Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 116263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
And she knew then, even if she had been given free will, she still would have chosen this.
To at least have this part of him.
No, she would never know him the way she wanted to. To be awake and run her fingertips along the angles of his face. To feel him whole and real and alive.
To exist with him, night and day.
Her heart could not believe that he would ever turn against her the way tradition taught, but what she thought wouldn’t change the decree.
Dani squeezed her hand tighter as if to give her a warning that it was clear where Aria’s thoughts had gone, and Aria returned her attention to Ellis.
“May your hearts forever keep the hope of your calling,” the old man said. A breeze blew through, lifting the scraggly strands of the Laven’s white hair in a wisping gust. In the distance, he set his compassion and favor on Aria as he said, “May you not lose faith, and may you forever persevere.”
Aria tried to hide the tremble that rolled down her spine when Pax approached her from behind.
His nerves were edged in steel, the man vibrating with disquiet. His aura potent and honed into a blade.
He knew what this day meant, and she knew he wanted to protect her from it.
But there was no protecting her from who she was.
“Are we ready, my dear family?” Ellis’s gaze moved over those gathered below him.
Aria’s pulse sped.
Pax edged closer to her, though he’d yet to say a word.
“Yes.” The agreement rumbled over the flock, and everyone began to stand, pairing off with their Nols.
Most pairs were men and women, although there were several that were two men or two women.
Timothy wound out of the mass. He came straight for Dani and took her hand. “It’s time.”
She nodded. “I’m ready.”
Two by two, the Laven moved from the sanctuary of Tearsith to the boundary of Faydor.
She felt Pax’s hesitation thrum from behind as she watched the drove of Laven stream toward the darkness that wept, whispered, and called.
“You don’t have to do this.” He muttered it so low she felt it like a promise.
When she turned to him, she lost her breath, felt his pain and dread as he stared down at her.
She hated that the expression on his face would never mean anything more than him being protective. He loved her, but only as his Nol. She sometimes wondered if she was the only Laven who loved their Nol for all the wrong reasons.
“You know that I do,” she murmured.
“I hate it,” he grated. “I hate the idea of you going there. You don’t know what it’s . . .”
He trailed off, as if he couldn’t bring himself to describe the atrocities that were waiting for them on the other side.
Pax had been there many times. Each night since the day he’d turned sixteen four years before, while Aria had stayed in Tearsith with the other youths.
He’d walked in darkness with Dani and Timothy as his guide.
He’d been different ever since.
Harder.
Angrier.
Fiercer.
He’d fought with them until the day Aria reached maturity.
And tonight, it would be Aria who battled at his side.
“I’ll be fine,” she promised.
Pain flashed across his features. “I will protect you, Aria. Anything and everything it takes.”
Except protecting her wasn’t his call. Their pairing wasn’t to be the focus of their destiny. Their fate was to fight. Most times, that felt completely wrong since, to Aria, Pax had become the meaning of this place.
“We will fight together, the way we were meant to,” she said.
His thick throat bobbed when he swallowed, and strength bristled through his powerful body. He reached out his hand to take hers. “Do not let go of me. The first time will be very difficult.”
Her spirit sang when she wove her fingers through his, and their souls entwined to become one.
She doubted that she could let go even if she tried.
Anxiety billowed through her consciousness as Pax led her toward the gateway, which would be invisible except for the chilling energy that lapped and coaxed, a shimmery force that drew them toward what waited beyond. To that narrow, unseen plane that hovered just above Earth’s surface.
The place where darkness reigned.
She’d watched it what felt like a million times, the Laven moving toward the gateway hand in hand, the way their essence lit in a blinding light before they disappeared into the nothingness.
Tonight, Aria would learn for herself what that really meant.
Each pair disappeared until Aria and Pax were the last to stand at Tearsith’s end.
Apprehension vibrated her to the bone, and Pax smoothed the pad of his thumb over the back of her hand. “I will not leave your side.”
Swallowing hard, she nodded. “I’m ready.”
Pax held tight as he pulled her to the gateway.
“This is it.” He stepped forward and took her with him into the unseen.