The Crystal Mines

70 Nik

We slept better last night after making it to the forest. We still avoided a fire so both males took up their usual place on either side of me as the three of us sought warmth. I found it harder to fall asleep after Ameer's demeanor towards me. Though he had laid next to me, he had turned the other way and went right to sleep. Not even Callion's gentle fingers along my tattoo-less arm could comfort me.

As we exited the forest now, everyone agreed to return to their Fae forms, so Aegran's guards weren't on full alert with nineteen shifted Fae rushing to their gates. Mohan shifted next to me in a flash, and I hugged him in thanks for carrying me for so long. A silver sheen appeared on his cheeks as he blushed with the contact. I was determined to teach the male that there were more things that existed than cruelty. He stalked off to speak to Reed, the only person he knew more than myself.

Once everyone was ready, Ameer walked on towards Aegran with Sorin following closely behind. We still had a few hours of walking ahead of us according to the brothers. They had explained that their kingdom was the largest and strongest of Tarsen, though Erix would say otherwise. The last census placed the kingdom at nearly one million citizens in various towns. Salvare had half that and Ashburn even less. I could only assume the distance from Salvare is what kept Erix ignorant of the truth.

The event of my magical storm ate at me as I watched the back of Ameer's head with his long locks swinging along his back. The sword at his side clanked against his boots and his hand remained at his side rather than its usual resting place on the pummel. He seemed so relaxed as we entered his territory a contradiction to his roaring emotions. I wasn't sure what I did wrong to make him so upset. But I desperately wanted to try to fix it. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, being sure not to loosen the new braids Taury had woven last night.

"He will come around," my cousin said beside me. I was mildly annoyed that she read me like a book, but she didn't back down from the flare that surely shone in my eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied and stared at the back of Ameer's head again.

"He was beside himself trying to get to you when you created that purple whirlwind. We all were, but none more than him. And when Callion walked straight through without a scratch, Ameer just froze. I think he blames himself."

I looked to Taury, taking in everything she said. I hadn't realized. The sadness she wore for our friend transferred to me and I looked down like a coward. He was upset because he couldn't help me. What made it worse, was that it was not something that I knew how to help him with.

"What do I do?" I rarely asked my cousin for guidance. She was a built-in best friend as blood, but we clashed so badly sometimes. It's how things were with us: a push and pull relationship.

"You give him time and space." She looked me over knowingly. "And try not to swoop in a save the day like you always do."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not trying to save everyone."

She flicked her braided hair behind her shoulder. "Aren't you though? Blaming yourself for other's choices and failures. Trying to stop Erix on your own. Trying to save all of us on your own. We all have our individual strengths too you know. And its just sad that you only see your own sometimes."

I stopped walking and my fist clenched at her words. Faolan stepped in front of her with Reed at his side. I glared at them from halting the punch that would look so pretty on her skin the next day. Behind me I could feel Callion tense.

Faolan grabbed that fist and kissed it, melting away some of the anger I harbored for Taury's crassness. "She is not the enemy," he whispered. "Though sometimes I do wonder if she has any tact." He whipped around to her at the last word, and she crossed her arms.