Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Though I was positively exhausted, I couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t even fall into so much as a light doze—terror still ran riot in my system, keeping my brain hyper. I doubted I would fully relax until I was back at the garrison, where I felt safe.
Eventually the last of the candidates appeared. It was Atticus. And I knew by his lifeless expression that he had in fact found Seneca dead within the last circuit.
A part of me felt sorry for him. For all his faults, he’d loved his sister. Losing a sibling would be painful enough. To see her dead would be another level of hurt. And to have to leave her corpse behind or choose to perish with her? It was a messed up choice to have to make.
He tried waving off the healing salve, but Keyes pressed him until the Phoenixian finally took care of his wounds. We were then all rounded up, herded onto wagons that soon after appeared, and driven back to the garrison.
“You’ve passed Xalbia—for that, we congratulate you,” said Keyes as we unloaded ourselves from the wagons. “And now you have a choice to make: Do you join the Order, or do you find a different place for yourself at Deimos? We’ll want your answer tomorrow.”
“Let us be very clear on one thing,” added Ajax. “You survived the trials of the labyrinth, but life in the Black Tapestry holds just as many trials. That exhaustion you’re now feeling? The sense of loss? The thirst? The pain? The stubborn fear that won’t yet subside even though you’re out of danger? You’ll feel all these things again at some point if you join the Order. There’s no end to any of it. Which means you need to be damn sure of your decision. So be sure.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
After Talon dismissed us with a wave of his hand, I shuffled into the stables, frowning as straw scraped at my bare feet. At least they were now healed. Most of my injuries were, courtesy of both the salve and my accelerated healing rate.
Once I’d retrieved my sack of possessions, I trudged back outside, intending to head for the bathhouses. The sight of Talon waiting there made my mouth weakly curve. With a flick of his chin, he indicated for me to accompany him. He didn’t walk ahead of me, though. He matched his pace to mine, which I appreciated.
In the private barracks, he took me straight up to his room and into his garderobe. He flicked a hand from the bath to the showerhead and then arched a brow in question.
“A shath,” I decided. “I’m going to sit in the bath while I take a shower.” I didn’t have the energy to hold myself upright, but I didn’t want to sit in a vat of my own filth either.
Humor momentarily lit his eyes. He reached for my tunic, as if to help me undress, but then a knock came at his bedchamber door. His brows dipping in displeasure, he swanned out of the garderobe.
Eager to get out of my clothes, I quickly stripped. I was just stepping into the tub when I heard the chamber’s door close. It took me a few moments to realize that Talon had left. Well, he commanded the Black Tapestry. He probably had little time to himself.
I indulged in a long shath, scrubbing every inch of my body with soap. Memories of the caverns crept up on me, and questions I had no answer for tried to intrude. I cut off the train of thought each time, not wanting to ponder on it right now. I didn’t have the mental energy to unknot it all.
It took a while for me to get my hair clean and untangle the curls. My skin was all pruney by the time I turned off the shower.
In the bedroom, I dried myself off with one of Talon’s towels and then tiredly pulled on braies and a slip. Hearing a bell outside, I knew the evening meal would now be served. There was no way I could head down to the food hall. All I wanted was to sleep.
I flopped face-first onto Talon’s bed, hoping he wouldn’t mind me taking a nap in his room. I drifted off pretty much straight away, but my sleep was fitful. I woke repeatedly from nightmares that were jumbles of images and sensations from the labyrinth.
At one point, I opened my eyes to find Talon beside me flat on his back. The room was dark, but I could make out his silhouette and hear his steady breathing. I wasn’t quite bold enough to seek comfort from him by cuddling into him. Instead, I edged closer on my side, until only mere inches separated us.
I eventually fell back to sleep, but another labyrinth-themed nightmare snapped me out of it. My heart racing, I rubbed at my chest and let out a shaky exhale.