Fire & Flight by Brianna R. Shaffery

Author:Brianna R. Shaffery [Shaffery, Brianna R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BRS Writes L.L.C.
Published: 2022-07-06T22:00:00+00:00

18. A Pair of Liars

The warmth of the fire rolled over Xander’s skin. Meat sizzled in the pan he held over the glowing fire, but the crackle only added to his apprehension. He knew he had no right to be so protective over her, but the longer Nyla didn’t come back to camp, the more anxiety clogged his veins. Had that monster gotten her? Was it her magic again? Or something else, something more sinister? His hand found the chain hidden beneath the neckline of his shirt, nearly pulling it out before he stopped himself.

Of course, the longer Xander waited, the more time he had to figure out how to tell her what Clyde had told him the night before. He still had no idea how he was going to tell Nyla everything while also assuring her that none of this was her fault.

He glanced up at the rustle of leaves and the heavy footfalls over the littered forest floor. Nyla came into sight shortly thereafter, pale, her eyes concentrated solely on the ground beneath her feet.

She picked her footsteps carefully, and chose a seat across from him with only a weak smile in greeting. Xander nodded in return, hiding the purse of his lips behind his mug as he took another sip. He couldn’t think of any reason she’d be sick—unless something had happened. No matter how much he wanted to press her for an answer about what was going on, she’d tell him when she was ready to.

Right now, though, Xander had to pluck up the courage to tell Nyla about Clyde.

He handed her a plate of food and her canteen; his lips pressed firmly together. He knew it was now or never, and so he began, his eyes fixed on the flames between them.

“I met a man, at the tavern. Says he saw what happened to the land firsthand.”

Nyla’s eyes snapped up at this, but she didn’t say anything and so he continued. Clyde, the magic, the red-eyed man, the drained land—all of it came flowing out, and Xander only hoped it made sense because he wasn’t even entirely sure he was speaking properly anymore.

When he was finished, the air stood still between them, with the exception of the fire’s hiss. They both stared into the flames, their faces drawn.

“So, it’s Cedric then,” Nyla said quietly, exhaustion and venom laced in her voice.

“Based on what Clyde told me, yeah. It’s him,” Xander confirmed with a curt nod of his head.

“Then I guess we should get going. The sooner we get to the manor, the sooner we might figure out what’s going on.” Nyla stood on shaky legs and stretched before she stumbled over to the tent to pack up her things. Xander could only shake his head and stamp out their campfire. At least Nyla had allowed them to eat something before determining to set off again.

Xander kept a close eye on Nyla as they hiked. Something was off, he just knew it, but her lips were sealed tight, and unless she wanted to tell him, he’d never know what was wrong.

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