Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (24 page)

diot!”

“I don’t think anything’s broken.”

“Idiot! Why would you do something so dumb?”

“His legs are okay.”

“I’m going to punch him when he wakes up.”

My eyes opened to Raven and Cael hovering over me. Raven wiped her red eyes.

“You’re awake,” Cael said, “that’s good.”

I sat up, rubbing my head. Blood covered my hand.

“Not too fast.” Cael held my arm, steadying me. “Can you move your arms, hands, legs?”

I tried moving my limbs. They were sore, but nothing else. “Yes.”

He held three fingers in front of me. “How many fingers am I holding?”

“Three.”

“Good, now follow my finger.”

He moved his finger left then right.

“Good.”

“Is he okay?” Raven smoothed out her hair and sniffled.

Cael nodded. “He’ll be bruised, but he’ll survive. Lucky that tree broke your fall.”

I smiled at her, happy we were both alive.

She frowned and threw a speedy right hook, blasting me in the nose.

Pain burst through my face. “Ow!”

“Raven!” Cael grabbed her arms, holding her back.

Tears ran from her eyes. “Idiot! How could you do that to me?” Cael dragged her away.

Placing my hand on the ground, I pushed myself up and stood. I wiped the blood off my face and walked toward her.

“I made a choice.”

She fought against Cael’s grip. “That wasn’t yours to make!”

“Raven.”

“Argh!” she screamed.

“Let her go, Cael.”

He stepped back and she came at me, swinging. I grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back. She cried and stomped on my foot.

“You could’ve died!”

I swung her around to face me, still holding her arm. “I’m sorry.”

Her lip trembled. “I thought you were dead. And it was my fault.”

I put my hand on her face and released her arm. “It wasn’t your fault. Even at your best, I would’ve been too much weight.” I pulled her into my chest, hugging her tears away.

Cael walked off to the side, past the giant bare tree—the tree that saved my life.

I rubbed Raven’s back, holding her close. The welts and bruises from the fall had already begun to attack my muscles. I’d be sore for days, but I was alive.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” she said softly.

“I can’t promise you that.”

She pounded my chest with her fist. “Don’t leave me.” She dug her hands into my coat and nuzzled her face against it.

“Never.”

Cael came back around, putting a finger to his lips, then signaled for us to follow. We picked the two packs off the ground and quietly stepped with him. He pointed straight then left, guiding us away from Lucy’s camp.

My bow!

I turned around, searching for it. It lay by the tree, split in two.

No…

My father had given me that bow on my tenth birthday. It was an extension of myself. Sure, I could use a sword, but I wasn’t nearly as good with it as I was with my bow.

Raven squeezed my shoulder.

I stared at the broken piece of wood, knowing I had to leave my most treasured weapon behind; knowing a part of me was staying with it.

Night still hovered, and with quiet, careful steps, Cael led us past the boulders. Every muscle ached and throbbing pain echoed through my head and face. The broken rocks were bigger than I expected, standing higher than the large elephants that roamed the mid-west lands. Even if Lucy could see or hear us, the boulders seemed impossible to climb with their giant slabs and smooth sides.

Still, fear pricked my skin and mingled with the ache slowly taking over my body. I couldn’t succumb to any of it. Not with Lucy so close.

I had to press on.

When I finally returned home, I would have one crazy tale to tell my father.

I missed Lakewood, and my family—especially Jeslyn. We had parted well, but there was a lot we still needed to talk about, and I wanted to be there when she and Derrick wed.

It would be good to see Derrick. I missed our spars. Raven made a good partner, but I never went full strength with her. She was a good fighter, but I still had a concern I’d hurt her.

We walked through the rest of the night, exhausted and slow. Cael had another area mapped out to rest in, a niche in between a set of hidden rocks, off the trail. We had to climb over a set of boulders to get to the alcove, and it provided enough cover to block us from the main trail.

Climbing the rocks—even though they weren’t as big as the ones near the falls—made my entire body ache. Every time I moved, my shoulder, side, and back would fill with pain. I must’ve hit every single branch on that tree. I was still shocked I survived. I tried not to think about cutting the rope and seeing Raven’s face as I fell. The image of her hand reaching for me twisted my stomach with fear.

I wasn’t afraid to die, but I was afraid to leave her.

By the time we settled into the alcove, the suns were just rising. Two golden eyes of The Creator. I prayed for protection while we slept, though neither one of us would sleep well.

“How much farther to The Order’s hideout?” Raven lay next to me, resting her head on top of her hands.

“Another day,” Cael said. “If we can keep a fast pace, we should be there by morning.”

Raven’s eyes had already shut by the time Cael finished his sentence. She moved closer, wedging her body against mine. I used my pack to rest against, wrapped my arms around her, and pretended not to notice Cael watching.

he beauty of the sea collapsed the moment my stomach could no longer take the rocking. Lucino held my braids as I vomited over the starboard side. My sickness left me with no room for any emotion except a desperate want to be free of this boat.

Fluid filled my mouth and I vomited again.

“You should try and eat.”

I shook my head. “I’ll be fine. Food will only make it worse.”

“It will get better.”

Del stood next to me with his arms folded, leaning against the rail. “Here.” He handed me a tiny, amber colored object. “Eat that. It will help your stomach.”

“What is it?”

“Ginger.”

I picked up the sticky root and ate it. “Spicy!”

Del laughed. “That’s nothing compared to the cook’s chili.”

Chewing the ginger, I watched Lucino examining Del—at least he could try and not be so obvious.