Chapter Fifteen
Arianna
The leftover stew gave each of them a large breakfast, but with nothing to carry the rest in, the group begrudgingly poured the remaining broth outside and cleaned up before setting off.
Arianna wondered if she’d ever see the little cabin again.
Then wondered if she’d recall what had made it feel so familiar.
Saoirse had voiced her concerns regarding The Guardians, but The Demon set her fears at ease. Apparently Talon had seen one yesterday, and though he claimed it to be eerie, it wasn’t as threatening as all their stories had made them out to be.
The Fairy Folk followed them closely, but instead of dancing and singing, they watched the trees just as intently as The Demon did.
Many ran ahead, bouncing on their feet as though frantic and impatient with the group’s slow pace.
She wished the little beings could talk; maybe then she’d understand why they kept looking back, their beady eyes almost pleading for them to hurry.
Without a word, their group collectively moved faster. The lack of mirth was unsettling at best. Wrong.
Once again, Talon volunteered to carry Ellie. Last night’s rest and meal had refreshed her friend, though Ellie still stared off into nothing. Arianna wished she could figure out what was going through her sister’s mind.
The Demon led the way and Raevina guarded their rear, flames still sparking at her fingertips.
Arianna tilted her head, wondering if it was simply a habit or—a breeze whispered through the trees and Arianna’s entire body stiffened.
Her head whipped southward, right alongside everyone else’s.
It was faint, but there was no mistaking the smoke.
“Please tell me that’s from us,” Saoirse pleaded.
“Not from that direction, it’s not,” Raevina answered, an edge to her tone.
Talon readjusted Ellie on his back. “It’s coming from the south. So long as we keep moving north, we’ll avoid whatever is causing it.”
Right, because it could be the Dark Fae or worse, a unit of Vairik’s warriors out searching for them. Arianna distinctly remembered how easily Vairik’s dark creatures had overrun a small village. They’d had time to prepare. If someone was caught unaware …
“What do you want to do?” It took Arianna too long to realize the question was directed at her. The Demon waited, as if with a single word, he’d do as she commanded.
Arianna gritted her teeth. She hated to leave anyone helpless, but—what if Vairik was already moving an army? What if they emerged from the trees only to find the male waiting for them? It could be nothing. Did they risk moving blindly?
“I can survey the area if you wish,” Raevina offered.
“Not alone.” Talon was already handing Ellie off to Gavin.
Raevina rolled her eyes. “I’ve been—”
“This isn’t the time,” Zylah snapped. To Arianna’s surprise, both Fae fell silent. Arianna almost smirked. Even being a half-breed, Zylah had earned her place among them.
“Arianna?” Saoirse’s voice. Arianna glanced southward again, a million possibilities running through her mind.
She turned sharply to Talon as another idea struck her. “Do you think it could be my father?”
Talon’s face paled as he weighed the possibility. She could see the gears working in his mind as he attempted to calculate the days since Levea’s destruction. How long would it take to move an entire city of people?
“It’s hard to say.”
“I’m going,” Raevina declared, and before anyone could argue, she shifted into a falcon and disappeared beyond the treetops. Talon cursed, shifted, and chased after her a second later, pumping his wings hard to keep up.
Moments and both were gone, leaving them all in utter silence.
Saoirse sighed. “Those two are going to cause nothing but problems if you have them as part of your inner court.”
Gavin gently rested his hands on Ellie’s shoulders. “Do we wait or—”
“No, they’ll find us,” The Demon said before closing the distance toward Ellie. Gavin’s face paled slightly at his approach, but Arianna stepped in front of him, separating the monster from her sister.
He paused, first in confusion, then in understanding. She swore The Demon’s face fell. He glanced over her shoulder to address Gavin. “Can you carry her?”
Instead of answering, Gavin awkwardly pulled Ellie onto his back. Her arms hung loosely over the male’s shoulders. Arianna vaguely wondered which male Ellie would have preferred to carry her.
“I’ve got her.”
“Can you run if we need to?”
Gavin nodded. “It won’t be an issue.”
“We’ll stay on course until Raevina and Talon return, then adjust from there.
” They were still safe within the trees.
The pair would likely be back within an hour and let them know if it was safe to cross the grassy plains on the other side.
Arianna chewed her lip, praying her father wasn’t fighting for his life.