From the Ashes

Chapter 36 ~ Keep to the Light

    Morana didn't sleep during the two hour break Tarion allowed them and she knew he hadn't either. They'd been moving at a grueling pace since they left her old village. Despite his reassuring words before, Morana knew Tarion was more worried about them being tracked than he let on.

    Neither of them had spoken beyond him announcing when they'd break and she wasn't sure she wanted to know what he'd say when they finally did speak. She didn't know what she'd say either. Maybe apologize again for what she'd tried to do.

    Morana stared at the ground passing beneath her feet, cheeks burning at the memory. Gods, what had she been thinking? Just because he cared about her didn't mean he cared for her like that, and could she blame him? She'd treated him like a monster for so long and he'd already suffered so much. She certainly hadn't made his life any easier.

    And after he'd told her what he'd been forced to do with others? To them? How could she have ever presumed that he might be all right with kissing her? If it had been her in his position, she'd probably never want to kiss anyone ever again. Even if that wasn't the real reason for his hesitation, why would she think he'd choose her?

    If they managed to defeat Astaroth, he would very likely become King. What good would she be as a Queen? She didn't even know if she'd live past the coming battle. Would the people accept her if she did?

    Tarion feared they wouldn't accept a Corrupted Fae, but would they accept someone who bore the power of the god who had created Astaroth? Many of them looked to her with love and hope now, but as soon as she served her purpose, would their adoration remain? Suppose they saw her as the next threat?

    Morana wrapped her arms around herself, barely suppressing a shiver. After what I just did, maybe they should, she couldn't help but think. The sight flashed before her eyes and the pleading wails of those four Fae echoed through her ears.

    It no longer mattered that they were Corrupted or that they might have taken her to Astaroth. What if they had defected and joined her instead? What if they were like Wenn, who had protected the group of females and their children? Or still had partners who loved them, like Astrelle?

    She had destroyed them and she hadn't even known. She hadn't cared.

    She rubbed a hand against her sternum, where the blazing eclipsed sun upon her skin remained tender. Her power had burned the hottest there, and though she was uninjured everywhere else, the skin around the tattoo was raw and sensitive. It was nothing compared to what she'd inflicted on those Fae.

    Tarion thought himself a monster, but how could he truly be one when he was forced to do the things he'd done? What she'd done...that had been her. She hadn't been aware of it, but it was still her.

    She had made the choice to embrace her power and to wield it as it desired. She'd known its desire was to destroy, even if she hadn't known what its targets would be. No, Tarion was not the monster here. She was.

•༻☽☾༺•

    They halted for another break towards the middle of the afternoon. Morana lingered on the riverbank while Tarion pried his boots off and waded down into the water. He let out a hiss, which she took to mean it was cold. A halfhearted smile crept onto her lips.

    "Are you sure that's a good idea? We wouldn't want you to catch a chill," she called with a teasing note, finally breaking the silence.

    Tarion rolled his eyes and raked wet fingers through his hair. "I think I'll be fine. Either way, it's worth it. My feet are killing me."