There’s no way for me to know for certain who is responsible for the mark on my life. So, I must take precautions when I enter Lanvilla. Whoever wants me dead may still desire it.
When the moon climbs high in the sky, I lie next to Everly as my mind races with thoughts of what will happen when I finally reach my village.
Will Father be happy to see me?
Does he ever think of me?
My thoughts shift to Hector next. I bring his cloak closer, feeling the material against my skin and wishing it was him touching me, kissing me, speaking adoring words in my ears.
[I miss you, Hector.]
Anticipation thrums through me as I wait for his answering reply, but it never comes. I lift my hand to my chest, pressing in, needing to know he’s all right. The pain is there, but nothing else. No signs. No clues as to what he’s thinking or feeling right now.
“Are you thinking about Hector?” Everly asks. “I cannot stop thinking about Cenric.”
“Yes.” I sigh. “I think about him constantly.”
“How could you not when he gave you his child?”
Gave me?
I inwardly shake my head. He’d probably be proud, knowing I’m carrying his child.
“Everly,” I say, still not having the right words to talk about a baby.
“You cannot expect me to stay silent forever,” she says. “You carry his child. If he knew that, he would burn the world to find you.”
A part of me wants him to burn the world, no matter what. To search high and low for me, but I know that’s only a selfish thought. After all, I willingly left.
“Will he forgive me, though?” I ask, my voice far too timid, too fearful.
[Please forgive me, Hector.]
I wait, wanting a reply, but he doesn’t give me one.
If only I could see him right now, touch him right now, kiss him right now. Assure him that…
I don’t even know what I could assure him of at this point. I justneedto see him.
“Of course,” Everly says. “He’s in love with you. I already told you that.”
I sigh, blowing loose strands of hair away from my face.
“You don’t believe me?” she asks.
“He has never said it,” I admit, my tone too revealing in my vulnerability when it comes to Hector.
“It doesn’t make it any less true.”
“I want to hear the words, even though I know I don’t deserve to hear them.”
Everly rolls over to face me. “You deserve to hear them. You left because you desperately needed to renew yourself. That’s forgivable.”
“Have you told Cenric that you love him?” I ask, needing to change the subject.
“Of course.” Moonlight casts shadows over Everly as she rises on her elbow to see me better. “Have you told Hector?”
Guilt slices through me, cutting into my soul. “The time never seemed right.”
