Chapter 13
Astrange ache fills my heart as we walk away from the cabin. It’s like I’m losing Bastian, Grayson, and Evie all over again. But it’s mixed with the excitement of an adventure to a strange place.
Levi stops beside the garden and picks a delicate white flower. He places it in my hair, letting his hand linger beside my face. “My beautiful travel companion.”
I purse my lips, feeling my cheeks flush. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
He takes the familiar path through the woods leading to the field where I train with Bastian. It’s empty except for a robin looking for its breakfast. Not expecting trouble, I only carry a dagger inside my cloak, leaving my arrows behind in the weapons cabinet.
There’s a group of men throwing axes at a makeshift target in the Grove, laughing and slapping each other on the back when one of them splits the wood. We skirt around the perimeter and pass between two cottages into the primary thoroughfare of the village. A woman lumbers down the dirt path carrying a laundry basket. Beside her, two toddlers struggle to keep up, sometimes tripping on the ruts in the road. An older man holds a board up beside a window, nailing it to the side of the house. The smell of smoke fills the air, rising from the chimneys of the cottages, along with the sound of a lonely rooster announcing the beginning of a new day.
“They are all Redeemed,” Levi signs to me as we pass a man chopping wood outside his cottage. “Born to the wilderness, they hold no loyalty to Avren.”
A woman exits the cottage, and the man with the ax lays it down. He snatches the woman’s waist, causing her to giggle, and pulls her into a kiss. Her stomach bulges to an abnormal size. I try not to stare.
“Good morning, Levi,” she calls waving.
Levi walks over to the couple and shakes hands with the man. “Agnes… Cooper. This is the newest member of our family, Mari Windsong.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Agnes holds out her hand to shake mine, but I can’t take my eyes from her stomach. It is the first time I’ve seen a pregnant woman. “I’m putting on a few pounds,” she laughs.
“Mari came from Avren.” Levi wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “There’s a lot of new things in our world.”
Agnes steps closer to us. Wisps of her dark curly hair, tied back in a flowered kerchief, catch the early morning light. “Give me your hand.”
Unsure what to think, I hold it out to her. She grasps my fingers and places my palm on her stomach. I flash my eyes to her in horror. While I did hug my parents, I never touched a stranger in such an intimate way. I want to remove my hand, but she holds it steady, winking at me.
My breath catches as a sensation rolls against my palm. “What was that?”
“She’s kicking.” Agnes releases my hand, but I keep my palm firmly against her stomach, desperate for more of this new life. The foot pushes against her stomach again. “Due in about a month.”
“Aggie insists it’s a girl.” Cooper throws an arm around the woman I assume is his wife. “There’s a bet running among the men in the village.”
Besides the dangers lurking in the darkness, this is the fundamental difference I see between the life of a Redeemed woman and a Citizen: the freedom to choose and express romantic feelings by having a child of her own. It draws me to this life more than anything else.
Walking away from Agnes and Cooper, I slip my fingers beneath the straps of my backpack, lifting it higher on my shoulders. “Why do Bastian and Evie hate me so much? I mean, I know I grew up in Avren, but so did Gray.”
“They don’t hate you.” He takes my hand. “They don’t understand you.”
“And that’s the thing.” I skirt around a pile of horse dung in the middle of the road. “You don’t understand the Avren mindset, but you welcomed me with open arms.”
“I’m a quarter fae, part of the deaf community, and lived in a pigsty for over a year.” He stops and takes both of my hands, his eyes large behind his glasses. “I know what it’s like to not fit in—to be the one who’s ostracized. Bastian and Evie have always held a place among the Redeemed. If I don’t accept others after finding my own place to fit in, I’m the worst kind of hypocrite.”
I release his hand and hold my palm over his chest. “I think it’s your heart. You don’t have a mean bone in your body.”
His lips tug into a warm smile as he turns to continue walking, still clinging to my hand.
