Chapter 90 NINETY.

Chapter 90 NINETY.
"Maya, grab another bandage!" I called to the other room, holding a linen towel to the man's leg in front of me. He winced slightly as I applied pressure, and I sent him an apologetic look for this before turning as the sound of Maya's boots sounded against the floor. She came into sight, her hair pulled into a clean braid, the blood now cleaned off her face as she handed me the bandages.

"You're looking cleaner," I teased, taking them from her, and she rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face.

"You should see Abrax then; he practically leaped into the lake after it was over," she retorted, and I giggled, turning my attention to wrapping the bandage around the man's leg. Nevertheless, I was happy that Maya was slowly beginning to sound like herself. I think the fight that had just happened offered a good distraction.

The impromptu fight with the Chigaru in Withania was well and over, and all the villagers were set free. Maya and Abrax had helped the women and children to safety whilst Kael had killed all those in congregation. Rhydian and I had freed the men, and now I was healing all those who were inflicted with injuries from the Chigaru. Maya had scoured the crowds, looking for those who were injured and bringing them to me to heal. I had set up camp in a small hut by the lake, and although the blood had made me faint, I knew they needed the help.

Some injuries were too much to heal, and so I had healed as much as I could before using medicine for the rest. I tried not to remember the person from whom I had learned these medicinal techniques, choosing instead to focus on smiling at the man in front of me.

"That should do it," I said cheerily, clapping my hands, and he looked to his leg in awe, something I had gotten used to after the first person I had healed. The sudden cast of shade on us made me turn, and I smiled at Abrax as he approached us.

"Has he finished being tended to?" he asked, smiling kindly at me, and I nodded before helping the man up. He struggled slightly, but it was better than when he had come in, his leg dragging like dead weight behind him. At my confirmation, Abrax turned to the man, gesturing out of the tent.

"Great, then make your way over to the center for questioning," he instructed, just as he had done with all the others I had healed. The man nodded at this before making his way out, and Maya moved in to help him. I watched as they walked out, turning to look at Abrax as they left.

"How's the questioning going?" I asked, to which Abrax shrugged slightly, eyeing the medicinal paste. Each individual was instructed to be sent to Kael and Rhydian, where they were questioning them about the events with the Chigaru and when it all began. It seemed as though they were looking for clues that could help our cause.

"Apologies, Aeryn, I was with Ayla scoping the surroundings. Kael and Rhydian were doing the questioning," he explained, and I nodded at his words before smiling in greeting as Maya brought another injured person in. Ayla had been transporting around the area, looking to see if there were any more soldiers around.

"I'll be leaving then," Abrax excused himself at this, and I gave him a small wave as he exited before turning my attention to the man in front of me, my palms raised and ready to heal.

The day continued like this, with me healing and treating the wounded while the others performed cleanup and got the villagers back on track. It was nearing sunset when I finally stepped out, feeling slightly dizzy from the amount I had used my power. Abrax had relayed to me that Kael had said to only use it when absolutely necessary, but I couldn't control myself when I saw how much pain they were in.

I stumbled slightly as I made my way to the lake, looking to my bloody hands with a grimace. I had spent hours treating, and my hands were evidence of that. The sight of my red hands only made me walk more speedily, and I ducked under the foliage of trees before making my way over to the blue strip of water. It glistened and glittered, reflecting the orange sun, and I smiled at the beauty before dropping down to my knees with a relieved sigh. After that, sitting down seemed like a blessing, and I stretched my aching legs before placing my hands into the water to rinse. I winced slightly when they stung, looking to the grazed cuts on my knuckles that I had attained from the battle. Nevertheless, I carried on washing them despite the pain to rid myself of the foreign blood.

The sound of crunching leaves made me turn abruptly, and I let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was Rhydian.

"You scared me," I muttered, rinsing my hands, and Rhydian raised an eyebrow, leaning his glaive against a nearby tree before moving to the lake and rinsing his blood-splattered arms.

"You scare too easily," he said simply, and I huffed, my eyes focused on washing my hands.

