapter Fourteen
When the first drops fell on the dead land, Selia stared at the blurry outline of the forest ahead, willing it to draw closer. The muscles of Jaden’s back moved under his clothes as he walked a step ahead. A film of white covered their joined hands, hers now as pale as his. Joined. Their differences washed away. With each step, the forest receded. No closer.
Lightning arced across the sky, adding eerie colors to the haze swirling along the ground. Snap! She turned in time to see another flash of lightning, much closer, followed by a puff of dust rising into the air. The dust didn’t fall to earth like it should have, but drifted, as though the lightning had given it the gift of flight. She focused on the trees ahead. Still no closer.
Jaden squeezed her hand and quickened his pace a fraction.
Raindrops pelted the ground, exploding into smaller dust coated drops and freezing for a moment as tiny orbs before spreading over the land. In places, the drops congealed into murky pools, where dust swirled atop the water like the mists of the White Forest. A drop of sweat rolled between her shoulder blades.
Suddenly the trees were above instead of ahead. She blinked but the vision didn’t recede. She caught Jaden’s glance and nodded. Water dripped into her eyes as she stepped up the incline toward the forest, but she didn’t try to wipe it away.
Freed from their coat of dust, the grasses on the slope gleamed a sickly green as the land bled in pale, chalky rivulets.
When they reached the top, he pulled her into the forest at a fast walk, slowing down when the trees hid the Wastes from view. Selia shivered. Even under the shelter of trees, the rain further dampened her already sodden clothing.
“There’s shelter ahead. Small, but it’s the only one close.” After hours of silence, Jaden’s voice warmed her chest. “This will be a bad one.”
“A bad what?” She knew, but she wanted him to speak again. There was comfort in the sound of his voice.
“A bad storm.” He picked up his pace and wound through thick pines, the steady drone of rain filling the forest.
“How do you know?”
He threw a look over his shoulder that very clearly told what he thought of her question.
“Sorry I asked.” But she wasn’t. She smiled and followed him.
The air held its breath then let it out in a fury. Trees groaned and branches whipped against her face, showering her with a spray of water. She lowered her head to follow Jaden’s feet. He hadn’t let go of her hand.
A crack of thunder echoed over their heads. She bumped into Jaden’s back. He’d stopped before a large rock formation.
“This way,” he said.
Selia followed close behind. Thunderstorms were tolerable when she was safe at the tavern, but out in the open she felt powerless, exposed.
“We’re here. Take off your clothes,” he yelled over the wind.
“What?”
“Your clothes. If it weren’t raining, we’d find a stream and bathe. As it is,” he said, letting go of her hand, “we need to get the dust off your clothes.” He hung his pack on the branch of a tree, pulled off his vest and then shirt. He stood under the full brunt of the rain, shaking loose his queue. Long, dark hair clung to his shoulders and chest, ebony tendrils mimicking his tattoo.
Selia visually traced the design of spirals and sinuous lines resembling flames as they stretched from his shoulder down his side, disappearing under the waist of his leggings. Did they go further?
Jaden turned to lay his clothes over the tops of bushes, where the rain could wash them, and unlaced his pants.
She forced herself to turn.
“The dust is nothing to trifle with.” His voice sounded so close to her ear that she jumped and didn’t protest when he took the pack off her shoulder. “Take your clothes off and let the rain wash your hair.”
Under the negligible shelter of a large pine tree, Jaden pulled a blanket out of his pack. His skin gleamed with moisture, muscles rippling under the faint light. What’s wrong with me? She let out a breath when he wrapped a cloth around his body then turned his back to her. Welts crisscross his back, marring the perfect flesh.
Selia fought an urge to join h
im under the tree. This is not the time or the place for this. But what was this? Insanity.
Blowing out a long stream of air, Selia undressed, shivering as the rain pelted her body. Undoing what was left of her braid, she let the cold rain run through her hair. She’d seen Jaden naked before, but it hadn’t affected her like this. It’s different now. Her hand tingled, remembering the touch of his skin, aching to experience it again. Shit.
She laid her clothes next to Jaden’s and stood under the shelter of the tree next to him. “I need the blanket.” She needed more.
