Page 148 of Tears for a Broken Sky
Phoenix
We made camp deep in the woods beside a narrow stream of freshwater. Around us, the forest stretched in every direction—endless, shadowed, and still. It felt like a place time had forgotten.
I thought of Elle. Just a few nights ago, she had told me she loved me. And now...
Gods, I missed her.
Caelen had proven useful enough—he caught a couple of rabbits, cleaned them with quiet efficiency. I lit a small fire while he lay back, arms folded behind his head, eyes on the darkening sky.
The silence between us wasn’t awkward. But it was heavy.
We still hadn’t found Slade.
"So, tomorrow," Caelen said, not looking at me, "do we head back toward the garrison?"
"That area’ll be crawling with soldiers—Crown and Sentinel." I sighed, poking at the fire.
"We could try Velmere. That’s where the civilians were evacuated."
"I’m not leaving Slade."
"I get that. He’s your friend, but—"
"But what?" I cut in.
He hesitated. "But maybe you need to come to terms with the fact that he might not make it out here."
I snorted. "He fell off a cliff and still dragged himself through a godsdamned cave system to get to these woods. Slade’s alive. But he might be lost."
"Like us?" Caelen snapped.
"We’re not lost. I could find our way back if we needed to."
"Of course you could." His voice turned sharp. "Still so sure of yourself, aren’t you?"
"I am. And I know my friends. That’s the difference." I shot him a look. "But I get it—you’re pissy because you don’t actually know what that means. Do you even know what a friend is?"
Caelen sat up fast, his glare sharp. "I have friends, Phoenix."
"Right," I drawled. "Name one."
"Elira."
I barked a laugh. "Please. From what I saw—and what she told me—that ship’s already sunk."
"You know," Caelen said tightly, "you don’t have to be an asshole. I know that’s a big ask."
"You’re right. I can’t change what I am." I grinned. "And neither can you."
He rolled his eyes and lay back down, muttering something under his breath.
I shook my head and pulled Elle’s book from my bag. Caelen watched me.
"Is that..."
"The journal. Whatever it is."
"Any luck deciphering it?"
