Sera Hale

@serahale.bsky.social

185 Followers 313 Following

Romantasy writer. Alaskan wife. Mom. Dice goblin. Fueled by HEAs and emotional damage from fictional people.

I laughed, probably too loud, but it was genuine. “You say that like you don’t spoil her every day.” He grinned without an ounce of shame. Damn him. I couldn’t argue when he looked so absolutely… breathtakingly handsome. “In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t like many people. I take care of those I do. It’s that simple.” Butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach as I stared at him. Finally, I managed to nod instead of doing something crazy like kiss him. “Fine. You win,” I muttered with mock annoyance that he saw right through. His answering full smile sent the butterflies in my stomach swarming.
She grimaced and the pouty frown that crossed her face was so cute that it was hard to take seriously. “I hate medicine.” I heard K’oro chuckle which made it extremely hard to keep a straight face. “I know, Baby, but being sick is worse, right?” Her eyes met mine, Sadie looking thoroughly unconvinced. “… I guess.” Oh my gods… I have no idea how I managed to hold back my laughter, but I did. By the time she took her medicine with only a couple of complaints and one gag, Sadie’s eyes were already too heavy to keep open, so I pulled the covers around her, kissed her cheek and allowed her to nod off, despite how much I wanted to keep her awake and talking. The full day of being nearly incoherent had left me paranoid and overprotective.
By the time I got back to what had become our home these last few days, I wavered. I couldn’t go inside. I was afraid. Not of Araceli’s anger. Not even of her grief. I was afraid of losing her love. Because even if Araceli hadn’t said it out loud, I knew it was true. She loved me as much as I loved her. She was just too scared to admit it. Gods, I hated this so much. It was a cruel twist of fate, finally accepting the truth just in time to potentially lose it all.
After I said my goodnights, I found my room and finally allowed myself to get lost inside the long-awaited sea of blankets and furs covering my bed. I could bathe in the morning before setting out on the long journey to Stoneharrow. Just for tonight, I wanted to relax and let the fun of the evening, with Greta, the tavern, and the song, wash over me. Every worry in my head — real and imagined — danced in the corners of my mind, begging for attention. But just like the song, those worries could be put off until tomorrow. Tonight belonged only to me, and I tried to convince myself I was allowed to enjoy it.
The gentle tweeting of a songbird and the distant sounds of the river gently pulled me from my dreams and, for the first time in ages, I awoke with a smile on my face. Hope. When was the last time I woke up with it?
Finally, the door creaked open, obnoxiously slow as if purposefully testing my patience. Even K’oro beside me, shifted his weight uncomfortably. Irritation radiating from him, his hand planted to his hip, six inches from his hilt, just like when we’d gone to the tavern. “Be blessed by the goddess,” the incredibly young attendant offered as a welcome, stepping back to allow us in. “Please come in and tell me how we can assist you.”
I must have been staring for far too long because she finally squirmed slightly under my gaze and quickly said, “I-If this makes you uncomfortable, I can go put on something else if you’d like.” What?! No. That was absolutely not what I wanted at all! But my throat worked uselessly for a moment before I managed to force sound out. When I finally did, it might have been the most awkward moment of my life. “No!” The word burst from my mouth without reservation, making her jump. Shit! That wasn’t my intention. Calm down, K’oro. Get your shit together and then take a nap and get your head back on straight! “No,” I tried again, hoping I sounded calmer, but I wasn’t sure. My thoughts were all over the place and I hated it. Finally, I managed to spit out the most important thing. “Don’t change. You look… lovely.”
I forced myself to stand. Each wave of energy washing over me with renewed fury, but then my magic was there too, answering it. I saw the aura of light surround my flesh, protecting me from the worst of the onslaught. My steps were slow but deliberate as I put one foot in front of the other, making my way to the shop entrance, towards the overwhelming energy, despite how every cell in my body begged for me to turn the other direction and run.
