Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 559(@250wpm)___ 466(@300wpm)
The only survivors in the camp are a pissed-off Kane and a quietly brooding Tynan.
“I’m sorry,” Finn says. “I stepped away for a minute because Dara was acting funny. They must’ve lured her away from the camp to distract me.”
“I don’t understand where they came from,” Kane says. “No sound of their approach, no sign of horses.”
“Goblins?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No goblin is willing to transport anyone to these parts. And it would’ve taken several goblins to get them all here at once.”
“They were likely masked by the queen,” Finn says. “She’s too powerful now—and that’s not even accounting for the fire gems she’s mined from beneath these mountains.”
Kane turns to Finn. “They were prepared to kill us all.”
Everyone but me, I think, but I don’t say it aloud. It feels shameful—a reminder that my life continues to be a liability for my friends.
“Good thing we’re better than they are,” Finn says.
Tynan meets Finn’s gaze, clenching his fists. “I think we need to reconsider our plans for the day.”
I follow his gaze and realize that Kane’s clutching his side. Blood seeps between his fingers.
I rush toward him, and he glares at Tynan. “I’m fine.”
Finn frowns. “Why aren’t you healing?”
“Because they shot us up with that shit,” Tynan says.
“We need to get you home,” Finn says. “We can’t heal you, and the injection is keeping you from healing yourself. It’s not safe for you out here.”
“You saw the Crimson Fog yesterday,” Kane says. “Time is of the essence. I am not so special that I can’t be sacrificed for our court.”
Finn closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath.
“You’re right,” I say. “And I agree—with the part about time. But I’m rather fond of your grumpy ass and would prefer to avoid an unnecessary sacrifice.”
The corner of Kane’s mouth hitches into a lopsided smile. “I’m not so easy to kill.”
“Tynan and Kane should go back,” I say, meeting Finn’s eyes to make sure we’re on the same page. He gives a subtle nod. “Finn and I can keep a lower profile if it’s just the two of us, and you two can get to safety and give yourself some time to get the toxin out of your system.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Kane grumbles.
“I agree with Abriella,” Finn says. “That doesn’t look good, Kane, and we don’t need you slowing us down. At least not more than you typically do.”
Kane flips him off, and Finn winks.
I turn to Tynan. “You’ll help him?”
“I don’t need help,” Kane says.
“Sure you don’t, buddy,” Tynan says, patting Kane’s arm and nodding to me. “You two should get out of here. Take the alternative route we discussed last night. I don’t know where they came from or how they knew where to find us, but I don’t like it.”
“Agreed.” Finn tilts his face to the sky and a hawk circling overhead. “Misha knows where to meet you, but Storm will follow you in case there’s any trouble.”
“His hawk?” I ask.
Finn nods, smirking grimly. “There are sometimes advantages to his compulsive spying.”
“Be safe,” I tell my friends. “I’m counting on seeing you again when I get back. Don’t disappoint me.”
Finn’s already busy pulling things into his pack. “Hurry up, Princess. We have a long way to go today.”
Thick snowflakes pelt the right side of my face, making me squint to see the path ahead. “Are we close?” I ask. The tug is stronger and stronger with every passing mile, but I have no idea what it should feel like when we’re almost there, only that we’re getting closer with each step.
Finn scans our surroundings and nods. “I think so. Maybe a couple more hours of hiking, and we should arrive at the Mother Willow. If I’m right, we should be deep enough in the mountains that we’re on the Silent Ridge now.” He passes me a canteen of water.
All I see is rocky path behind and more rocky path ahead. The only thing that’s changed since we parted ways with Tynan and Kane is that it’s gotten so cold I can no longer feel my toes in my boots or the right side of my face where the wind is pummeling me. “How can you tell?” I ask. Thanks to those injections, it’s not like we can test our powers to see if we’re in this magic-free zone.
He takes the canteen back and clips it onto his pack. “Can you feel Sebastian?” Finn asks. “The toxin doesn’t interfere with the bond, but the Silent Ridge does.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that. I mentally search for that ever-present connection. “It’s gone.” I close my eyes and draw in a long breath. All my feelings are my own, and it’s a relief.
“You can’t feel him at all?” Finn asks, stepping closer. “Even when you reach out and try?”
I mentally reach out to the other side of that wall I keep between us and shake my head. “Nothing.”