The sun is high above us when we reach the Lake of Glass. It is a massive body of water reaching as far as my eyes can see. Light shimmers on the crests of tiny waves lapping against the shoreline. Other than in books and the stream following the path from Avren to the cabin, I’ve never seen a natural body of water, and it’s as breathtaking as the luminescent forest.
“It’s called the Lake of Glass because of the way it looks in the early morning and at twilight. It’s so calm, you can use its surface as a mirror.” Removing his glasses, he crouches, scoops water into his hands, and washes his face. “I believe there’s a magical element to it.”
“What do you mean?” I kneel beside him, fascinated by small fish darting in schools through the shallow water.
“Legend has it that if you enter the lake when it’s completely calm like glass, the water has transformational qualities. An old woman who submerges herself completely can exit as a young woman again.” He raises a shoulder, then signs without talking.
I adjust myself so I’m facing him. “What did you just say?”
“Sorry.” He gives me a coy smile. “I don’t like to swear out loud. The others think it’s a bunch of shit—tales made up by the fae on the other side of the lake so they can drown unsuspecting people when no one else is around.”
“And do they?” Maybe Levi didn’t tell me the complete truth about the Seelie Court.
“People have drowned in the Lake of Glass, but there’s no proof it was the fae any more than there’s proof it was a Miscrete or even an accident.” He stands, stretching his arms over his head. “We still have a long way to go.” In other words, he doesn’t want to talk about the drownings. Opening his pack, he removes a piece of bread, slices it with his dagger, and fills it with bacon.
I do the same as my stomach growls for the first time since we left the cabin. Other than the piece of bacon I swiped from the pan, I haven’t eaten anything all day. The energy the food brings is evident within minutes as I finish the sandwich.
Levi hands me a canteen, and I wash my food down with cold water.
“Rumsford sits at the south end of the lake. There’s an inn I like to stay at when I travel to Mafekadi. It’s not too much farther to get there, but it’s safer to stay with humans than with the fae.” He helps me lift my pack over my cloak.
We skirt the edge of the lake along the well-worn trail, climbing over boulders and wading through offshoot streams. With the breeze from the lake whipping through my hair and the sun warm on my face, never have I ever felt more alive. In the city walls of Avren, I witnessed artificial nature—a fountain, houseplants, an occasional animal brought in to garner oohs and aahs from the crowd. This… this is a whole other level. And in a small way, it makes me understand why my father left to live here.
By midafternoon, I see the gables and rooftops of a town poking out from the trees on the edge of the lake. It must be Rumsford, but I can’t ask Levi because he’s too far ahead to hear me. Foothills and tall mountains rise behind the forest, adding to the breathtaking beauty of the lake. Mafekadi lies somewhere in the hills above Rumsford. Exhausted, I add a slight jog to my step to keep up.
“Keep close to me in the town,” Levi says, finally stopping to let me catch my breath. I hope he doesn’t walk so fast when we’re going uphill tomorrow. “People are friendly, but like most places in the wilderness, there’s always a mixture of creatures who pass through.”
Images of the werewolf tearing into Tanner’s neck and the feeling of the vampire’s ice-cold breath on my own send ripples of fear through my body. While Grayson and Bastian are bigger men, trained to kill, I’m not sure if the same is true for Levi. And it’s definitely not true for me.
Rumsford’s buildings are much larger than the small cottages in the Grove. Brown wooden structures rise two stories beside us as we walk into the town. People mingle in the streets, some walking, some working, others standing in groups. The weight of stares is heavier than the pack on my back.
I lean into Levi, looping my arm through his and keeping my free hand on my dagger inside my cloak. We need to appear innocent but not easily manipulated. The strict laws in Avren, along with the fear of eviction, keep most Citizens in line. This is the wilderness where those safeguards no longer exist.
A tall man with long, silver hair bumps into me as he passes. Not bothering to stop, he turns his head back and glares at me with eyes of glowing amber. I want to ask Levi about him, but I’m too scared to stop so he can see my lips. It’s better if we keep moving.
The Ironhorse Inn lies on the far end of town closest to the foothills. A metal sign with a horse on it sways, squeaking in the breeze.
