Wake of Darkness [1]

Chapter Thirty-Five

♕ Cold Skin ♕

The north gate was not visible as they appeared in the middle of the empty road. Mason had sighed, shoving off his clothes as if there were an invisible layer of dust from being portal through. Aubrette simply stared back towards Goldcrest, pretending that she could still see it looming over her, that the crystal wall still shined a bit too bright when she stared into the horizon, when there wasn't actually anything for her to see.

Her magic was weak, but still present under her skin, and Aubrette let it wrap around her and comfort her. Let it remind her who she was and where she belonged. Goldcrest had never been a part of that reality.

"Let's go" Mason said, grabbing her arm and guiding her towards the trees. Aubrette could barely remember thinking about them, or how green they were months ago. Now their leaves were more than orange and falling with the touch of the wind.

They walked for a few minutes until the horses finally came into view, Mason helped her settle in, wrapping a black cloak on her shoulders. Aubrette did not have enough strength to tell him she could do it herself. When Mason untied the horses from the trees, both of them started riding into the dark, without further conversation.

Aubrette kept her eyes on the back of his head for what felt like hours, until finally she was sure that if she were to turn around, she wouldn't be able to spot Goldcrest in the distance. And then waited a little longer, until she couldn't recognize anything for miles to finally part her eyes from the horizon. Still, she did not trust herself enough to turn around. The unwavering desire of going back to Asher and punching him for thinking he could use her, never fading from her thoughts. No matter how much distance she put between her and them.

When the first signs of sunlight started hovering above them Aubrette realized just how hurt she was. How stupid she felt for having thought that she could belong with them. That they could look at her the way they looked at each other.

But she'd been wrong and had let that feeling make her forget who was and had always been her true family. Mason and Sybilla. They were all she had now. Maybe they were all she'd ever had, and somewhere along the way she had stopped fighting for them.

"You okay?" Asked Mason turning his head towards her, slowing down just enough so that he'd ride by her side.

"I'll feel better when we arrive" She said, her eyes still settled on the distance. The blur shape of the moon appearing in the sky, coming closer to them as they advanced through the trees.

"I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner" He said, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a small squeeze. Aubrette forced herself to smile, but her lips barely responded.

"Don't blame yourself, Mason." He shook his head.

"But I do. It's my fault you were there for so long" Aubrette took a deep breath. Not feeling like talking. The truth still making her head spin. "I swear someday I'll make them pay for taking you, for what they did to the queen" As she heard the words coming out of his mouth Aubrette stopped her horse from moving. She couldn't hurt them, even if she believed Mason, they had saved her life, more than once. She owed them that much at least.

"You won't" She said, and almost flinched at the sound of her voice. Always so similar to her mother's but without her unwavering confidence. Mason stopped, turning around to her with a faint smile on his face.

"What do you mean?" He said clearly confused. Aubrette took a deep breath once more trying to soothe the ache that had formed in her throat during the last hours.

"You won't do anything to harm them." She slowly said, looking him in the eyes to make sure he'd understand. "Now or never." Mason smile dropped from his face as he took in the seriousness from her voice.