Without turning, he handed it to her.
“Thanks.” She wrapped the rough cloth around her body.
He turned. His pupils had grown, leaving only a narrow band of dark gold.
Selia took a step closer, lost in his gaze. “Interesting tattoo.”
He blinked. “The blanket will get wet too. There’s a cave ahead, a shallow in the rock. It’ll be a tight fit, but it’s the only shelter nearby.”
“What about the weapons?”
“They won’t fit.” He picked up the knives and laid them down against the tree trunk then buried them in the still dry bed of needles. Next he unstrung the bow and set it and the quiver next to the trunk. “Best we can do.”
She nodded her thanks. But when Jaden pulled back vines from the rock face to reveal a shallow cave three feet high and deep, she turned to him in disbelief. Did he really expect…? “In there?”
“Unless you want to stay out here.” He leaned over and wedged himself in the opening facing her. Tucking the blanket securely under him, he spread his legs out and patted his chest.
Selia stared at the exposed length of leg for a moment. He couldn’t! There wasn’t enough space for one, let alone two, and she’d be…her face warmed and her body tingled at the thought of pressing up against Jaden with only two thin blankets between them. Shit. Naked against a Svistra, or drown in the storm? What a choice!
A crack of lightning lit up the sky. By the time the thunder echoed, she’d pressed her back against Jaden’s chest, folded her legs to keep them out of the rain and tucked the blanket securely around them.
He let the vines fall back into place and leaned back. They were alone in the dark.
The heat of his body seeped through the blankets, warming her skin. Her body conformed to the contour of his. Perfect fit. She closed her eyes as her skin heated. Her lower abdomen ached with need.
“It will warm up soon,” he said.
His voice sounded strained, deeper, sending shivers down her spine.
A hand ran over her hair, like a caress. “It’s tickling my nose,” Jaden moved and slung an arm over one of Selia’s knees. “I’m sorry, but it was going numb.”
She shifted to one side. “Does that help?”
The smooth skin of his leg brushed her thigh as he moved. Shivers of electricity sparked through her body.
“Very much. Thank you.”
His chest vibrated against her back when he spoke. Her legs trembled. Why now, and why with a Svistra? But he wasn’t just a Svistra. He was Jaden.
“Thank you for taking care of my weapons.” Did her voice just squeak? She cleared her throat, the image of firm muscles of his back moving under the tattoo as he buried the knives flashing across her mind.
“It’s a nice brace of knives. Where did you come by it?” he asked.
“Trader. In the village.”
“What did you trade?”
Selia breathed in Jaden’s spicy scent. “What else? He was drunk and couldn’t pay his bill. So I took the knives in exchange for the better part of a barrel.”
“That was an expensive night of revelry. He didn’t give you any problems? I’ve always heard traders hold their gold more precious than their mothers.”
“That’s about right. But they become a bit more generous, or I become a bit more persuasive when I’m owed money. Especially with Oren over my shoulder breathing fire and shooting murderous looks.”
“I’d like to have seen that.” He laughed, a low throaty chuckle that triggered a shiver along her spine. “You’re cold.” He wrapped his arms around her body.
It was hard to breathe. Jaden’s words tickled the hair at her temple and sent chills over her body. How could he be so relaxed? He’s not panting like a girl with her first man, that’s why.
Outside the wind picked up speed, and another bolt of lightning painted the tree trunks with a dreamlike appearance.
“What if they find our clothes and packs?” she asked.
“Not even Svistra can track in weather like this. Our trail is gone.” He moved, and she could feel the whisper of his voice next to her ear. “Relax, Selia. We’ll be here a while.”
Another shudder teased the base of her spine. Damn it, what is wrong with me? She tried to focus on their trail’s disappearance and not Jaden’s hard flesh behind her. His heart beat steady as his chest moved with each breath. Amid the smell of wet blanket and rock, his scent tantalized her senses. She wanted to tuck her head under his chin and revel in the fragrance. She’d never been so aware of anyone. Felt so alive to touch. As if her senses had finally awoken.