When we finally made our way out of Breakwater Cove and into the woods, I felt like I could take a deep breath again. We weren’t in the clear. This wasn’t safety, but it was familiar and comfortable. I didn’t always understand towns and the people in them, but I knew the woods and the dangers that resided here. Creatures were a lot easier to understand than people. I kept my head on a swivel, watching each path, looking between trees, stretching out all of my senses for anything that might be a danger to us. I was determined to not make the same mistake twice.
That morning, the bustling streets were alive with commerce. Just like in Larkhollow, it was harvest and all the local farmers had brought in the fruits of their labor. It created an almost festival atmosphere that I hadn’t expected, but it was a good thing. If it meant we could blend into the crowd and disappear among the masses, I was more than happy to explore. The sounds of horses, barkers, carts and voices combined into a cacophony of noise that usually filled my soul with a kind of energy only life could supply, but today that feeling didn’t come. Instead, the air felt heavy in a subtle, barely there, way that left me uneasy.
My daughter’s head shot up and the moment she saw me, her face crumbled and she suddenly looked so much smaller than her six years. “Mama! Help K’oro!” I don’t even know if my feet touched the ground when I dashed across the meadow but I crashed down to my knees with a splash of mud and muck besides K’oro, across from Sadie. I wanted to hug her and kiss her, but I had to help K’oro first. I wasn’t even sure if he was breathing. His skin looked dull and pale and there was so much blood… everywhere. “I will, Baby. I promise.”
“What’s your favorite color?” Araceli asked unexpectedly, interrupting the chorus of frogs off in the distance. I turned to her with a smile. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smiled so much. Maybe never. “Black.” She scoffed. “No, it’s not.” “Excuse me?” I asked, bemusement coloring my words. “How would you know?” She laughed before turning on me, meeting my eyes. “Because no one’s favorite color is actually black. They just say that because it’s moody and mysterious.” She emphasized each word dramatically, dripping with melodrama. I laughed. So did she. “So, spit it out, what’s your favorite color that isn’t black?” Araceli eyed me, her big green eyes dancing with devilish amusement.
Damn… What was wrong with me? I’d been asked about the pendant a hundred times since I came here and every time, I’d given some flippant response and moved along, but not this time. Not when Araceli had been so honest, so vulnerable with me. She deserved to know the truth, my truth. Then, when she had it, she would get to decide what she wanted to do with that information. Just the thought of that hurt. In the grand scheme of things, we’d only just met, but the thought of watching her walk out of my life? Well, it was something I wasn’t willing to put into words… and that fear alone nearly kept me silent. The shard pulsed once against my palm, a reminder that no matter how far I ran, my past was never far behind.
Finally, after what felt like hours, but was probably only seconds, I heard K’oro cross the room and open his pack. Only then did I chance opening my eyes to see what he was doing. It took him a moment to find what he was looking for, but when he did, he turned back to me like nothing had happened. “I found this on our way here today, but never quite found the right time to give it to you.” When he held out a yellow rose, my heart nearly stopped. “You said it was your favorite color so…” K’oro let his words trail off, but his intention was clear. He’d been thinking about me earlier and was trying to make me feel better now. It worked.
Araceli’s eyes clouded over, not unlike the way storm clouds could roll in with no notice. Her muscles went taut, the tendons in her neck standing out as she wrestled with whatever thoughts ran through her head. Seeing that made my own anger take hold. The simple mention of the man’s name had set her off and it made me want to rip his fucking head off, even if I didn’t know the whole story. She was quiet for a long time, and I began to accept she may not answer at all. I wasn’t going to pry. It wasn’t my place to force her to explain herself or her past, regardless of how badly I wanted to know. But then she sighed and dropped her eyes to her hands before she simply answered quietly, “Zyler is her father.”
The moment our eyes locked, the pressure of his magic subsided, causing me to stumble forward, but I caught myself and stayed upright. From the shadows, his dark eyes seared into me. His expression cold and unreadable; his clothes impeccable. His posture was relaxed, as though this moment held no major significance in his life. Meanwhile, my heart was pounding out of my chest. I was gasping for air, and the intense fear had left me lightheaded. While he acted nonchalant, I was on the brink of falling apart.
