Page 57 of Joy Guardian
“I’ll be right here too. We’re connected, remember? I’m not going anywhere.” He arranged his tall body behind me, draping a hand over my middle and drawing me to him tightly.
To me, our connection felt far stronger than just his tendrils. Not only our bodies and emotions were linked, but our hearts seemed to be growing much closer too. Comfort and peace descended on me when lying next to him. Sleep claimed me before I even took my next breath.
I was so tired, I believed I could sleep for a century or even longer, but the sound of voices woke me up.
My muscles tensed with alarm. I instinctively braced for Dylan’s displeased voice. Then the awareness of my new reality settled in, bringing relief but also confusion.
“Just a few hours ago,” Kurai answered someone’s question. “Where is everyone?”
“Master Arter sent away the six Joy Guardians who didn’t want to join the ranks of the Watchers. He didn’t want them here for the opening of the third and last portal.”
“But where have you been?”
“I was in Himerum, hiding while organizing the Joy Vessels’ escape,” a female voice replied.
Sleep still weighed on me, preventing me from opening my eyes or moving a muscle. It appeared the woman hadn’t seen me under the blanket. Kurai didn’t seem to be in a hurry to make my presence known to her, and I wondered if it was best to remain hidden for the time being.
“Then the rumor arrived that you were a wanted man,” the woman continued. “I assumed you were discovered?”
“They heard about the tattoo and wanted to see my wrists. I didn’t let them, but it didn’t matter at that point. I couldn’t stay.”
“Hm,” the woman hummed disapprovingly. “I always thought the tattoo was unnecessary and even dangerous.”
“As a mark for life, it signifies our commitment,Oria. When pushed to reveal it, I knew I had no choice but to complete the mission.”
“Yet the queen’ssarairemains intact, I heard. And there are still way too many humans in Alveari.”
A heavy pause hung between them. Without even seeing the woman, whom Kurai called Oria, I sensed the tension of her displeasure. Her silence felt like a chance for Kurai to explain…but what? What was supposed to happen to thesaraiand to the humans who lived there?
Alarm rose in me, banishing sleep. Now I was glad I hadn’t made my presence known, listening quietly to their conversation. Extremely carefully, I shifted my position slightly to peek out from under the blanket.
Kurai was no longer in bed with me. Instead, he stood in front of the entrance to his sleeping area as far from the bed as his tendrils connected to me would allow, blocking Oria from my view and me from hers.
“I failed my mission,” he said somberly. “I had no time to set off the explosion spell.”
Oria inhaled audibly.
“The portal didn’t go as planned either.” She sounded crestfallen.
“What do you mean? Where are the four Watchers who were supposed to open it?”
“Dead.” The word fell from her lips like a rock, plunging the room in grave silence.
As if weighed down by it, Oria slumped against the wall of the archway entrance to Kurai’s sleeping area, and I caught a glimpse of her right shoulder and bare chest covered only by the gold mesh with black beads of a Joy Guardian.
“All of them?” Kurai exhaled, dropping his shoulders.
“All four.”
“And Master Arter?” Kurai’s voice came out hollow, and I remembered how fondly he’d always spoken about his mentor during our many conversations in thesarai.
“Yes, he’s dead, too. You and I are the only Wachers left among the Joy Guardians, Kurai. One of us will have to assume the duties of running the temple until the new Master Guardian is selected.”
“How did they die?”
“They all were speared and knifed down as they held the scepter, keeping the portal open for the humans to escape. They were killed, either by the desert dwellers or by Prince Rha’s guards.”
“But why was Prince Rha here?”
