Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

V era's heart raced as she followed Grabon through the dense foliage. Their recent encounter burned in her memory, arousal still humming through her veins. She couldn't believe she'd acted so wantonly. Physical interactions had never really interested her before, but he had upended everything she thought she knew about herself. She'd actually been ready to make love to him then and there, in spite of being out in the open, in spite of the violence that had just occurred.

Maybe the Elvar are rubbing off on me, she thought, searching for some explanation for her behavior, but deep down she knew it was simply because it was him. She couldn't deny the connection between them, even though there was no logical reason for it to exist.

She tried to focus on their destination, but her eyes kept drifting to his powerful form as he cleared a path ahead.

Exotic flowers bloomed around them, their vibrant colors unlike anything she'd seen on Earth. Even the foliage was just a shade different - a little too green to truly resemble the plants with which she was familiar. Strange sounds echoed around them, a cacophony of chirps, trills, and whistles that she found both fascinating and unnerving even as she cataloged every detail, preparing to record it once they returned to the village.

The air was thick with humidity, and her skin prickled with sweat, but she pressed on, ignoring the discomfort as she searched for any sign of the ancient civilization she hoped to uncover.

Grabon looked back over his shoulder to check on her, and for a moment, they locked eyes, the tension between them crackling like electricity. Heat that had nothing to do with the temperature rose to her cheeks, and she quickly looked away, focusing on the jungle again.

"Watch your step," his deep voice rumbled as he held back a low-hanging branch.

She ducked under it, hyper-aware of his proximity. Their fingers brushed as she passed, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. She stumbled slightly, and he immediately steadied her.

"Thank you."

Her voice came out low and shaky, and he shot her another quick glance before turning back to scan the surrounding jungle. Was it her imagination, or was there a hint of possession in his gaze?

She knew she was overthinking things but she couldn't help it. The touch of his skin on hers, his deep, commanding voice, the way his eyes lingered on her whenever he thought she wasn't looking - it was all so stimulating, she found it hard to concentrate on anything else.

He abruptly stopped in front of her and she nearly walked into him. As she looked up at his massive form, she couldn't help but notice how perfectly muscled his back was between the massive wings. Or the way his leather trousers hugged his tight ass.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. The jungle had gone silent around them, as if waiting with bated breath for what would happen next. He turned, those fascinating emerald eyes fixed on hers. They were dark with a hunger that matched her own, and she inhaled sharply.

"Here we are."

She blinked, struggling to refocus. He gestured to the side, and she realized they'd finally reached the place he'd mentioned. She pushed her body's reactions aside and studied the landscape in front of them.

Massive trees lined a meandering valley, their broad canopies towering overhead. As she scanned the valley floor, she immediately realized what had drawn his attention. The trees formed a broad avenue, far too perfectly aligned to be natural. A few of the trees had fallen and the undergrowth surrounding the others grew with wild abandon, helping to disguise the layout. She didn't think she would have noticed it if she hadn't been looking for it.

"Why here?" she wondered. "The avenue suggests some sort of formal procession, but there's nothing at the far end. I would have expected it to lead to a temple or some other important building."

"Perhaps there was once, but something damaged it. An earthquake. A war," he added grimly.

"Perhaps."

She followed the wide avenue, her mind teeming with questions as the thrill of discovery coursed through her veins like a powerful stimulant. There was more here - she was sure of it. He followed her silently, his presence solid and reassuring as she speculated about the civilization that had once existed here.

Something tugged at her subconscious and she came to a halt. They were exactly halfway down the avenue and she turned in a slow circle before she realized what had caught her attention.

"These two trees are further apart."

"There's still nothing here," he pointed out.

The gap only led to the edge of the valley, a massive wall of rock covered with moss and vines.

"Maybe," she said, wandering closer.

Sunlight glinted off crystalline formations embedded within the rock, barely visible between the vines but casting prismatic reflections across the floor of the valley. She pushed aside a vine to examine the crystals in more detail and her hands started to shake. The surface was weathered by time but the faint outlines of symbols etched into the rock were still visible.

"Look at this!" she called, her voice breathless with excitement. "There is something here."

He came to join her, his imposing frame casting a shadow over the wall as he examined the symbols, his expression a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"Do you recognize them?"

He shrugged, but shook his head.

"I don't think so but I've seen a wide variety of languages over the years."

Her hands trembled with excitement as she started pulling at the vines. He helped her, his big body dwarfing her as he effortlessly tore away thick vines while she carefully brushed away the centuries of dirt and moss beneath. They slowly revealed more of the stone wall, the engravings unraveling like a tapestry as they worked. Her senses hummed with anticipation, every nerve ending alive with expectation.

She'd read so many accounts of similar discoveries but she'd never expected to be in a similar position. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her. Or perhaps the second most exciting thing, she amended as his arm brushed hers, sending another spark of arousal racing through her body.

The sun was starting to sink in the sky when he finally paused.

"We're not going to finish this today. We should return to the village."

She frowned at him.

