Empress of the Gods

Atarah

They walked for two days through that forest, trying to make sure that no one was following them, and the only thing Atarah could think about was that she had not woken up in William’s arms the day they camped in Midnight Waters. That day she woke up to the song of birds and Robbie’s mandolin. A moment later, William arrived with fruit and something he hunted for breakfast. Something had changed between them after the talk they had. He had been distant until they reached the field of flowers in the middle of the sunset. A fresh and sweet scent filled the air, making her feel like she was in a dream.

She could observe the beautiful shades of colors from purple to yellow in the sky, leaving some clouds in it. The field of flowers was still illuminated by the light of the sunset when they walked in there. Atarah couldn’t resist leaving her hands at her sides to touch the soft petals of the flowers with her fingers as she passed through those fields. She felt the tingling at her fingertips and let her wind power lift a few petals around her. It was like the time they had been in the lake when the water droplets lifted in the air as if she had stopped time on a rainy day.

Robbie looked amazed, as did Myrah.

Atarah walked until she felt the warmth of the sun on her face. She closed her eyes, trying to absorb as much sunlight as possible when she felt a hand brush hers. When she opened her eyes, she looked at William and faced him, feeling the heat of the sun on one side of her face and feeling cold on the other. She didn’t say anything, nor did he. They just looked at each other, but there was something she couldn’t interpret in his gaze. She didn’t dare lower her mental shield. She didn’t want to invade his privacy. She had already done it a couple of times, so she didn’t want to do it anymore.

He seemed to be conflicted, which she understood. What they were feeling was not part of their plans. Especially for how he was educated. He was taught to hate what was different from him while she put everyone around her at risk.

“You are so beautiful,” William whispered, placing a hand on her cheek. He lifted her chin to bring her closer to him, and his lips slowly touched hers. Sweet and delicate, as if he feared she was going to break or as if he was dreaming and feared none of it was real. Then he leaned his forehead on her as if he was giving himself a break after a long time. Atarah put a hand on his cheek, and William brought it closer to his lips so he could place a kiss on the palm, not yet opening his eyes. “We should stay here forever,” he suggested in a low tone and with a slightly muffled voice.

“We could do it,” she whispered back as she placed her other hand on his other cheek. She was considering that. A part of her wanted to—and would—do it.

He took her wrists, holding them gently. “Listen to me,” he said without taking his forehead off hers and opening his eyes. “Let’s stay here. Not as the night flame or the hunter. Just us. Let’s build a small hut and make it our home.”

“Yes, let’s do that, but after we go to Euthoria,” she replied, thinking that it was a dream that could come true. She only needed to find her father and brother and make sure her sister was safe. She was going to leave everything so she could be with him. Plus, they needed to get rid of the bond and if he still wanted to be with her, then she would follow him. But as soon as she mentioned Euthoria, he deviated his gaze to the sunset.

“Yes,” he finally said with a sad voice. “After we go to Euthoria,” he repeated the moment he let go of her wrists and surrounded her with his arms, placing a kiss on her head, and they both looked at the sun that was about to hide in the west.

The sadness in his voice was strange. She couldn’t help to think of what he had told her. He was acting strangely. Suddenly, she heard Myrah’s scream, making her separate instantly from him, and all the leaves that had flown around them fell to the ground. She ran fast towards Myrah, who was trying to help Robbie. He had an arrow on one of his sides.

“Terrwyn’s soldiers,” Robbie said, panting while he had both hands around the arrow. He grimaced in pain when he tried to pull it out, but turning his head back every time, he moved it a little. Not knowing what to do about it, Atarah first looked at Robbie and then broke the arrow in half. She didn’t know whether to cut it or take it out and looked at him again. “Just take it out,” Robbie desperately said.

“Myrah, as soon as I take out the arrow, you are going to put your hand on top of the wound, and I need you to put pressure on it,” she ordered Myrah, who seemed to pale as she watched the soldiers approaching. Her sister was the one who acted in those cases, and Atarah was the one who used to take the time to react, but seeing those soldiers made her sister freeze. She assumed that had something to do with the bounty hunters who captured her, making her wonder what had happened so she would not move. “Myrah,” she spoke in a loud tone to get her attention, and she instantly reacted. Atarah pulled out the arrow without any warning, which made Robbie scream. Myrah placed her hand on the wound while William was just looking at the place where the soldiers would appear without even preparing.

“How long should I press the wound, so it begins to heal?” Myrah asked.

“Enough that I can heal on my own,” Robbie replied, tightly closing his eyes.

“You’re half-driadae. This wound isn’t going to heal fast. We need something to bandage you.” She was worried because his wound wouldn’t close on its own at all, so with the edge of a dagger, she made a small cut on her finger and let a drop of her blood fall into his wound, hoping it would help him close the wound.

Part V

The star that chased the sun.