48. Rhyland

Rhyland

48

T heSpectre Valesenvelops us like a predatory beast, the thick fog coiling around our legs like ghostly tendrils, almost as if it's got a mind of its own, hell-bent on choking the life out of us.

I swing down from Storm, my boots hitting the spongy ground with a muted thud, the sound swallowed up by the heavy, eerie silence. I helpDanidown gently, ensuring she's steady.

That's when the whispers start, needling at the corners of my thoughts, wriggling and clawing to get in, to find a chink in my mental armor. I know I've got to block them out, can't let them get their hooks in me, or I'm fucked. I clench my jaw, breathing deep and centering my mind, focusing on the solid weight ofDani's presence beside me. The whispers intensify, their insidious voices growing louder, more insistent, but I push back harder, fortifying my defenses, refusing to let them breach the walls I've built.

Not today, you slippery bastards. Not on my fucking watch.

I secureDaninext to me, one arm wrapped tight around her waist, while I grab Storm's reins with the other, leading him by hand through this soupy mess of a landscape. I'm hyper-focused on each mundane task, using simple actions to keep my mind grounded to keep the whispers at bay. They hiss and flutter at the edges of my consciousness, testing my walls for weakness, probing for any crack they can slither through. But I'm not having it, not now, not ever.

The cold bites at my skin, a bone-deep chill that seeps into my marrow. Even with my vampire edge and my heightened senses, I can hardly see shit through this dense, ghostly shroud that blankets everything. Each step is silent on this spongy earth, saturated with the weight of untold mysteries.

The whispers continue to tease at the edges of my mind, slithering and insistent, a siren's call threatening to drag me under, to drown me in their lies and deceptions. But I grit my teeth and focus, ignoring their call, refusing to let them sway me from my path.

Dani's soft touch sweeps across my cheek, her voice cutting through the whispers' clamoring drone like a blade through gossamer. "Hey, keep your focus on me, got it?"

Her golden eyes, which somehow seem to glow in this pitch-black abyss, lock onto mine, their warmth a goddamn beacon shining through the spectral fog that shrouds my thoughts, threatening to lead me astray. I press into her palm, letting her presence strengthen my resolve, letting her touch anchor me to what's real and matters.

"I've got you,Rhyland," she says, her thumb grazing my jaw in a delicate sweep. The simple touch is a balm to my frayed nerves, a lifeline in this sea of shadows.

I clasp her hand in mine, bringing her wrist to my mouth and pressing a hard kiss against her pulse point, staking my claim, making it clear to the wraiths clawing their way into my head that she is mine, that nothing they whisper can change that unshakable truth. With my woman beside me, I can take on anything—mist, shadows, lies—it doesn't fucking matter. She keeps me steady, guides me through the dark when I need it most, and I'll be damned if I don't protect the shelter she provides, whatever it takes.

A frustrated snarl tears from my throat like a feral growl. "Can't see a fucking thing," I grumble, my eyes straining to pierce the goddamned nothingness that stretches out in front of us, an endless sea of swirling gray mocking our every step.

"It's like wading through a dream,"Danicomments, her sunlit eyes capturing the scarce twinkles of starlight that muster the courage to slice through the mist. With a thought, a sphere of light flickers to life in her hand, washing her features in a gentle radiance and sending shadows skittering playfully over the contours of her body, a mesmerizing dance of light and dark.

"Better than fumbling around blind," I admit, as the orb's light slices through the pitch-black, guiding us to a place where we can bunk down for the night. Its glow is a damn sight better than trying to navigate this soupy mess without it, a beacon in the darkness that promises a modicum of safety, however fleeting.

We find a clearing sheltered by trees, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers grasping at the fog. It'll do, for now, a temporary respite from the Vales' relentless assault on our senses. I secure the horses as we settle in, my senses primed for anything stirring in these haunted mists, every muscle tensed and ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger. Can't let my guard down, not for a fucking second. Morning's sure to bring a fresh round of spectral bullshit, a new gauntlet of mind-fuckery to navigate. But we'll face it together, come what may, our bond a shield against the Vales' insidious whispers. Rest is the priority for now, a chance to gather our strength and fortify our defenses.

