Chapter 27
My hair catches on the breeze, grazing my lips, and I cast a glance to my left.
Rydian has walked quietly beside Sable with his hood up ever since we left Milena’s.
He wanted to walk to Alvonia and has done so in complete and utter silence.
I assume it has to do with the new information we received.
On the bright side, if I were to find my missing memories, I’d be able to get them back. If King Elion even decided to keep them. With my luck, he probably tossed my valuable memories into the nearest river and went along with his day.
That wretched king. All these years he’s been pulling memories and experimenting with Fae, and we never even knew it.
It’s a miracle Milena got out alive when she did, though I can’t help but wonder what it was like for my mother—stuck alone in a castle with no allies and a secret heritage.
I shake my head at the thought of it being very similar to my current situation and begin to wonder who she knew.
If she stayed in the castle twenty-six years ago, it’s possible someone could have known her at the time.
Unfortunately for Rydian, this new information means that the second-in-command still walks the realm and works for the king.
Although I don’t blame him for his current mood, I do find myself wishing I had the knowledge of who the second-in-command is if it could give him an ounce of happiness.
To soothe the rough edges of his heart, knowing it’s why he’s remained silent on our trek back.
But I don’t, and it’s just one more missing piece to the never-ending mystery—my memories.
But what else did they take from me? If King Elion only wanted to wipe my past, wouldn’t he have left my recent memories alone? Other than that time at the orphanage. I can understand why he would want to wipe that, but everything else?
I find it odd I don’t know much about the castle or who King Elion works with. Why wouldn’t I know about the second-in-command? Then it crosses my mind—King Elion must want to keep him hidden for a reason, but why?
The saddle groans beneath me as I adjust to the empty space at my back, and for whatever reason, I miss the steadiness and warmth Rydian provided.
We keep a steady pace, and I listen to the trees rustling in the breeze as the thick of it finally lets up, the Twin Valley resting in the distance.
We’ve been riding for an hour, meaning we should be in Alvonia soon, spotting the slight left curve in the path ahead.
The sun makes its descent in the sky as the chill of the evening begins to settle, wrapping around me like ice. Nighttime quickly approaches.
I didn’t realize how late it’s getting, but hopefully no one will notice my absence. Suddenly, a chill snakes down my spine, slow and ominous. I shudder, recalling how familiar it feels as a wave of unease settles over me.
Goosebumps form on my arms and an eerie silence falls, the only sounds in the vast forest being our breathing and Rydian’s solid steps, as if every bird decided to sleep at once.
Squinting, I scan the open space before glancing at Rydian, watching as he keeps his steady pace on the path, as if nothing is amiss.
I adjust again, squirming on the saddle.
“Rydian,” I whisper, and he grunts at me. “Something’s not right. We need to hurry.”
He keeps his gaze forward and gives me a quiet huff of amusement. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a little forest.”
“I’m not joking. Something is off,” I hiss, but he ignores me, letting silence fall between us again for a few breaths. He keeps his leisurely, carefree pace when I suddenly kick my boot out and connect it with his back, causing him to snap forward. Sable comes to an abrupt stop.
“Are you even listening to me?” I growl.
Rydian whirls around with a glare, holding tightly to the reins.
“There’s nothing wrong or I would have noticed it.
Though I’m happy to remind you that you’re the reason we took a horse today.
We’re almost to the city—or are you only saying that because you want me to join you on the saddle again?
” He gives me a teasing grin, and it takes everything in me not to smack it right off his face. “Just ask, if that’s the case.”
“Are you always like this?” I snap. “No, I don’t want you back on my saddle, you snubby, arrogant king.”
As soon as the words leave me, Sable shuffles and stomps her feet, leaving me to palm my daggers in an instant.
Rydian’s expression shifts, the hard lines of his jaw feathering as he scans the area in a slow circle, palming his own daggers.
Sable becomes increasingly more agitated, throwing her head up and down.
I throw Rydian a menacing glare just as she enters my mind.
“The air is different here,” Sable says, huffing.
“I fucking told you,” I tell Rydian, quietly hopping off the saddle to meet him at his side. “Do you believe me now?”
“We don’t know if it’s anything yet,” he says casually, but the way his body is rigid and taut tells me he doesn’t believe his own words. That he’s only trying to calm my unease.
But it’s not working. I’ve felt this type of unease before, and that was in the Twin Valley with the Grokees. I wouldn’t be surprised if more creatures venture out and into the Whispering Woods. We’re close enough to the valley that it could be possible.
Evening creeps in, leaving a nasty bite in the wind as clouds of my breath form around my face. A dense fog settles at our feet, winding through the trees as hues of blue and orange cast a soft glow across the forest floor. Then a light crunching sounds to our right.
We whirl toward the noise, but after a few minutes of waiting, nothing happens. I grip Sable’s reins to keep her calm when I catch Rydian’s smug smirk peering down at me, and I roll my eyes.
