Page 55 of Dawn of Hope

I have a task to focus on, and despite his actions tonight, and the trust I have placed in the island, Dane himself still has to earn it back. Kissing him would muddy those waters.

I step back, pushing the thoughts of his lips brushing mine out of my head.

“Goodnight, Dane.”

“Goodnight.”

At that, he turns and strides down the walkway and turns the way we hadn’t yet gone. I watch the shadow of his body walk away, only illuminated every so often by the torches he passes. Once he is on the other side of the camp, I look up at the open platforms, spying the one I want.

I manage to climb up the wooden ladder, still holding his plate of food in my hand with my clothes hung over my shoulder, all the way to the platform at the top. There is an opening in the canopy of leaves, right in the center of the clearing, and from this platform I can see right into it. As I get to the top of the ladder and set my plate down on the bed, a small orb with a flame inside of it appears, casting a soft glow over the platform.

Dane was right, it has everything I need. A pillow and light blanket are stacked at the end of the thick sleeping pad. There are shelves above the end of the bed, and rails made of thick branches along all the sides, so there is no risk of me falling from the trees to my death.

I tug off my boots and set them off on the side of the platform and make myself comfortable. I devour the food quickly, and it is just enough to calm my growling stomach before making up the bed. Something else I’ve never really done for myself.

I lay down, staring up at the sky above me.

I’d never seen stars before, or the moon. It is huge in the sky, much larger than the scale of the drawings and sketches I’d seen back home. It cast light and shadows over the clearing, and I can’t help but smile up at it, a single tear escaping.

I had made it.

I am in Dawnlin.

I am one step closer to finding the cure for my mother.

I am proving to everyone, my father especially, that I am ready, and that I can do difficult things that prepare me for my reign.

I think of Dane as my eyelids grew heavy. He is a distraction, but a necessary one. He is as much part of Dawnlin as the cure is, and I feel lucky that I met him when I did.

He seems like he truly wants to help me. I know that is his role as the Guardian, but it seems like more than that to me. It seems like he actually cares about me. My feelings for him have morphed into something over the last few weeks, but I don’t know if anything could ever come of them. With his role and mine, I am not sure how that would work.

I don’t need to worry about it right now. All I need to worry about is getting some sleep and being prepared to learn everything I need to know about the cure.

I close my eyes, happy for the first time in a long time. The clear skies and twinkling stars are the last thing I see before I drift to sleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Warmth from the sun caresses my face as I slowly drift out of a deep sleep.

The sun?

I sit straight up, a light blanket pooling around my waist as I quickly scan my surroundings.

Dawnlin.

It wasn’t a dream. I am actually in Dawnlin, waking beneath the suns in the beautiful sky in a bed built into the trees. So much has changed in the past twenty-four hours, and the nervousness and despair I felt yesterday are replaced by pure excitement today. I am ready to explore this island with Dane and get the elixir.

I pull on my boots, run my fingers through my hair, and grab my dagger, securing it in the back of my waistband. I don’t see or hear anyone in the camp and wonder how many people are here besides Storm and Mara. It strikes me as odd that they are here and didn’t just go back home once they obtained the cure. I make a mental note to ask Dane about it later, but for now, I need to be ready when he wants to leave.

I make my way toward the tavern and just as I come around a corner, I run right into him. He isn’t in his Guardian robes today, his trousers and thin linen shirt similar to mine. He must keep different clothing for all the kingdoms he visits, so he is prepared for anything because he definitely would have stood out in Blackwood dressed like that.

“I was just coming to get you. I knew you were probably tired, so I let you sleep.”

“Is it really late?” I am not used to telling time based on the position of the sun because in Blackwood you never actually could. My entire internal clock is also very turned around with the change in time since being here.

“Not too late. Everyone is already gone. I grabbed us some food so we can head out there.”

“I’m ready.” I feel like bouncing on my toes, I am so antsy. “Is there a map or something I can have in case we get separated?