“Is the name intentional?” I ask, remembering my weapons training lesson with Bastian. Iron kills fairies.
“More like an inside joke.” Levi scratches his head after signing. “Mafekadi and Rumsford have a mutual understanding. Don’t kill and don’t be killed. Both towns live in peace this way.”
“Can iron kill you since you’re part fae?”
He steps onto the threshold of the inn. “Just like any other weapon can kill a human.”
The downstairs portion of the Ironhorse is comprised of a dining area, complete with a bar, and dotted with tables alongside dark secluded booths. As it’s not dinnertime yet, only a few patrons sit at the counter.
The woman at the bar looks up as she’s wiping down a glass. “Can I help the two of you?”
“We need a room for the night.” Levi places a bag of coins on the counter. “My wife and I are here to visit her sister, who’s heavy with child.”
My cheeks flush with Levi’s words. There’s a method to his madness, but it inflames me all the same, not with anger but embarrassment. The only man I ever thought about marrying was Flynn. With the Council’s matching of eligible singles after they turn eighteen, it was a looming event. Here, in the wilderness, marriage thoughts don’t enter my mind as often. It’s more about survival.
“I’ve got two left.” The woman places the glass on a shelf behind her. “One at the top of the stairs—the honeymoon suite.” She waggles her eyebrows. “The other is farther down the hall with a smaller bed.”
“We’ll take the second one.” Levi counts out the coins to pay for the room. “Will dinner be served down here tonight?”
“Rack of lamb.” The bartender’s cheeks and chest puff out as she smiles. “Cooked it myself this morning.”
“Sounds delicious.” Levi takes the key and my hand, leading me away from the bar.
Our room is four doors down on the right from the top of the stairs. It’s about the size of our room in the cabin, but the bed isn’t as big as our two mattresses pushed together.
“No worries,” Levi signs. “I can sleep on the floor. I don’t want our room at the top of the stairs where anyone can slip in.”
“You’re not sleeping on the floor.” I fluff the pillows on the bed before jumping onto it. The springs squeak in protest. “I’ll sleep on my side. We’ll have plenty of room.”
We take turns walking down the hall to a commonly shared bathroom to wash up, then take a brief nap before heading downstairs for dinner.
People pack the dining area. It’s as if all the residents we saw on the street came into the Ironhorse to continue their boisterous conversations. It is literally deafening, making me jealous of Levi only hearing muffled sounds.
As if by miracle, Levi finds an empty table near the center of the room with three chairs. We squeeze through the patrons to find our seats.
“I’ll get us a couple of beers,” Levi shouts, turning away before I can protest.
The act of committing sins against Avren will take some getting used to if I want to survive in the wilderness. Drinking, swearing, kissing and doing other things with the opposite or same sex are all forbidden in the city.
It’s only a drink, Maribel. Get yourself together.
Levi returns with two mugs of beer and sets one in front of me, the liquid sloshing over the side. “I ordered our dinner, so it will be here soon.”
With the surrounding noise, I wish I knew sign language. It would make our conversation so much easier. I lift the mug to my lips and take a sip of the bitter liquid, trying not to make a face as it slides down my throat. It isn’t exactly what I expected from a forbidden beverage. I must make some kind of face because Levi is trying hard not to laugh.
Instead of owning up to my naiveté, I look over his shoulder, taking in the sights and sounds of the Ironhorse. The man with the silver hair who bumped into me in the street sits at the bar. He’s looking right at me and raises his glass when our eyes meet.
I quickly avert mine back to Levi, not wanting to draw any attention in our direction. Why is a man well into his twenties, and extremely good-looking, interested in a seventeen-year-old clearly sitting with another man?
“Don’t turn around.” I clutch Levi’s hands in mine. “There’s a man staring at me from the bar.”
Levi’s first instinct is to turn, so I grab the side of his face and pull him into a kiss, regretting it the second it starts. He responds, reluctantly at first but then moving his hand to the side of my face, cradling my cheek.