“See, it’s nothing,” he says.
Then suddenly, a loud screech pierces the air and something crashes into both of us, throwing us forward and into Sable with a hard smack.
I cry out as my face connects with the edge of the hard leather.
My right cheek stings just as Sable throws her head back and whinnies, rearing on her back legs, front hooves slicing through the air.
“No!” I shout.
Rydian grunts behind me, and Sable’s sudden movement has me grappling for the reins. Without warning, a sharp sting travels down my left calf and I cry out, losing my grip on Sable. Then she’s gone, galloping down the path, leaving me to hope she finds her way back to Alvonia.
Whirling to face the creature reaching for me again, I dart back from its shocking appearance. It’s nothing I’ve ever seen before.
It’s gaunt and as large as any Fae, looking as if it used to be one with its pointed ears.
Only this one is pale with milky white eyes.
It looks as if it’s been starving its entire life by its thin appearance, razor-sharp claws, and tattered clothes.
Skin is missing in places, exposing bone along its arms and jaw.
Just like the Grokees.
Its thin lip suddenly curls into a snarl, screeching again, the sound slicing through the air. I wince, fighting the urge to cover my ears. My breath catches, and I scramble as it begins crawling toward me on all fours in a blur of frenzied speed.
Oh my gods, why is it crawling?
It throws me off guard, but I quickly twist, barely missing its claws and sharp teeth as I lunge forward to stab it through the temple before it reaches me.
“What the fuck?” I pant as it slumps on the ground, and then I whirl to find Rydian fighting off three more. On instinct, I quickly throw a dagger, hitting one in the eye as he cuts down one and then slices through the other with a pained cry.
“Are you okay?” I exhale, stumbling toward him.
He pants, breathing ragged, but when he turns to me, I notice the raw, jagged gashes marking his shoulder and forearm.
Blood drips to the ground in uneven splatters.
My eyes go wide as I assess him, and that’s when I feel the pain throbbing in my leg, forcing myself to ignore it.
The wind howls in the distance, the orange glow of the sky continuing its descent. Evening has made its final appearance.
“We need to get out of here,” I say.
He gives me a slight nod just as another ear-piercing screech cuts through the air behind me, eyes going wide with fear. I pivot in time to watch as the creature flies toward me, right for my face.
Within a breath, I’m suddenly yanked into his chest.
Everything goes black as nausea suddenly rises, my stomach twisting in a whirl of movement as we enter the Veil. But before I can make sense of what happened, we both land near a small cave by a river with a quiet groan and a loud thud.
Rydian holds me tight against his chest, but the weight becomes unsteady when he releases me, stumbling back to brace himself against the stone of the cave.
His skin is pale, breathing labored. I glance down—his right shoulder and forearm are shredded, leaving his clothes bloody, hanging off him in pieces.
Gods, it looks terrible. And as if the emotion is involuntary, panic rises in my chest, and I bend down to meet his gaze, inspecting him.
Even though I know that he can’t die, I find myself mentally praying to whatever fates who listen that he lives through it.
My heart skips as I realize that I would be devastated if he died.
“Rydian,” I get out, gripping his chin to hold his gaze as my other hand attempts to stabilize him. “Where are we? We need to get you to a Healer, and we need to do it now.”
He only shakes his head, closing his eyes. “I just need… rest. We’re near Arcan.”
“What do you mean?” I grind out. “Why didn’t you take us to Alvonia or the loft?”
Arcan is south of Alvonia by almost two days, which means he’s landed us in an entirely different location in the middle of the woods. Great.
I stand, giving the area a quick scan. The river roars behind us, flowing at a steady pace, so we’ll have plenty of water.
Surrounded by trees, firewood is no issue, but we might be without a decent meal besides what I have packed in the bag that’s now slung across my back.
He groans again, and I glance down to meet his stare.
“I’m injured… which drains me,” he mumbles, taking a deep breath.
“Which also means that… the location I originally aimed for when traveling through the Veil didn’t quite line up…
and instead, landed us here.” He groans again, pushing himself off the wall, cradling his arm.
“I’m afraid we’re stranded until I heal, unless you want to give traveling through the Veil a shot? ”
A groan escapes me, and I turn from him with a shake of my head, knowing damn well I won’t be able to muster enough magic to risk traveling with both of us. We’re stuck here for the night.
“That’s what I thought,” he mumbles. “I’ve been here before, though. This cave is empty so we can stay here and Veil back in the morning.”
“Fine, but I’m still inspecting it in case it’s not. Just stay here. I’ll be right back,” I mutter and attempt to walk away but the adrenaline has worn off, leaving me limping. I bite my lip to keep from crying out when Rydian grips my wrist, gently pivoting me toward him.
“You’re injured,” he mutters. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I’m fine,” I say, pulling my arm away.