"Only when I see your face," I retorted childishly, and Rhydian let out a small laugh.

"At least you admit that my presence scares you, something you were too reluctant to admit a few nights ago," he mocked, and I opened my mouth to snarkily reply, but the sting of the water against my knuckles made me wince, and I turned to inspect my hand.

"Ouch," I muttered to myself.

The sudden crunching of leaves made me turn my head, and I stilled as I saw Rhydian move toward me, making me suck in a sharp breath. I merely stayed silent, watching as he crouched beside me, his silver gaze on me and his hair blowing slightly in the evening wind. His intense gaze was enough to make me fidget, and I opened my mouth to speak, but then he turned to look at my hands submerged in the water. I took in every small action, tensing slightly as he reached forward and took hold of my hand, bringing it out of the water.

My heart was pulsating loudly into the silence of the clearing, and my cheeks stained as red as my hands were, but Rhydian didn't pay heed to this. Instead, he inspected my hands for a moment, his gaze impassive.

My hand felt small in his own, and I gulped subtly when he brought it closer to his face to inspect the wound. His fingers grazed against my knuckles slightly, but in a gentle, feather-like touch that didn't incite pain. I gaped as I looked to him, but his face was impassive, save for the small action of his eyebrows drawing together for a moment as though he was confused.

"How bothersome," he murmured, the warmth of his voice caressing my hand, and my stomach fluttered at his words. I faltered as his eyes traced my face, making my veins ice up at every gaze. We sat like this for a moment before he abruptly dropped my hand, turning to look back.

"What?" he asked in his usual tired tone that lacked the depth I had just heard. I looked up at his words, watching as Ayla neared, breathing heavily as though she had run, her hair matted down on her neck.

"I transported ahead and saw riding horses," she said through breaths before leaning her palms against her knees to finally recuperate. Rhydian nodded at her words before standing up to his full height.

"That's much faster than a carriage. I'll come with you this time and we'll grab them," he instructed, and she nodded before turning to me and giving me a little wave, to which I responded with a smile, much too focused on what had just happened. Rhydian, on the other hand, seemed so composed and unfazed, making his way over to Ayla and away from me without so much as another look.

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding as I watched them disappear out of sight. My hand suddenly felt cold with the absence of his hold, and I stilled as the flitting memory of his eyes on me and his hand in mine came to mind. It was something that was so unfamiliar and foreign with Rhydian, or any male for that matter, but I couldn't help the tantalizing excitement that built in my mind. Excitement for what, I didn't know, but the feeling made me shiver.

I shook my head to rid myself of the strange thoughts before making my way back toward the village, smiling as I passed Abrax, who was helping carry a sleeping child toward a house with her mother. My eyes landed on Kael then, who was speaking to who I came now to know as the village head. When his gaze caught my own, he smiled before turning to the village head and saying something. It must have been a way to excuse himself, because then he was heading to me, his eyes glinting. We halted when he was right next to me, and I watched as his eyebrows furrowed as he took me in, specifically my wavering form.

"You didn't listen, did you?" he asked simply, his gaze stony, and I smiled sheepishly, knowing he was talking about not using my powers much. At this, he sighed loudly before gripping my arm and pulling me down to sit at a seating area right beside us.

"Aeryn, I'm serious. You could hurt yourself," he scolded, and I sighed with a nod, looking down.

"I know. I should have listened; I think I just get carried away," I explained meagerly, looking up apologetically, and Kael brushed a hand through his hair, a small smile on his face as his eyes flitted across my face.

"Is it possible to stay angry at you?" he muttered more so to himself, shaking his head, and I giggled slightly at his words before shaking my head.

"Not possible. You'd miss my presence too much if you were to stay angry with me," I teased, poking his arm with my hand before stilling as he took hold of my finger, his gaze fixed with mine as he nodded.

"You're right, I did," he simply said, and my eyebrows furrowed at his words.

"Did what?" I asked curiously, and his eyes glinted at this, his sun-lit eyes warming me.

