Page 98 of Heart of the Cursed
Chapter 39
Just as Lacie had predicted, they made it to the standing stones before midday. They might have reached it sooner if they hadn’t needed to keep a slower pace for the females. But as much as he’d tried to argue the case, Selene wouldn’t let him, Taredd, and Dain go alone. She had insisted that she needed to be the one to perform the spell. He didn’t know if she was right or not, but he wasn’t going to win the argument, so he gave up trying.
Thankfully, the journey had been uneventful, but Arun had a feeling it wasn’t going to stay that way. Even though they hadn’t been attacked, more than once Arun had felt eyes watching him, and it wasn’t coming from anyone in their group.
He didn’t know if it was his family, or someone else, but they had been followed ever since leaving the bunker. Arun knew he wasn’t the only one that had picked up on their stalker. Both Taredd and Dain had picked it up, too.
Being a Shapeshifter was still new to Amberly, so she might not have noticed like the rest of them. No doubt Dain had told her, the same as Taredd had told Natalia.
Arun hadn’t told Selene, though. She was under enough stress and worry as it was, she didn’t need more added to her plate.
“It shouldn’t take me long to set everything up,” she told him as she began pulling things out of her bag.
When she smiled at him, it held none of the warmth and happiness he’d come to love. Instead, it was full of sadness for what was to come.
Arun hated that he was going to lose her so soon after finding her, but he understood why it needed to be that way. They had to look past what they wanted and do what was best for what remained of the Human race. If things were left as they were, sooner rather than later, there would be no more Humans left alive.
Even knowing that, it didn’t dull the pain inside his heart. It felt like it was being ripped out of his chest. From the look on his friend’s faces, they were feeling exactly the same way as he was.
There was a slim chance Amberly could end up going with Dain since she was half Shapeshifter, but there was no chance for Taredd and Natalia, with her being fully Human and him a Demon.
Knowing that his friends were going through the same thing as him should have given him some comfort, but it didn’t. If anything, it made the pain even worse because he wasn’t just feeling his own pain, he was feeling theirs, as well.
“Take your time,” he told Selene. “We’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
“I know you will,” she smiled sadly.
He wished they had more time together. But even if they had a day, a week, a year, it still wouldn’t be enough. A lifetime with her by his side wouldn’t be enough. He wanted an eternity with her, but he couldn’t have it.
Before his mind could disappear down a rabbit hole of what if’s, what could have been, and what will never be, he turned his attention to the rest of their group. He was about to go over to check on the females from his brother’s harem when Taredd called his name.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” he told Selene.
She nodded her head, but didn’t look up from what she was doing.
With his mind squarely back on the mission, he scanned the area around the stone circle as he made his way over to Taredd and Dain.
“She’s setting everything up for the spell,” he said when he reached them.
“How long do you think it’s going to take her?” Taredd asked.
He frowned and shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. Why?”
“Because we’re not alone,” Dain said.
“Someone has been following us from the bunker,” Taredd added.
“I know,” Arun grimaced. “What I don’t know is why they haven’t attacked us yet. What are they waiting for?”
“I would like to know the answer to that question, as well,” Taredd agreed. “Are they waiting for something?”
“Or someone,” Dain said.
“It could be both.”
Taredd and Dain turned to him with concerned looks on their faces.
“But who could they be waiting for?” Dain asked.