"But this is so exciting," she protested, gesturing at the wall.

"I understand, but …" He looked up at the sky, then back down at her and sighed. "Another thirty minutes. No more."

The half hour was almost up when her fingers brushed against a smooth edge, hidden beneath layers of vines and debris. Her heart quickened as she realized what it might be.

"Grabon, look at this," she called excitedly.

He joined her as she tore frantically at the vines and together, they cleared away enough of the remaining foliage, to reveal an arched entrance. Her breath caught in her throat as she peered into the dimly lit chamber beyond.

"It's … incredible," she whispered, taking a tentative step forward.

The chamber walls were adorned with intricate carvings and symbols, their complexity surpassing anything they'd seen outside, the details much better preserved in the protected interior. Her eyes darted from one section to another, drinking in every detail. Her mind churned with possibilities, her thoughts racing faster than she could grasp.

A small sound escaped her lips, and she tried to take another step, but she was halted by an arm around her waist. She looked up to find Grabon studying her closely.

"What is it?" she asked, puzzled by his hesitation.

"Is this the first time you've discovered something like this?"

"Yes, why?"

"I want to make sure that you're not …" He paused, clearly reluctant to say the words aloud.

"Not what?"

"Overwhelmed. Excited to the point of carelessness."

She froze, not sure how to respond to his concerns. She'd never felt more exhilarated, more alive than she did right now, but it was more than just the thrill of the find. Being here, with him, made it even better.

"I'm fine," she insisted.

His expression remained skeptical but he nodded, releasing her waist. She shivered at the sudden absence of his touch, but the moment of intimacy was broken, and he stepped back, scanning the area for danger.

"If this chamber was designed to protect some hidden treasure, there may be traps. Stay behind me," he ordered.

She followed him further into the chamber, her eyes wide with wonder as she struggled to take in the wealth of information contained within the walls. Each section appeared to be in a unique language, and her fingers itched to take notes. The further away they ventured from the entrance, the darker it grew, making it increasingly difficult to see. She was just about to reluctantly admit that they would need to wait until daylight before venturing deeper when a large rectangular stone set into the far wall caught her attention. She gave Grabon a questioning look.

"What do you make of this?"

He took a step forward, studying the carving.

"It looks like a map," he said slowly, his brow furrowed.

"I agree. A map of the island."

She peered at the intricately detailed images carved into the rock, her heart pounding as recognition dawned.

"Look at these inscriptions - they seem to be referring to the prophecy Maeve told me about."

She pointed to a figure etched into the stone, surrounded by a cloud, its features eerily familiar.

"This one - it could be me," she breathed, scarcely believing her own words. Her gaze shifted to another figure nearby, its imposing winged stature unmistakable. "And this one … it looks like you."

Could it be possible? Were these carvings, created eons ago, truly referring to them? She turned back to him, bubbling with excitement.

"Don't you see? The prophecy might be real!"

He frowned down at her, his eyes reflecting the light in the dark chamber.

"What prophecy?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

Her excitement faltered as she realized she'd never told him about the Elvar's belief in a red-haired savior.

"I … I didn't think it was important before," she stammered.

His expression hardened, eyes narrowing.

"You're letting your curiosity blind you, Vera. Prophecies are dangerous. This is not a game."

His rebuke stung, and she glared at him.

"You don't understand. This could be crucial to helping the Elvar. It's not just idle curiosity!"

He crossed his arms, towering over her.

"And you think you're some prophesied savior? That's exactly the kind of thinking that gets people killed."

His words felt like a slap and she stepped back, clenching her fists.

"I'm just trying to uncover the truth, to find a way to help these people. Just because you can't see beyond your warrior mindset doesn't mean?—"

"My ‘warrior mindset' has kept me alive." He cut her off, his voice a low growl. "And it's what's keeping you alive now. We need to focus on real threats, not chase fairy tales."

Tears of frustration pricking at her eyes. How could he be so dismissive? She understood his misgivings but it wasn't like she was suggesting that they rush out to confront the Farlain and demand that they release the Elvar. She'd simply wanted to investigate the possibility that the Elvar had a historical precedent for hope.

She blinked back the tears, unwilling to let him see her cry.

"I think you'd better leave."

He scowled and opened his mouth to argue with her, but she stubbornly shook her head.

"Now."

His shoulders tensed and for a moment, she thought he might refuse. Instead he reluctantly backed away, his wings brushing against the wall.

"Fine," he said stiffly. "But stay in this valley. Don't wander off."

He stared at her a moment longer, clearly torn. Then, without another word, he turned and stalked away. She listened to his heavy footsteps fading into the distance until she was left alone with nothing but silence and shadows.

As the sun sank further behind the mountains and the light began to fade, she carefully picked her way back to the entrance and sat on the rocky ledge to await morning. Her cheeks were still damp with tears, but she brushed them angrily away. He might not want to help the Elvar, but she was determined to help them whether he approved of it or not.

He might have left her, but she didn't need him. She didn't need anyone. She could do this on her own.