Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,231

Long, grey hair with frizzy ends covered her shoulders.

"That might not be an option, Lilly," Kemper said.

"Bah! I am the council. What I say goes. It doesn't take a title to make decisions. It just takes having the power to kill or save anyone," Lilly said while gesturing towards her work station. Wasn’t that the problem, though? I didn’t tell Lilly how much her views reminded me of Cavil, but I couldn’t help but shiver at her seemingly harmless comment.

"Can I go to the meeting?" Payne asked.

"Not today, buddy. And don't let me catch you hiding in the woods and eavesdropping again, either," Kemper replied. Something about his words made me pause. A memory as temporary as smoke tickled at the edge of my mind. I clung to it. I slumped and put my head in my hands, trying to picture the fading dream in my mind's eye.

"You okay, Agrio?" Lilly asked. Kemper massaged my neck as I visualized my dream. I was at Stonewell Manor. Josiah was there. I’d never believed in ghosts before. I wasn’t one to think that we were haunted by the dead. But maybe we could be haunted by the living, and the memories of life trapped in our heads.

"While I was asleep, I think I had a dream...or a memory," I replied. My voice was muffled, but Kemper's hand froze on my neck. A thick finger landed beneath my chin and tilted my gaze up until I was staring into Lilly's grey eyes.

"You were dead for a short while, Agrio. I’ve seen many things in my time here. Many unexplainable things. Maybe you saw a ghost," Lilly said, her voice ominous as she plopped a heavy hand on my forehead to check for a fever. "But, you feel fine. No fever. The only thing wrong with you is your smell. I thought I’d have to burn down the medic tent. What you need is a good bath." Lilly looked to Kemper. "You said three hours?"

"Yes," Kemper replied.

"She's going to need all three to get cleaned up," Lilly said, wrinkling her nose, causing Payne and Mia to burst out in conspiratory giggles. I didn't bother to respond, I simply rolled my eyes and stood. I'd focus on the strange memory later.

Kemper stood with me, and Lilly made quick work of giving Payne more to do. "Aarav said that Jules could get out of confinement when you woke up," Kemper said as we exited the tent.

"Well, then I guess I should have stayed dead," I replied with a giggle. It felt easier to joke with Kemper. Losing the fetter and having Jules and Mia here was bringing back tiny parts of myself. Now, if only I could get back the parts I missed most: Cyler, Maverick, and Jacob.

While I was underwater, the world felt quiet. The only sound I could hear was the rushing water and my pounding pulse. The lack of oxygen had my lungs craving air, and the tingling toxic water from the deadlands had my skin humming. The river was a force to be reckoned with. When we first moved here, many elders warned us to be wary of the current. I liked to test myself. While under, I’d dig my feet into the riverbed and stand against the current until the need to breathe was too much and my muscles felt weak.

Since my time in Ethros, I’d spent a lot of time seeking opportunities to feel strong. Whereas in the areas of my life where genuine strength mattered, I was weak. I couldn't get over the betrayal. The abandonment. The anger.

When I emerged from the water, my eyes connected with Kemper. Once, I thought the kind, blue-eyed man from Dormas was shy. I believed him to be soft-spoken and timid. But the way his hungry stare trailed over my skin was brash and confident. He looked at me like I was his to look at. The brazen stare was unbreakable. I didn’t cover myself. There was no need for modesty. Nudity was common in the deadlands, and it felt freeing to see his attraction as he drank in my appearance.

When Kemp insisted on accompanying me to bathe in the creek, I knew the tension between us would return. It was palpable. Unavoidable. Although I'd been numb to the passion between us these last five months, it was like I had reawakened. I wanted to pick back up where we left off, but I didn't know how. Diving into the physical aspects of