Page 64 of Black Hearted
“You’re incredible,” Zane said, his voice full of admiration.
I stilled, caught off guard by his sincerity. “Thanks,” I replied, feeling sheepish under his gaze.
Zane’s eyes shifted to the dense brush where the horses had disappeared. “It’ll take longer to get to the Tree of Transformation without them, but maybe we should go on foot. With the thickness of this underbrush, they weren’t going to save us as much time anyway, and I’d hate for the horses to get hurt trying to make it through this terrain.”
Extra time with Zane before I die?
Yes, please, I thought, though I kept my agreement to a simple nod.
Chapter Twenty
Zane
Inearly kissed Lorelei when she was lying under me as I shielded her from the burning rain. I’d seen the spark of desire in her eyes, the way she fixated on my lips, and it was physically painful to hold back. But what a first kiss that would have been. Something to tell our future children, I’m sure.“I kissed your mother after she was nearly melted by poison rain.”
No.
I wanted our first kiss to be perfect—romantic—a moment she would cherish and look back on with as much fondness as I would. Lorelei and I had all the time in the world to fall in love and enjoy each other. If I’d learned anything from watching my brothers fall for their wives, it was to let things develop naturally and to give Lorelei her space.
Right now, we needed to focus on breaking the curse. When we completed our mission, I’d court her properly. Lorelei deserved that much. But it was hard not to think of romance when she was near. She smelled of freshly cut flowers and something sweet thatdrove me insane. Her healing gift was extraordinary, and the way she cared for even the flowers she drew energy from left me in awe.
What I’d told Lorelei about the Savage Lands feeling familiar was true. Besides the luna blossoms I’d recognized from Ethereum, there were other plants I knew from back home. I was relieved to have my powers back, but it couldn’t have been a coincidence that they returned to me the moment we stepped into the Savage Lands.
Was it possible that this part of Faerie was connected to Ethereum in some way? If so, maybe there was an open portal nearby. Or maybe I was stretching, letting my mind invent connections. Either way, having my powers back meant I could protect Lorelei better, and for that, I was grateful. Especially after hearing that the curse was trying to take them from me completely.
It was getting late, and I knew we’d only be able to travel another hour or two before we were forced to make camp for the night. We were hiking through the thick underbrush when Lorelei suddenly screamed. The sound was sharp and full of terror. I barely had time to turn toward her before her body hit the ground, and then she was dragged away, her nails clawing at the earth in desperation.
“Zane!” Her shrill cry pierced the air as she was yanked by an unseen force.
I didn’t think; I just started running, forcing myself not to lose sight of her. I couldn’t see what had her, but whatever it was pulled her away so fast that I had to sprint at full speed just to keep her in view. Her poor body was dragged over brush and roots, scraping against the ground as she screamed. Rage built inside me like a firestorm, propelling me forward.
There was no monster or beast in sight, and it wasn’t until shewas pulled out of a dense cropping of trees that I saw what had her:a vine wrapped tightly around her ankle.
Reaching for my magic, I pushed myself to run faster. The vine dragged Lorelei into another densely forested area, and for a terrifying moment, I lost sight of her. Her screams stopped, and dread clawed at my chest. Had she lost consciousness?
I sprinted through the trees, leaping over brush, determined not to lose her. When I caught sight of her again, lying limp as the vine tugged her mercilessly, rage coursed through me like lightning. I aimed my hands at the black, gnarled vine that was trying to steal her from me and let my power surge.
I paused, hesitating before unleashing a stream of black lightning. If I missed, I could sever her ankle. But if I didn’t act, the vine could drag her somewhere I couldn’t follow. My heart pounded as I made the split-second decision to try.
I shot my magic at the vine. And I missed.
“Lorelei!” I yelled, desperation thick in my voice, but she didn’t respond. The vine continued to drag her across the forest floor.
It was clear she was unconscious. A feral need to protect her consumed me, driving me to act. I reached for my power again, focusing everything into the next two bolts. They fired in quick succession, and relief surged through me as one met its mark. The vine snapped.
Lorelei’s momentum carried her forward, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. A hissing noise echoed through the forest, sharp and menacing, as the severed vine writhed on the ground.
With my heart lodged in my throat, I sprinted to her limp form.She was still breathing, but my chest felt like it was being torn open as I took in the small cuts marring her arms, legs, and face. Her bottom lip was split open, crimson blood trailing down her chin.
“Lorelei.” My voice was shaky as I crouched down and gently pulled her into my arms. Her body was so still, her face pale beneath the dirt and blood smeared across her skin. The sight of her like this gutted me. I had promised her mother I’d keep her safe, and now she looked like she’d been trampled by a wild horse.
Desperate, I reached down and plucked a handful of vibrant purple and pink flowers from the forest floor. Laying them on her chest, I silently willed her healing magic to awaken. But nothing happened.
No.
My hands trembled as I brushed dirt from her hair and face. She was covered in blood and grime—on her cheeks, her neck, even tangled in her hair. The weight of my failure pressed down on me like a physical force.
Staying alert to our surroundings, I stood with her in my arms and began retracing the path the vine had dragged her through the forest. The trail her body had carved into the ground served as my guide, ensuring we didn’t get lost. Thankfully, Lorelei’s pack was still strung over her shoulder, not having been lost, and I pulled out the map her mother had sketched for us. After orienting myself, I set off for a small pond marked to the east.
