“No. I’ll be okay. But thanks.” I just wanted to be alone. Dastien didn’t count though. He was a part of me, even if I couldn’t really feel the bond right then.
Dastien wore the backpack as we headed back to my room. I wasn’t feeling as sickly as I had been before. But that empty feeling haunted me. I couldn’t shake it—wouldn’t be able to until those jars were a distant memory.
I climbed into bed without taking off any clothes, and Dastien followed, tucking me to his side.
“Sleep.” His chest vibrated under my ear.
“I’m scared to fall asleep. The dreams—nightmares—were so bad.”
“None of it will ever come to pass. I won’t let it.”
He might not have a choice.
I breathed in the scent of him. The forest. The earth. The bit that was just him.
“Relax,” he said as he untied the band around the bottom of my braid. He ran his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp lightly. “You’re home now. Sleep.”
There was a command in his words, and without my abilities I couldn’t even pretend to fight it. My eyelids grew heavy and the world faded from view.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I woke with a start. My heart was beating so fast. It thundered in my ears.
A beep sounded, and I rolled over.
“Are you okay?” Dastien said.
I lay back down. “Sure.” Only I wasn’t so sure. Something was up. I was so revved that even my teeth tingled. “Who texted?”
Dastien checked his phone. “Adrian. They found the gris-gris and burned it.” He clicked on my bedside lamp. “How’re you feeling now?”
“I don’t know,” I snapped and instantly felt like a jerk. That question was getting old. “Something woke me up,” I said, changing the subject.
“Probably the gris-gris being destroyed.” He grabbed my chin, and forced me to meet his gaze. “How’re you feeling? Be honest.”
I sighed. He was only trying to help, but I didn’t have a great answer for him. “I feel weird. Unsettled.” I paused. “Should we be doing anything? I feel like we’re just lying here and there’s so much to be doing. We’re wasting time.”
“I think you’ve done enough to help the pack. You’ve sacrificed. I’ve sacrificed. They’re doing the busy work. The prep. Sometimes it’s good to delegate. Trust our friends. They’ll get it done.” He got up.
“Aren’t we delegating?” If so, there was no reason for him to be leaving.
“Yes, but there is something that only you and I can do. Come on.” He held his hand out to me, and I stared at it for a second. “Trust me.”
I met his golden eyes. “I do.” I put my hand in his and let him pull me from the comfort of my bed.
He slung the backpack on, and kept his hand firmly in mine as we made our way to the common room. He let go of me then, but only long enough to stuff a bunch of food and drinks in a bag, before he reclaimed it. “This way.”
shed back to my vision. The sounds of battle surrounded me. I heard Mr. Hoel yelling at me. I could almost taste the iron of my blood filling my mouth.
“Tessa?” Dastien asked.
I blinked. “I’m fine,” I said.
“Liar. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He was right. I wasn’t fine, but I couldn’t tell him all about my vision. Some things were left better unknown. If he was distracted during the fight, it could cost him his life.
If that nightmare came to pass, then I’d be glad that we hadn’t tied ourselves together, and the ceremony was interrupted. Dastien would have to find a way to survive. “I’ll be fine.” It was a less of a lie. One way or another, I’d figure it out. “So what’s next?”