Page 12 of Whispers of Ruin
“We should go.”
Brokk studied the portal for a few more seconds before waving it closed with his hand. “We should.”
With that, Brokk reclaimed his sword and sheathed it. They shrugged on their packs and walked across the pristine blue sky toward whatever lay ahead.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
So far,the mirror realm was a lot easier to travel through. They didn’t have to hack through a jungle or have anything in hiding looking to eat them or giant monsters hunting them down.
Traversing across the spongy sky and clouds was far faster, but he also didn’t like being stuck here until they found the way out. According to Kaylia, there was a way out of this place, but he’d never been trapped anywhere like this before and didn’t like it.
He’d always been free to come and go as he pleased; this place had changed that, and while it was less threatening than the Valley—so far—he’d far prefer to be back amid the vegetation and lethal beasts than stuck here.
And there was always the chance she was wrong about there being a way out; neither of them had ever encountered anything like Doomed Valley before. This place had a way of turning everything upside down… literally.
He glanced at the trees above his head and their thick, green vegetation pointing toward him. It was all so weird, but nothing had been normal since entering Doomed Valley.
And now, they were the only ones left on this journey… he was fairly certain of that. Some of the other dark fae could have slipped into the shadows before they were trampled or eaten, but even as a half vampire, he was stronger than most dark fae.
Depending on their power level, he could sense or see most of them while they were enveloped in shadows. He hadn’t done either while running from those things.
Of course, he’d also been focused on surviving and getting to Kaylia; he could have missed them, but he didn’t think so. Maybe, once they were free of this place, he’d discover that some of the others had survived, but until then, he could only walk beside Kaylia across the sky.
He glanced at her as she walked with her chin high and steely determination etched across her face. Her short hair framed her face as it bounced against her shoulders.
He liked the shorter length on her; it somehow made her more approachable. But then, she could be bald, and he’d still find her beautiful; it was impossible not to.
Unable to resist, his gaze traveled leisurely over her. Dirt and blood covered her clothes, but he couldn’t help admiring the way the pants hugged her taut ass, an ass he’d like to grab while she rode him.
When his cock stirred, Brokk shifted his gaze away. He doubted she’d appreciate the images running through his mind, but he couldn’t help pondering what it would be like to peel those clothes off and feast on her naked body while it moved against his.
We have to get the fuck out of here.And they had to do it soon, as he’d awakened his dark fae appetite, and though it hadn’t been an issue before, it was rearing its head now.
While they’d become friends since their first encounter, he doubted she’d ever shown any interest in him or any other man in that way. Still, he easily recalled her hand on his back and the concern in her eyes when she saw his hand.
He also recalled the way she looked at him. For one second, he’d thought she might see him as a man and want something more from him, but it passed too fast for him to be sure, and she’d barely looked at him since they started walking.
When Brokk glanced at his feet, he experienced the same unsettling feeling he had since landing in this mirror realm. He kept expecting the solid ground beneath his feet to evaporate and to start freefalling.
“Is there any chance this could give way, and we’ll start falling again?” he asked.
“No.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her clipped response but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t exactly in the most conversational mood either; he’d far prefer to be doing something else with her.
Despite her assurance they wouldn’t plummet into oblivion, he eyed the changing sky warily. Doomed Valley could change things into whatever this savage land wanted them to be. He didn’t trust it.
Still, he couldn’t help being awed by the place as brilliant colors streaked across the sky. Reds, pinks, and oranges spread beneath his feet, stretching as far as he could see and turning the clouds into rainbows.
They traveled a little further, but as the sun sank from view, he called an end to the day. Kaylia turned toward him and opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. She removed her pack, set it on the ground, and sank beside it.
Brokk did the same as he settled onto a passing cloud streaked with colors. He’d never touched a sunset before and couldn’t stop his fingers from stroking the colors. It may only reflect what was happening on the other side of the mirror, but it was magical.
When the colors vanished with the sun, he removed food and water from his pack. Across from him, Kaylia munched on a carrot while watching the moon rise.
Bathed in the moon’s radiance, her hair glowed more silver, making her appear ethereal as her skin shimmered. She was a being of magic at home beneath the moon.
Brokk ate some of his dried jerky as he basked in the radiance she emitted. He wanted to touch her, but since she’d been so distant most of the day, he didn’t think she’d appreciate him getting closer.