I tried to calm myself down, to think of something constructive to say, but was saved when she got up and returned with a bottle and two small cups. I’d never been much of a drinker, but I was thankful for the distraction. I needed something, anything, to focus on other than my spiraling thoughts. Far from a connoisseur of alcohol, I had no idea what she’d handed me, but I drank it without a second thought. I didn’t even taste it. I just used it as a distraction from all the conflicting emotions I’d navigated tonight. Gods, I needed to sleep. The fire cracked nearby and the wind shifted, blowing the smoke into my face. I ignored it. Forty-eight hours ago, my life had been simple. I had a job, a goal, a purpose, but it was hollow. Empty. It just took one look at Araceli’s face when she talked about Sadie to see how pointless it’d all been. I couldn’t go back to that any longer. Not after tonight.
Araceli’s tears dripped over my hands and through my fingers as she looked up at me with her big, green, emerald eyes, vulnerable and scared. It ignited a feral instinct in me that wanted to destroy every single person who’d brought her to this moment. I didn’t understand how someone as wonderful and funny and strong and loving as Araceli couldn’t see it in themselves. I kept my hands on her cheeks, not willing to let her go. She was shaking. Not from the cold, but from the weight of whatever she’d been carrying alone for years. I brushed away a tear with my thumb and pulled her closer yet, until our foreheads were nearly touching. “You aren’t alone anymore, Araceli.” I whispered fiercely. “Please talk to me.” The way her face crumbled in my hands and the sob that broke free nearly brought me to my knees. She was literally falling apart in my hands and I didn’t know what else to do but hold her and never let go.
I was done playing. I was done following his lead. I was done pretending that my needs were less important than his. Fuck this and fuck him. We were going to end this, one way or another. Sadie would be safe with K'oro and the world would continue to turn no matter what happened next. I stalked towards the house, trudging through the muddy grass because it was a straighter shot than the curved walkway. Half because it was faster than going all the way around and half because I knew my muddy boots would piss him off. Zyler liked things neat and clean, an environment I'd always provided for him, but no more. The house was beautiful. A home in the middle of nowhere, untouched by towns and society. A place where you could disappear... and we had, for almost a month. I saw smoke rising from the chimney and as I got closer, I could smell something cooking. It didn't smell half as good as anything K'oro made and that wasn't even the anger talking.
I heard Sadie gasp and my attention instantly shot back to where she stood. She was staring intensely into a shop window, her eyes as big as saucers. “Mama! Look!” The shop in question was a bakery, and Sadie was pointing at a chocolate cupcake with frosting that was the brightest shade of pink I’d ever seen. It was absurd and sure to stain the mouth of whoever ate it. I also instantly knew I was going to buy it for her. “That looks amazing,” Araceli smiled down at Sadie, but her tune quickly changed to motherly responsibility which amused me greatly. “But we haven’t even eaten lunch yet. Maybe we can come back la-“ Araceli’s words broke off when I walked up behind her and put my hand over her mouth before she could finish that statement. Leaning down, I whispered into her ear, “Don’t pretend like you don’t want one too.” I felt her stiffen before quickly melting against me, shocking me so much I almost did something crazy like jump away or spin her around and kiss her hard. Thankfully, I had self-control and managed to hold my ground.
My entire world crashed down around me. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. I remember K’oro cursed. He rushed through the room calling for Sadie before dashing out the door to the alley and disappeared into the night, but it was like watching it through someone else’s eyes. Every sound was muffled. Every image felt distant, like I was looking through a window. I felt completely lost. I felt it building inside me. Fiery pain rose from the depths of my soul, clawing upward as it fought to escape. My hands began to shake. Erratic magic sparked across my skin and quickly surrounded me in a bright white inferno only I could see. The pressure grew and grew until I thought I might explode. I couldn’t take it anymore. I opened my mouth and the scream that tore from my throat felt powerful enough to rip open the skies. It just kept going, the shrill sound of my pain echoing off the walls around me cruelly, forcing me to hear my own pain projected back at me.
WIP Word Count - 105,880
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WIP Snip. :)
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