Elven Legacy

Chapter 84

Noah

He couldn't sleep. Many reasons for it: the laughter, chatter and music from the party downstairs; people in the streets below yelling out various celebratory things; Fenek's light snoring from the bed to his right; Jaden's fitful, shuddery sleep from the bed to his left. And then the fact that Noah was sleeping on the carpet with his rolled-up cloak for a pillow.

Noah stared at the dark, plain ceiling, with here and there the hint of moonlight. The brisk post-storm wind seeped in from the window above Jaden's bed. Noah had asked Jaden earlier if he was cold since he kept shivering, but Jaden had said that the fresh air would be good for his sleep, would help hammer home the fact that he wasn't underground anymore.

From the way he tossed about, and from the plaintive moans and choked noises he made, it didn't seem to be working.

Noah sighed, joining his hands under his head, eyes wide open in the dark.

His chest felt tight and restless, his jaw clenching every time Jaden made a noise. Noah kept wondering whether he should wake him up or let him have this rest, no matter how nightmarish it seemed to be.

Noah had taken a nap hours ago, in the afternoon, and there had been nightmares. It wasn't even just in his sleep. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he saw the bodies of the guards he'd slaughtered with his knives. Other times he saw Jaden in chains, mutilated and dying. The image wouldn't go away.

Now he thought about what Jaden had said earlier. About Kili and Seraph. They'd gone through tortures like that for the gods only knew how long. Kili wasn't sure if it had been months, a whole year, or more . . .

Noah sighed again.

And I blamed her for being depressed after getting her memories back.

I'm a dick.

Jaden woke up gasping.

Noah leaned up on his elbows. Jaden sat huddled on himself, shivering, his breathing shallow and fast. He clutched shakily at the blanket on either side of him, looking down at himself as if checking for wounds. He slept with pants only, same as Noah.

Aware of the moonlight reflecting on the opal-hued stone sliver in his own chest, Noah wondered if it was inconsiderate of him.

"You all right?"

Jaden startled, like he hadn't realized Noah was awake. Many strands in his sleep-ruffled hair were silvery in the moonlight. Jaden ran a shaky hand through it, brushing it reflexively back on one side like he always wore it.

"I just . . ." Jaden's voice was almost unrecognizable. "Bad dream."

Noah frowned and sat up, crossing his legs under his blanket. The floorboards creaked in protest, then all was silent again save for the wind billowing the curtain. Even in faint light, Noah could see how the crescent-shaped scar on Jaden's chest was starkly pink and clashed with his ivory skin.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Jaden looked at him with eyes that appeared a darker gray than usual. He seemed to shiver, and Noah was about to ask again if he wanted to close the window.

But Jaden spoke first, "I'm not sure."

"Well," Noah said with a small shrug, "maybe it would help."

". . . Maybe," Jaden agreed, casting his gaze downward, his profile outlined in moonlight.

Noah got the sudden urge to climb on the bed and hug him. Instead, Noah sat very still, attempting to rein in stirring emotions he wasn't sure he understood.