From the Ashes

Chapter 60 ~ Alive in the End

    Dawn had fallen across the land by the time Lonan returned from the Isle of Lorn. Morana had tried to keep herself busy until then, but as the hours dragged on, she'd grown more and more anxious about Tarion and even more exhausted than before.

    Neeri had remained by her side despite her own weariness, insisting she wouldn't rest until Morana did. Morana knew it was just a ploy to try to get her to take a break, but she continued to hold out until Rehema finally ordered both of them to sit down for a while.

    Exhaustion got the better of her then, and the next thing she knew, she was opening her eyes to find the sun up and Neeri missing. She hadn't gone far though. Morana spied her only a few paces away, speaking quietly with Arlon.

    The male seemed to have cleaned himself up since the end of the battle, but he bore many bruises and a few still healing wounds. His gaze darted to her and he said something to Neeri, also drawing her friend's gaze her way. With a parting glance, Neeri left the male behind and rejoined her.

    Morana knit her brows, glancing over Arlon again when she noticed the vibrant crimson gleam in Neeri's gaze. There was no sign of a bandage on Arlon's arm though. The explanation came a moment later when Arlon turned and set off walking, revealing the other side of his neck and the relatively fresh bite mark there.

    Morana did her best to mask her grin as Neeri let out an exasperated scoff. "I know that look," she grumbled. "Don't even say it. There wasn't something on hand that he could just spill a little blood into so he offered."

    "Oh really? That doesn't sound like Arlon."

    Neeri rolled her eyes. "Yes, well, I suppose he was proving that he trusts me a little more now because I chose you over Gaelen. He said as much. And before you even begin, he reassured me that it was also because he doesn't want me to accidentally hurt anyone else."

    "With how many times he seems to say that, I'm beginning to think he's convincing himself of it as much as you."

    "Ugh, you're impossible."

    Morana raised her hands in submission. "All right, I'm done now. I'm just saying if there were something...more, I wouldn't disapprove. He's a loyal and sound-minded male, if a little prone to brooding."

    Neeri just shook her head. "Believe me, it's nothing like that. He might be starting to trust me, but I don't think he'll ever see past what I am. What Gaelen did has only solidified that. He's too devoted to you and Rehema to fully let his guard down around us."

    "And besides..." Neeri bit her lip and sighed. "He told me something about his past that completely justifies his distrust of us."

    "I see," Morana answered slowly. She didn't ask for further clarification. If Neeri had wanted to share, she would've. Clearly whatever Arlon had told her was deeply personal if she was keeping the details to herself. "Arlon was wary and distrustful of me too at first, but he came around. I'm sure it will be the same with you."

    "Maybe."

    Morana frowned, then elbowed her suggestively and plastered a smirk to her lips. "In the meantime, you can delight in teasing him like you used to tease the males in our village who wanted nothing to do with us."

    Neeri burst out laughing. "That ended up with us and them in the same bedroom. Are you sure you want to go down that path again?"

    Morana simply shrugged. "Tarion didn't seem to believe me when I first told him about it."

    "Of course not. Who could believe that about you?"

    It was Morana's turn to roll her eyes while Neeri snickered. She was spared from having to come up with a retort when wind gusted and a portal of light opened, revealing Lonan. They joined him at once along with Rehema.