Chapter 20 : Alpha Aeris

We set out on the last part of our journey before the sun had risen over the horizon. Brandt and Archer were chipper, and it was obvious the blanket of tension brought on by walking through a forest full of people-eating witches and whatever the hell else was lurking in its depths had lifted.

Jared and I had stayed out on the cliff for hours, but we’d hardly spoken. I was thankful for the silence, too caught up in my own mind to even think about the Cryptex or the curse Jared had somewhat explained, if not in detail.

I was also reeling from just sitting next to Jared, which was ridiculous. Having a gentle, open conversation with him had been a first. We hadn’t argued, not once, during our time on watch. It’d left me feeling even more confused about my feelings than after our fiery spat in his study.