Jaden resisted burying his face in Selia’s neck and inhaling deeply. Barely. The musk of her arousal filled the low cave, almost masking the gentle scent of lavender clinging to her hair. He didn’t know if he could endure the night without turning her around and tasting her lips, her flesh. A low roar sounded over the pounding rain.
“What’s that?”
His lips were so close to her ear, he could almost taste the delicate flesh. “The canyon filling up,” he murmured.
“You mean the canyon we just walked through? Are we safe?”
The tang of her alarm brushed his senses. What am I doing? “Yes. The water doesn’t fill the entire canyon. There’s a ridge on the eastern side keeping the rainwater from flowing into the rest of the Dead lands. When the rivers overflow their banks, they pour into that section we crossed. After a while it fills up. Eventually the ridge will be eroded, and that part will be as dry as the rest.”
Thunder crashed and lightning lit up the sky again, revealing the thick, sodden trees. Branches whipped against the wind in a wild dance.
“What do you think caused them?”
“Mmm…what?”
“The Wastes or Dead lands. What caused them? Do you think the land was always like that?”
He shifted and the blanket moved, revealing Selia’s thigh. “I can only tell you the legends that have been passed down through the generations of my people.” His fingers brushed her supple skin as he re-tucked the blanket. Her soft gasp made his hands shake.
“Will you?”
Jaden took several deep breaths to steady his voice. “One day, long ago, the Sun god, Svi, visited the earth. The legends tell that he was angry with those who inhabited the world, and his wrath burned hot against it. Wherever he placed his feet, the land scorched beyond recognition. Those close enough to lay eyes upon him were killed instantly, their flesh burned from their bones. For a season, Svi walked the land, destroying everything in his path. Even during the day, his fires glowed along the horizon.
“But because he’d abandoned the sky, no light fell upon the land. Darkness and cold reigned. The grasses, then trees died. Famine and death spread to all living things. Before Svi returned to his rightful place in the heavens, he reached out and touched a chosen people—whether to exalt them above their brethren or to curse them is a question for the sages—but these people were forever changed. They are called Svistra.”
Silence, save for the steady barrage of rain on the forest floor, filled the shelter.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“About what?”
“Do you think the Svistra were cursed or blessed?”
“As I said before, that’s a question for sages. I am what I am. It is enough for me.”
Selia leaned against him. Her weight a gentle torture.
“How do you know so mu
ch about the Wastes?”
“My people have long sought a way across the Wastes.”
“What?” She half turned, the side of her breast pressed against his chest.
“It has long been thought that there’s another land, green, like this one, on the other side.”
“Long thought by whom?”
“The old ones of my people. The dreamers, readers of stars.”
“We are taught the Svistra are only warriors. Killers.”
“Some of us are.” He fingered a lock of her hair. Silk. “Many lifetimes ago, a group of Svistra first attempted to cross the Wastes. They kept birds in a little metal box and sent them one at a time toward home with messages tied around their legs. Further in, they guessed at the passage of time because the light did not vary much, and there were places they had to avoid.”
“Lung rot?”
“No. Worse. Lung rot was always a danger, and it took several members of the expedition. In places, the sun still burned but not with heat you could feel. These were mapped so that when the next expedition left—”
“There was more than one?”
“Yes, there have been many.”
“Why?”
The silence stretched for many heartbeats. “I’ve told you a little about my home in the north.”
She nodded, and Jaden realized they breathed in unison. “It’s a hard land. In the southern region, the ground is fertile enough, once you rid it of rocks. We used those to build our houses and barns. In fact, on the southern slopes of the mountains, a house made even partly with wood is a sign of extreme wealth.”
“I’d be wealthy in your land.”
“You’d be dead in my land,” he deadpanned. And I’d do well to remember that. “The winters nearly destroyed our people. There are only a few months out of the year for plants to grow, and often a stray blizzard will destroy not just the crops before they ripen by freezing the fruit or grain on the vine, but doom a village to starvation. We do not just need blood to survive.”
He closed his eyes, the familiar ache for his people growing to desperation for change. For a chance. “Some of us looked to the future and knew our choices were limited. Die in the Dead lands, die of starvation or die trying to take our land back.” Bitterness coated his tongue. “Which would you choose?”
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