Read Online Wilde's Meadow (Darkness Falls #3) by Krystal Wade - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Krystal Wade
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mills.
But somehow the idea of walking through a cave so dangerous no longer bothers me. We’ve fought daemons. We seek a god. I’ve died and come back to life. Arland and I broke the curse over the Ground Dwellers—or most of them. Crossing this dark path will be another minor inconvenience on our quest for Light. I’m not sure why I allowed the thought of this place to scare me so much before.
“May I lead us through?” Perth asks, eyes focused on the ground.
I wonder what he’s thinking, if he remembers his mother plummeting to her death, never hearing her land. I hope he’s not trying to make up for that somehow. And if he is, I pray he knows what he’s doing when we get inside.
Arland passes Bowen’s reins to me, then stands next to Perth. They look up at the column of gray and black stone. The Leader’s statures are complete opposites; Arland is tall, muscular, and walks and speaks with an air of confidence, dominance. Perth is short, thin, and he’s replaced the cool detachment he once showed with a persistent look of confusion.
“We have a lot of people relying on us to bring them to safety,” Arland says, lowering his voice. “They are not foolish enough to believe no lives will be lost in the battles before us, but let them die in combat with Darkness, not as cowards in these caves.”
“No one will die here today.” Perth clasps his hands behind his back, an action mimicking Arland, an action which says Perth is trying; he wants to grow. “Will you allow me to lead them?”
Glancing over his shoulder, Arland locks his gaze with mine.
I nod, hoping to encourage him to say yes. Perth deserves a chance to make right so many wrongs. He deserves an opportunity to be the Leader his father wanted him to be, but in a better capacity.
“ I agree. ” Arland smiles, genuine and captivating, then returns his attention to Perth. “I will allow you to lead, but if this is a request to restore your pride, I beg you to reconsider.”
Brit shakes my shoulder. “What’s going on between you and Perth?”
“I … I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I didn’t see her walk up to me, and I certainly didn’t expect her to ask a crazy question like this.
“ Ground Dweller magic, Kate. Keep Brit in line, or we will have a major problem. ” Arland’s thoughts stream into mine, warming my mind with his presence.
Brit focuses her narrowed eyes on me like I’ve just been caught stealing her favorite shirt from her room.
“Get off me,” a woman screams behind us.
Spinning on my toe, I catch sight of Rhoswen smacking Vanora.
“ Stop ,” I shout.
Both women pause and turn toward me. Vanora pushes away Rhoswen’s hand, then marches forward, arms stiff at her sides.
I stand my ground. “Gather your horse, and get in line. We’re leaving. Now .”
Perth’s childhood girlfriend continues forward, nostrils flaring, cheek sporting a bright red handprint.
Wake up, magic. Calm these people.
A shower of white lights drift down from above our heads, settling over the soldiers and horses like a blanket of fresh snow. The forest is peaceful, quiet, not eerie but renewed.
Vanora stops her hostile progression, looks toward the sky, and smiles. She makes a one-eighty and returns to her horse.
“Your turn, Brit.” I point at my sister’s animal. “Now.”
She stomps away as she follows my order.
I pivot, aggravation shaking my core. These caves make people act like tantrum throwing toddlers.
Arland leans close to Perth’s ear, whispers something, then crosses his fist over his heart. Perth imitates the gesture.
What did I miss? It takes everything in me not to growl and throw a fit along with everyone else. Taking a deep breath, I climb Mirain, grab Bowen’s leather straps, then hold them out for Arland. He rushes over and mounts, face revealing no emotion.
“What did you say to him?”
“I reminded him of how important these lives are.” Arland gestures behind us. “And
But somehow the idea of walking through a cave so dangerous no longer bothers me. We’ve fought daemons. We seek a god. I’ve died and come back to life. Arland and I broke the curse over the Ground Dwellers—or most of them. Crossing this dark path will be another minor inconvenience on our quest for Light. I’m not sure why I allowed the thought of this place to scare me so much before.
“May I lead us through?” Perth asks, eyes focused on the ground.
I wonder what he’s thinking, if he remembers his mother plummeting to her death, never hearing her land. I hope he’s not trying to make up for that somehow. And if he is, I pray he knows what he’s doing when we get inside.
Arland passes Bowen’s reins to me, then stands next to Perth. They look up at the column of gray and black stone. The Leader’s statures are complete opposites; Arland is tall, muscular, and walks and speaks with an air of confidence, dominance. Perth is short, thin, and he’s replaced the cool detachment he once showed with a persistent look of confusion.
“We have a lot of people relying on us to bring them to safety,” Arland says, lowering his voice. “They are not foolish enough to believe no lives will be lost in the battles before us, but let them die in combat with Darkness, not as cowards in these caves.”
“No one will die here today.” Perth clasps his hands behind his back, an action mimicking Arland, an action which says Perth is trying; he wants to grow. “Will you allow me to lead them?”
Glancing over his shoulder, Arland locks his gaze with mine.
I nod, hoping to encourage him to say yes. Perth deserves a chance to make right so many wrongs. He deserves an opportunity to be the Leader his father wanted him to be, but in a better capacity.
“ I agree. ” Arland smiles, genuine and captivating, then returns his attention to Perth. “I will allow you to lead, but if this is a request to restore your pride, I beg you to reconsider.”
Brit shakes my shoulder. “What’s going on between you and Perth?”
“I … I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I didn’t see her walk up to me, and I certainly didn’t expect her to ask a crazy question like this.
“ Ground Dweller magic, Kate. Keep Brit in line, or we will have a major problem. ” Arland’s thoughts stream into mine, warming my mind with his presence.
Brit focuses her narrowed eyes on me like I’ve just been caught stealing her favorite shirt from her room.
“Get off me,” a woman screams behind us.
Spinning on my toe, I catch sight of Rhoswen smacking Vanora.
“ Stop ,” I shout.
Both women pause and turn toward me. Vanora pushes away Rhoswen’s hand, then marches forward, arms stiff at her sides.
I stand my ground. “Gather your horse, and get in line. We’re leaving. Now .”
Perth’s childhood girlfriend continues forward, nostrils flaring, cheek sporting a bright red handprint.
Wake up, magic. Calm these people.
A shower of white lights drift down from above our heads, settling over the soldiers and horses like a blanket of fresh snow. The forest is peaceful, quiet, not eerie but renewed.
Vanora stops her hostile progression, looks toward the sky, and smiles. She makes a one-eighty and returns to her horse.
“Your turn, Brit.” I point at my sister’s animal. “Now.”
She stomps away as she follows my order.
I pivot, aggravation shaking my core. These caves make people act like tantrum throwing toddlers.
Arland leans close to Perth’s ear, whispers something, then crosses his fist over his heart. Perth imitates the gesture.
What did I miss? It takes everything in me not to growl and throw a fit along with everyone else. Taking a deep breath, I climb Mirain, grab Bowen’s leather straps, then hold them out for Arland. He rushes over and mounts, face revealing no emotion.
“What did you say to him?”
“I reminded him of how important these lives are.” Arland gestures behind us. “And
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