Page 59 of When Eden Falls

I felt exhausted.

It was dark when I woke. The only sound was the lapping of the waves outside, and the only thing I could think of was water. I was so ridiculously thirsty.

Pushing the covers off, I dragged my feet over the edge of the bed. My legs felt wobbly, taking a while to find my balance, but I persevered to the doorway. Whilst holding the stone edges of the wall, I peered into the main room next door. The moonlight casted long, haunting shadows across the area and I started to wonder if I had fallen back into another one of my nightmares.

I blinked several times before I spotted a glass of water on the coffee table. I ambled towards the circle of chairs surrounding it. In a desperate frenzy, I lunged for the glass, dropping to my knees. I downed the tepid water, ignoring the pain in my body and theroughness of my hands as I wiped my mouth dry. Sitting back on my legs, I sighed. The water tasted amazing.

A soft snore disrupted my moment of euphoria, and I eyed Dybgo asleep in one of the chairs. Still dressed in his armour and blue cape, he was slumped to one side. An air of power and grace continued to resonate from him, but his skin looked ghostly white from the bright moonlight streaming in through the archway.

I glanced toward the brightness. The sky was as black as deep space, the large moon low on the horizon bleaching the stone balcony. And there, standing, looking at the view was Rooke. His figure was silhouetted against the harsh light, but I knew it was him. Strong shoulders, slim, toned—perfect.

I found myself wandering towards him, like a moth drawn to a flame. It had been the same for years now, and I doubted he even realised it, nor wanted to. The thought struck a sorrowful chord deep within me. Would I ever tell him how much I loved him? Especially after the Igknamai attack and the chilling thought that if I’d died, he’d be none the wiser.

Inwardly, I wilted at the realisation I could never tell him. How could I? It would be selfish to do so. What we had worked.

“Eden?”

Rooke’s voice jolted me from my thoughts, discovering I had stopped halfway across the balcony terrace and was just staring at him.

“Eden? Are you okay?” He was casting me the oddest expression; his words and movements slow and cautious. I frowned, confused by the way he was acting. “Baby, are you awake?”

Baby?“Why are you looking at me like I’ve got two heads?”

He smirked. “Okay, you are awake.”

I eyed him sceptically as he sauntered nearer.

“The last time we found you out here at night, you tried to jump the balcony wall. It was lucky Dybgo had noticed you and grabbed you before…well, before you jumped.”

My eyes widened, vaguely recalling the dream. “That wasreal?”

“You were hallucinating. You were trying to get to your mum, or something along those lines. But the risk was very real.”

I cursed under my breath. There was at least a fifty-metre drop to the rock bed below. If I had jumped…Nux! “I thought Cora had been bad enough with her crying and screaming.”

“Oh, you did that too.”

Closing my eyes, I let loose an unstable breath, fighting against the flood of embarrassment. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be.” I heard him step closer. Opening my eyes, his arms latched around my waist and pulled me into his chest. “I’m glad you’ve come out the other side.” He was gazing down at me dotingly. I liked this side to him, it never felt strained. But as usual, it was short lived. A sudden smirk twitched at his lips. “Your spots look grey in this light.”

I shoved at his chest, almost depleting my reserve of strength. He stepped back, laughing. “You still look gorgeous, though.”

“Ha ha! You’re such an arsehole.”

I followed him to the balcony wall and noticed one of our radios sitting on the edge. A feeling of guilt shot through me. I had forgotten about Troy. “Have you heard anything?”

He touched the dark box lying dormant on the stone ledge and a forlorn expression fell across his face. Shaking his head, he said, “No. Nothing. I’m getting the impression our chances of getting home have been diminished.” He met my concerned gaze, his eyes glistening with regret. “I hate to think what’s happened to him. He’s so young…and to be left on his own. I…” He dropped his gaze. “I’ve failed you all.”

“No, you haven’t.” I reached for his arm, clasping it tight. “Rooke, you haven’t. By bringing us here you’ve kept us alive.”

“Not Troy, though.”

“We don’t know for certain he’s dead.”

Rooke raked his fingers through his hair and lifted his gaze to the starlit sky. “What am I missing, Eden? I honestly can’t believe the Akquarians could be so deceptive.”

“Neither can I, but…” My mind shifted to my haunting dreams from the past few days. “Rooke, I know this sounds crazy but hear me out.”