I pull away, only far enough that he can read my lips. His eyes are brighter than I’ve ever seen them. “He’s locked onto me, so I needed to show him we’re a couple.”
My companion drops his gaze, unable to hide his disappointment. I hate that I hurt him. “I’m going to the bar to get another beer so I can get a good look at him.”
He leaves, and I feel exposed in a world of strangers. Mr. Tall, Silver, and Good-Looking takes the opportunity of Levi’s departure to cross the room and fill his seat. My heart is in my throat, staring into his unnatural amber eyes. I can’t look away.
“I’m Quinn Malum.” He holds out a hand as if he expects me to kiss it. His fingers are impossibly long and white. “And you are?”
I don’t respond to his hand dangling in the center of the table. “Maribel Windsong,” I choke out, unsure if I’m addressing royalty. I glance up at the bar. Levi freezes, beer in hand and eyes wide. My pulse quickens, knowing he’s afraid to return to our table.
“What a lovely name for such a ravishing woman.” Quinn doesn’t need to smile to capture my attention. His eyes hold me in the palm of his hand, and I don’t know how to break free. “Are you here with your husband?”
“Uh… no,” I stammer, feeling like the least eloquent person in the world. “He’s only a friend.”
Quinn quirks an eyebrow, suspecting my charade. “Ah, a friend with benefits. Or are you always so familiar with your friends?” He leans in closer, moving to the seat beside me almost magically. “If this is true, how do we become friends, Maribel Windsong?”
What is it about this guy that has me so enamored? It feels unnatural, like really wanting to eat a ton of desserts from the Sweet Street Bakery but knowing I’ll have a massive stomachache afterward. Quinn Malum is a ten-layer cake with buttercream icing.
“Are you from around here, Mr. Malum?” The formal question is a way to avoid his obvious forward intentions. “You seem different than most people in this town.”
He scoots closer to me in his chair and gathers my hands into his. An icy chill runs down my back at his touch, but I can’t look away. “I’ve traveled here from the north. I have business in Mafekadi with a distant relative. No one told me the human women are so captivating in the south. There’s something about you, Maribel.” With him this close, I’m enveloped by a woodsy scent, like moss and rotting leaves on the walk from the cabin to the Grove.
“Are you fae?” I ask. It makes sense. His unnatural good looks, the way he has me almost under a spell, and having relatives in Mafekadi.
“I’m a courtier in Frostacre. Have you heard of it?” He arches a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
“Only recently. I’m new to the wilderness, so I’m only learning.” I bite down on my lip.
That was an incredibly dumb thing to say.
His long fingers intertwine with mine as a beguiling smile crosses his lips. “You are from Avren.” It’s a statement. Obvious with my lack of understanding of the dangers of the wilderness. “Then you need someone to teach you all the benefits of this world.” When he pitches forward, his long hair sweeps over my arm and his lips almost touch my ear as he whispers, “Let me be that man.”
My skin is on fire. I don’t know if it’s the brush of Quinn’s hair on my arm or registering what he means by “showing me the ways of this world,” but it has me burning up.
“You’re in my seat.” Levi stands next to us, his face sheet white. “I need to ask you to leave.”
Quinn looks up at Levi, pursing his lips and trying not to laugh. “You have fae blood, boy, but only a half-, maybe a quarter-blood.” He tilts his head to the side, appraising him. “Your friend here is bewitching. I’m not sure what it is yet. Make sure you keep a close eye on her for me. Don’t want a vamp too curious about what’s brewing in her blood.” He stands, picks up my hand, and kisses it. “No worries, Maribel Windsong. I will circle back to find you soon.”
And then he’s gone, and I’m suddenly an empty shell, unsure of how my life will go on without his presence.
“I’m so stupid.” Levi takes the seat beside me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Are you ok?”
My skin feels clammy, as if I’m getting sick, but I have too many questions I need answered. One in particular. “Tell me more about who you and Grayson think I am.”
He squeezes my shoulder, hanging his head. When he looks up, there are tears in his eyes. “Come up to the room, and I’ll tell you everything.”