Hadley — The Paths We Lay By Auryn

Kaelen looked down at his hands, then at the road that now shimmered with a faint, rebellious emerald hue. "The old paths lead to the same end, Elara. If we want to get somewhere new, we have to lay the bricks ourselves."

Kaelen closed his eyes, sinking his consciousness into the rock. In his mind’s eye, the road wasn't stone and mortar; it was a golden ribbon of light stretching toward the horizon. But here, at the crossroads, the ribbon was frayed, turning into a muddy, oily blackness. The Paths We Lay by Auryn Hadley

Kaelen slumped back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The road was smooth again, but the silver glow in his skin didn't fade. It had changed. The pattern on his arms had extended, new lines spiraling toward his chest. Kaelen looked down at his hands, then at

Kaelen knelt on the edge of the Sun-Bleached Highway, his fingers hovering inches above the jagged fissure. He could feel the ley lines beneath the dust, pulsing like a fevered heartbeat. This wasn't natural erosion. This was Hunger . "It’s getting worse, isn't it?" In his mind’s eye, the road wasn't stone