"Missed you over the last three days," he expanded, and I blushed, even more so when his hand on my finger stroked slightly in an unconscious gesture. He didn't give me any time to process further or respond before he moved back with a sigh, looking over to where the villagers were heading in.

"Some of the soldiers we fought today..." he began, and my blush ceased at his words as I moved closer, listening and waiting intently for him to continue, which, thankfully, he did.

"They weren't all Chigaru; some of them were our own." He continued, and I tensed at his words, frowning.

"What do you mean?" I asked, and Kael brushed a hand through his hair, his jaw clenching as he leaned back and looked to the sky. His Adam's apple was visible at this, and I looked to how it moved as he spoke.

"Some of their faces, they were too familiar. I remember some of them because I had inspected some of the prisons and I had seen them there. They're human, Aeryn, people of Aurelion," he explained darkly, and I took my attention off his throat and looked to him in shock. Our own people had betrayed us for Anouke. I knew, however, that it had hurt Kael more than me, so I moved closer, placing a hand against his bicep. His gaze snapped to the contact, his bicep tensing as I spoke.

"Kael, in any case, there will always be bad and good. They have chosen what side they wish to be on, and in doing so, have sealed their fate. Don't spare any concern for those who wish only bad for Aurelion. They don't deserve your care," I reassured him, my hand stroking slightly against his large bicep, and he looked to me for a moment, his hot gaze akin to the sinking sun, making my body heat up.

The sound of warping made us turn, and I saw that Ayla and Rhydian had appeared in the distance, surrounded by four horses. Abrax and Maya neared over to them, and I looked to Kael at this.

"Are we to leave immediately?" I asked, and Kael nodded, sitting forward, making my hand fall. He frowned slightly at this, but continued to speak.

"I don't want to waste any time. The longer we take to get there, the more time they have to receive word and prepare," he answered, and I marveled at his words; he was truly every bit of a leader as Negus had intended him to be. He stood up then, and I followed suit as we walked toward where everyone else was standing.

"Were there any soldiers?" Kael asked as we neared, and Rhydian shook his head, his grip on the reins of a horse.

"They belonged to a local who raced them for sport, not battle," he responded, and Kael nodded at this before looking to the horses.

"Who's riding saddle?" he asked, his gaze flitting between the four horses and the six of us, to which Maya let out a snort.

"I ride alone," she bit out simply before moving forward and effortlessly jumping onto the horse and grabbing the reins. Rhydian scoffed at this, his eyes on the horse in front of him.

"Not by choice," he retorted simply, to which the boys laughed and Maya gritted her teeth, her red hair framing her face like flames.

"I'll make the choice to trample over you with my horse if you don't shut it!" she snapped back, making me smile at the familiar fieriness. I had missed it well and truly. Rhydian only spared her a brief look before stroking against the mane of his horse.

"Don't force the horse to do the dirty work that you don't have the strength to do," he answered passively, and Maya let out a growl at his words, about to leap at the insinuation, but Abrax moved forward, tapping at the head of a horse.

"I'll take this one," he said, oblivious to Maya's glare that was burning into the side of his head. He leaped then, just as effortlessly as Maya had, and landed onto the back of the horse. Kael nodded at this before taking hold of the reins of the last horse and turning to look at us.

"Are you both okay with riding pillion?" he asked, and I nodded, as did Ayla. I wasn't an experienced rider anyway. Abrax moved his horse slightly forward, looking in our direction.

"Ayla, you c, " he began, but Ayla interrupted him, her gaze directed to Kael as she moved closer to him.

"Kael, I'll ride with you," she announced suddenly, her eyes not even gazing at Abrax, and I knew it was because of his words. I made a note to talk to her about it when I got the chance. Kael nodded at this, his gaze flitting slightly to me before he looked back and lifted her up with ease by her waist. She settled herself on the front, and he then looked to me.

"And you, Aeryn?" he asked, and I made a move to shrug, but the next words stopped me in my tracks.