Lucianwanders off into the fog, his form swallowed by the swirling mists, only to return moments later with an armful of damp wood and a triumphant grin on his face. "Great," he quips, dropping the wood with a smirk. "Who's ready for some smoke signals?"

I roll my eyes but can't suppress a low chuckle, the sound rumbling in my chest. "You'd find humor in your own funeral, you cheeky bastard."Lucian's mind-tricking magic can probably block out these damn whispers as if it's nothing, as easy as breathing. His ability to compel, to bend others to his will, probably gives him the edge to just slam the door in their fucking faces, leaving them scrabbling uselessly at his mental walls.

"Please," he scoffs, mock offense evident. "My funeral would be the event of the century, a spectacle for the ages. I'd make sure of it."

Erikremains silent as always, his silver gaze scanning the Vales as if he can see through this cursed fog. His keen senses pick up on things the rest of us can only guess at. He's a rock, unshakable and steadfast, a silent guardian watching over us all.

AxilyawatchesLucianwith an amused tilt of her lips, her violet eyes sparkling with mirth. "Do you ever tire of your voice, or is it a constant source of entertainment for you?"

"Never,"Lucianshoots back with a grin, his teeth flashing white in the gloom. "It's music to my ears, a symphony of wit and charm that I can't get enough of."

Faderynclears his throat softly, ever the voice of reason amidst the banter. "Perhaps we should discuss our approach to theWhispering Woodscome morning? It would be wise to have a plan in place before we venture further into their depths."

I sit down besideDanion our makeshift bed, welcoming her warmth against my side as I listen toFaderyn's suggestions. His words are a grounding force amidst the Vales' eerie whispers.

"We'll need to traverse the Northern Pass,"Erikfinally says, his voice calm but authoritative, leaving no room for argument. "It's treacherous but direct, the quickest path through the woods."

"And boring,"Lucianinterjects while striking flint to steel, attempting to ignite a spark. "We could always scale the eastern ridge for a bit of excitement, add some spice to this dreary journey."

"Or plummet to our deaths," I counter dryly. "Let's stick withErik's plan, which doesn't involve us risking our necks for your amusement."

Axilyanods in agreement, her expression serious. "The Northern Pass is wise. We should conserve our strength for what awaits us in the Whispering Woods. The challenges there will be formidable enough without us expending energy unnecessarily."

Lucianfinally manages to coax a flame from his efforts, grinning triumphantly as he feeds it with more wood, nurturing it into a proper fire. The warmth is a welcome respite from the Vales' chilling embrace, a small comfort in this haunted landscape.

Axilyagracefully stretches out her legs, her lithe form elegant even in repose. "Rest is essential tonight; we face more than just physical challenges ahead. The Vales will test our minds and spirits as much as our bodies."

After the meal, with the food we managed to carry along now settling heavily in our stomachs,Daniand I settle down on the scratchy bedroll, our bodies instinctively seeking each other's warmth. I wrap myself around her, my larger form molding to hers as we draw near the fire, its flickering light casting dancing shadows across our entwined forms. Our closeness and the flames are the only defiance we offer against the cold embrace of the Vales, a small pocket of warmth and life amidst the eerie stillness.

Glancing down, I watch as the fog twists and curls around us like a nest of cold, slithering serpents, its tendrils reaching out as if to ensnare us in its ghostly coils. This whole place is chilling, a tingle creeping across the skin like icy fingers trailing down the spine. I pullDanicloser, a wordless vow to keep her warm, to shield her from this place's strange and unsettling touch.

I lift my head to look down at her, my brow furrowed with concern. "Are they... whispering to you?" I ask, needing to know that she's not suffering alone, that I'm not the only one haunted by the Vales' insidious murmurs.

Her brow furrows slightly as she describes the sensation, her voice soft but steady. "It's like a thousand pinpricks against my mind, a constant pressure trying to find a way in. But I'm holding them at bay, so they sound like they're underwater, distant and muffled. It's all just garbled whispers right now, nothing clear enough to understand." She meets my gaze, her eyes reflecting the firelight, a silent reassurance that she's still fighting with me.

"Good." I kiss her cheek, my lips lingering against her soft skin. "Get some sleep,baby. I've got you." I lay back down, squeezing her close, my arms a protective barrier around her, a silent promise to keep her safe, to guard her dreams against the Vales' ghostly intrusions.