Chapter 29
Evie
“Doing all right there?” Malcolm urged his horse closer to hers in the midday heat. The sun was abnormally hot for this time of year. Evie could feel it burning the skin on her arms but did nothing to stop it.
Trystan rode ahead, murmuring something to Kingsley, who was keeping his seat on a horse fairly well, all things considered. Laughter followed whatever comment Trystan had made, and Evie once again had the distinct impression that being on the outside was not to her liking.
“Of course,” Evie answered Malcolm brightly. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re surrounded by a dark mist literally hovering over your head, so I thought it might be prudent to check on you.” Malcolm glanced up, and Evie realized he was correct; the mist was swooping over her head, tugging on her curls until they recoiled.
She looked Malcolm dead in the eye. “What mist?”
“What? You— Oh, you’re joking. Wonderful. I’m glad.” He shot her a rueful smile. “You seem different since last I saw you.”
They cantered on, Evie processing the words, trying to find a response. “Dimmer?” she concluded, knowing full well she’d surrendered too much lately to her sadness and despair.
“No.” Malcolm frowned. “That’s not it at all. I was going to say you look more…like yourself. If that makes sense.”
“It doesn’t,” Alexander Kingsley chimed in, then chuckled in a gravelly baritone.
“Beautiful,” Trystan murmured, glancing sidelong at her. “That’s what you’re seeing, Malcolm. Someone beautiful.”
Malcolm gave Evie a knowing look. “Is that right?”
“Yes,” Trystan stated, brooking no room for arguing, dragging her heart behind him.
As they journeyed on, the trees grew sparser and sparser, giving way to brushland and the occasional small house or garden.
Her horse chuffed nervously, and she murmured words to soothe it.
Another huffing sound came until, without further warning, Evie’s horse rose up on its hind legs, causing her to fall and slam against the ground.
Right next to the largest shoe she’d ever seen. “What… Giant?” Her eyes widened, and when the shoe lifted, every muscle in her body responded in the most useless way imaginable.
She froze.
Until she was yanked up by her elbows. “On your feet now,” Trystan said flatly, no emotion as he dragged her out of the way and started running, pulling her along with him.
“Malcolm? Kingsley?”
“Their horses spooked, took off at a sprint in the other direction.”
“I wish mine had done that,” she yelled, leaning into him as they kept running, until they finally took shelter behind a large tree.
The ground shook as the giant took another step, screaming at the top of her lungs, “FEE FI FO FUM.” The giant woman was wearing a formal gown that was large enough to second as a tent for smaller humans.
It was beautiful, as was the dark silken hair coming down her back.
Her face was more difficult to discern, likely because it was about a mile north of where Evie stood.
“That’s a giant,” Evie murmured, pointing up from where they were hidden.
“And that’s a rock,” Trystan deadpanned. “May we play I-spy later?”
“Your bad attitude isn’t helping, you know! This could be the one we’re looking for!”
“We won’t know that if she steps on us,” Trystan gritted.
“FEE FI FO FUM,” the giant boomed again, ripping up rocks and dirt.
“Who is fee fi fo fum?” Evie asked, shrieking when the foot came down right next to a small house.
Trystan pinched the bridge of his nose, then muttered, “Why don’t you ask?”
The giant picked up a large boulder and threw it so hard, it toppled several trees near theirs. “Oh my. Maybe we should wait five minutes.”
Trystan gave her a dubious glare. “You think a rampaging giant’s mental breakdown will be done in five minutes?”
Evie blinked. “I usually finish my breakdowns in four.”
“Sage!” Trystan moaned, then jolted when the door to a house on the edge of the tree line flew open. A beautiful woman stood in the entryway, long, flowing blond locks pulled back with a simple ribbon.
“Come, you two! Quickly!”
There was no thinking, just running full speed for shelter, toward their blonde savior.
When the door shut behind them, the woman’s blue eyes softened. “Oh, you poor dears. Worry not—my home is enchanted to calm fraying nerves. You both appear to have many. Let me get you some tea and perhaps a snack?” Chocolate chip cookies were cooling on a rack, still soft from the oven.
Trystan took a cookie off the tray, shrugging when Evie looked at him, then raising one eyebrow when he saw she was trying to privately convey a message.
Evie was disturbed by a feeling brewing low in her belly. An instinct that said they should have taken their chances with the giant.
But there was no way to explain why she would feel that way.
In a house…made of sweets.