Page 74 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“You really think we can wait until tomorrow to go after Athalda?” I ask, knowing Nyx may have dropped the subject of Aidan for right now but won't forget it.

“Yes. You’re hurt, and we just spent all night hiking. The Shifting Forest is dangerous, and we need to be well rested. I promise we’ll find her and get answers, Lyra. I’m not going to let you die. We still have plenty of time before the blood moon if you need to complete the ceremony. I’m still not convinced you do. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. We’ll get to the bottom of all this, together.”

I feel the sincerity in his voice. He pulls me into him, deepening the kiss. Gods, I would let this man do anything he wanted. I pull away, breathless. My lips are already puffy from our embrace.

“Thank you,” I whisper, letting some tension leave my body and relaxing my head against his chest.

We sit like that for a while, just resting in silence. Both of us are deep in thought. Nyx runs his hand through my hair, playing with the wavy bits. I listen to the rise and fall of his chest. I wish my father was here. I wish I could just ask him what all of this means and why he made me the key to unlocking a bridge to Zomea. Why did he even want a bridge to Zomea? What greater purpose does all of this serve?

“I’m going to go speak with Aidan. I want to make sure I get that map from him and find out what we can expect to come across in the Shifting Forest,” Nyx says, moving behind me and pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, you need to rest. I’ll ask when we can expect the healer, Hilda, to be by as well. Do you want me to move you to the bed?”

I see no point in fighting him. I am tired, and I don’t really want to see Aidan again.

“No, I’m fine here by the fire . . . be careful.” I move some pillows and lie back.

“I’m always careful. I’ll be back soon, lover,” he says, placing a kiss on my forehead and patting Chepi on the head before disappearing out the front door.

I wait a couple minutes to make sure Nyx is gone then grab my pack and rummage through it for Callum’s journal. I may be afraid for what’s in it, but I need to know. I flip through the pages quickly, looking for the last line I read. Once I see it again, I read it over—Euric’s offspring will be born for darkness. That uneasy feeling returns to my chest, and I hesitantly turn the page to read the final page in the journal.

Born for darkness and destined to be with my son. Scarlett was right in questioning me. I banished Euric only to avoid the inevitable. Do I save my people or do I save my son? Why can’t they be one in the same? Can his light save her, or will her darkness destroy him—destroy us all?

I drop the journal, and it lands with a heavy thud at my feet. Chepi stirs next to me, sensing my distress, and nudges my arm with his nose. My heart squeezes, and I try to make sense of the jumbled mess of emotions within me. It’s as if the ground beneath me has shifted, and I’m left reeling. Destiny, darkness, and magic swirl around my mind, suffocating me with their weight.

I stare down at the journal, its leather cover gleaming in the dim light. Was I truly destined to be with Nyx? Or was I meant to destroy him, to be the harbinger of his downfall? The weight of the revelation crashes over me, and I can't help but feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. How could Callum have known about my dark magic inheritance? I don’t even know if it’s true myself. Did he write anything more about it in another journal?

Questions pile on top of questions, and I realize just how much I don’t know. Why did Colton give me this journal, and does he have the next one? Did Callum get a chance to write another before he died? Scarlett, Nyx’s mother, is mentioned in the journal too. Does she have a journal of her own?

A sick feeling churns in my stomach as I imagine showing the journal to Nyx. What if he’s afraid of me, afraid that I’ll do as his father wrote and destroy him? I wrap my arms around Chepi, pulling him close to my chest as I stroke his soft fur. The thought of losing him, of losing Nyx, is unbearable. But can I keep this secret from him forever? I don't know, and the uncertainty is suffocating.

“I don’t know what to do, boy,” I say into the top of his head as tears run down my cheeks. I touch the bloodstone at my neck and try to think about what my father was trying to do with all of this.

Chepi licks my tears away and snuggles close to my neck, comforting me until we both fall asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I’m jolted awake when a knock sounds on the door. Gods, how long have I been asleep? It looks like it’s dark outside. Where is Nyx? Nyx wouldn’t be knocking. I stumble off the couch and hobble over to the door. Chepi hovers over my shoulder. My ankle seems to be hurting worse now than this morning. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been off it all day. I need to stretch it out a bit.

“Who is it?” I call through the door. Can never be too careful.

“It’s Hilda, ma’am. I’ve brought you some food and come to check on your ankle.”

I open the door, offering a gentle smile and extending my arm to invite her in. She’s a short, boisterous woman with gray hair pulled up in a messy bun. She has on a long-sleeve black gown, and I wonder how she’s not freezing walking outside like that. I close the door and hobble back to the couch. She places some bowls on the table then comes to sit next to me.

“Marth’s been making clipper stew all day. I brought you and King Onyx each a nice large bowl of it and some fresh towarra buns, still hot for dipping,” she says cheerfully with a smile.

“Thank you so much.” I smile back at her.

“Now let me see this ankle of yours.” She motions for me to put my foot in her lap. Once I do, she feels all around my foot and ankle, causing me to wince when she turns it to the side.

“It’s not broken, but it is a nasty sprain.” She reaches into a bag she has next to her.

“When will I be able to hike on it?” I’m worried. I may slow us down even more if I can’t use my feet properly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you can walk soon enough. Now, I need you to come with me out to the woods,” Hilda says after placing the food on the table.