"She can ride with me," Rhydian said simply, and I looked to him at his words, though he was too busy with doting on the horse. He spared me a small look then, his silver eyes glinting in a way that reminded me of the excitement, and I nodded slowly before turning to Kael, who nodded at Rhydian.

"Call me if you need anything," Kael murmured so only I could hear, and I smiled at the sweet gesture, watching as he raised himself onto the horse behind Ayla before making my way over to Rhydian. I couldn't help but spare a gaze to Abrax, who was glancing at Ayla, a stony look on his face, reminding me that I definitely had to talk to Ayla when I got the chance.

Rhydian turned to me finally as I neared, and I inhaled sharply as he moved forward, his hands grazing against my waist as he hoisted me up and placed me on the horse. For a moment, I remembered my fear of animals, but Rhydian moving in behind me made my thoughts halt abruptly, and I looked instead to his legs on either side of me. He moved his head down, his hair tickling against my temple as he spoke.

"Hold on tight, Aeryn. I won't be going as easy and slow as I was last time," he murmured, and I paled in fear at his words before holding tight to the reins as he was. Kael let out a command, to which Rhydian snapped the reins, and then we were moving at a hurtling speed, one that was much faster than the last ride I had with Rhydian. I knew now that he had gone, somewhat, easy on me.

The force of the speed made my head reel back, and I hit against Rhydian's chest. He didn't seem to notice, however, his gaze on the ground we were covering. His hair was flopping into his eyes as we moved, and I closed my eyes so as to not panic from the hurtling speed. The journey passed in such a blur, my head lulling against his chest and my eyes drooping. We hadn't slept much in the past days, and now the exhaustion was catching up to me, even more so now when I had drained my energy by using my powers.

I could feel the faint halt when we stopped, but my energy had depleted completely at this point, my eyelids feeling far too heavy to open and my body riddled with fatigue. I didn't even open my eyes when I felt myself being carried off the horse until I was laid down and resting against a cloth of some sort, the sound of crunching leaves and bird hoots sounding around me.

"Let go of my shirt now," I heard the faint lull of Rhydian's voice in my ear and responded with a whine, clutching tighter to the material in my hand.

"Where are we?" I finally got out, my fatigue making it hard to talk, and I heard the sound of chatter around me as Rhydian sighed.

"The outskirts of Withania; we thought it best to rest lest we wish to fall off our horses," he answered, and I giggled, but it came out more as a few huffs of breath due to my lack of energy.

"Okay, night," I muttered, feeling the darkness overtake me so much so that the sound of chattering was starting to fade. My hand loosened on the material then, and darkness consumed me.

I stood up rigidly, looking down at the navy blue nightgown I was wearing and around at the clearing I was standing in. Tall trees surrounded the area, with only the full moon as a light source, and I shivered at the breeze that swept past me.

"Hello? Guys?" I called out, wrapping my arms around myself in a bid to keep warm, but to no avail. When I was met with silence, I walked forward slightly, holding the nightgown up so as to not dirty the bottom. Even then, my attire confused me. Was I wearing a nightgown last, or something else?

The sound of a low growl cut me off, and I turned to look behind abruptly, my heart thudding hard against my chest. It was the sight of blue eyes glinting back at me from the bush that made me turn with a scream before I ran through the forest in a stumbling run. I screamed louder when I heard the thudding footsteps running behind me, the gnashing of teeth making me hurtle forward.

"Guys! Please!" I called for help, but at this point, I knew it was futile. They weren't going to come, that much I knew.

I let out a yelp as I tripped on a protruding root before looking behind in alarm, but nothing was behind me, and I whimpered in anxiousness, looking warily to my surroundings. The clearing was empty now and the air silent, so much so that I feared it more than I did when I was being chased. At least then, I knew what to expect.

It was only then that the clouds dispersed and the full moon was turned into a new moon, cascading me into darkness, and I shuddered as a loud howl erupted into the air. It was in the distance, and I hurriedly got up to stand, but the sound of a growl made me still, and I turned only to be consumed by the glint of blue and white gnashing teeth.

Consumed into the darkness.

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See you in the next one!