Chapter Thirteen
Miriam
Analysing the map taking up a bigger part of the wall and coordinates to the woodlands Michael and his brother had chosen as our first stop was taking me a little longer than I would have preferred. My nails bit into my palm as my mind fixated on all the ways things could go sideways.
The room around us bustled with life and conversation, but all I could think of was that I had to portal us to a land I had never been to before, and such a feat came with risks I wouldn’t normally bear on my shoulders.
‘How much longer are you going to take?’ Luke asked, his irritated tone grating on my already thin patience.
After long hours of pleading with him to join and support me—to show everyone that we might actually make a great team—even I had started to doubt it.
His stubborn nature clashed with mine. My palms clenched tighter, as I explained, ‘I need to land us in the right spot to be safe.’
My fiancé smirked, staring across the office to where Ava stood with her mate and friends. ‘Nothing’s going to happen to me or you.’
I took a deep breath. ‘That leaves Michael. Or do you not care about anyone but yourself?’
‘Lord, why are you so irritable today? Some female shit, again?’ The scowl on his face infuriated me. ‘Besides, he’s fae, so even if you rip him to shreds, he’ll probably heal.’
A drop of blood rolled from where my nail pierced the skin, and I wiped it on my blouse. ‘I will make note of your wisdom, Luke. Thank you.’
I didn’t dare look at him. I might release a nightmare on him. And part of me wanted to.
I chose not to.
The first warning pressure rushed through my body, building and making it harder to focus. It took real effort not to let it out. It meant I would either need to unleash it on someone or do what I usually did and contain it. The only problem was the time. Ava needed all the help she could get.
My sister, whom I had been thrilled to find, was so young and so… damaged.
The word made something ache deep in my chest, but it was the truth.
The amount of trauma in her short life wasn’t something one could overcome easily, and as far as I could tell, she wasn’t even trying.
Ava endured it. Perhaps she was so used to pain and disaster that it no longer felt like something to run from.
But running toward the eye of a cyclone wasn’t the way to heal either.
It was our family’s responsibility to show her what peace could look like.
But first… I needed to find my own. The fortune-teller’s words echoed in my mind once more: You will find what you seek by your hundredth birthday, or death will come to claim what is owed.
Everything else she had foretold for me over the years came true in one way or another. Not always in ways one would expect. Perhaps that’s what Luke was to me… the unexpected solution.
Yet, there weren’t many people who could provoke me as easily as him. The rage he evoked in me sometimes lingered for days. But that’s just what love was. Losing yourself so deeply so you could mould yourself into a version your partner could live with. It just took time. I still had some.
‘Do you need any help?’ Michael approached, carrying three backpacks and some dark folded fabric.
‘What are you going to do, circle the spot she’s been analysing for the last fifteen minutes?’ Luke snapped, making me gasp at the venom in his usually controlled voice.
Michael stared him down until he averted his gaze. Without the usual smile, the Fire Prince looked menacing.
I wondered what it was like to stand at the wrong side of his flames. Could they burn a fae down?
‘These are yours. Please let me know when you’re ready to go. In the meantime, I’ll speak to my brother,’ Michael said, directing his words to me and ignoring my fiancé entirely.
Luke pushed himself off the wall, squaring off like he was ready to fight him. ‘So what, you’re the boss of this operation? You think you get to boss me around?’
‘What exactly is the problem?’ I asked him, dropping my arms. A couple more droplets of blood fell to the ground.
Michael shifted slightly behind me, noticing. His brows furrowed as he stared at my hands before getting back to Luke. ‘Do you think you’re capable of planning this search?’ he seethed. ‘What’s your experience, Luke?’
He stiffened, a furious gaze snapping to mine as if expecting me to defend him.
I crossed my arms to hide my damaged skin and waited.
‘Fuck this shit. I didn’t even want to come here. You always drag me into useless shit, Miriam,’ Luke screamed. ‘I’ll see you when you get back.’
And just like that, he was gone.
The room’s attention turned to me.
I hated that part the most.
The whispers made my skin crawl.
‘Um… so I suppose we won’t be needing three backpacks then,’ Michael said, his tone uncertain.
I blinked the hurt away and let out a big sigh. ‘I suppose not. We don’t need him anyway. He’d only slow us down.’
Michael’s eyes narrowed, not so discretely eyeing the crimson drops near my feet. ‘Oh, would he?’
‘Yes. He’s been pampered his entire life. A brisk walk would probably cripple him.’ I shrugged lightly and used my shadows to destroy the blood on the floor. Meanwhile, he unfolded the piece of fabric. ‘Anyway… I think I’m ready. What’s with this jacket?’
The stranger assessed me with a faint grin. ‘Yours is red.’
‘Burgundy, actually. Is there something wrong with it?’
His jaw flexed. ‘It’s beautiful, really; I love the flower embroidery on the cuffs. I would just prefer to keep a low profile. But you’re free to wear whatever you want. The one I brought has a heating option. I thought it might be useful—we’re heading south.’
‘You had me at heated,’ I admitted, taking mine off and allowing him to help slip the new one on.
His lips curved in amusement, and he placed the rucksack on my back. Thankfully, it looked heavier than it was.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Ava pulling on the same jacket. Sensible. Though she could have warmed herself with her fire.
I envied that.
‘I need to get something off my chest,’ I said, a little afraid of what he might think.
Michael tensed, hovering behind me while he fixed the adjustable straps.
‘Jumping to a place I’ve never been before comes with risks,’ I said slowly, trying not to alarm him.
He inched closer, repeatedly checking that both sides were adjusted evenly. I could see, in my peripheral vision, how grave his expression had become. ‘Wait, really? Can you get hurt?’
‘It’s more dangerous for those travelling with me,’ I explained. ‘It’s not like I haven’t done it before—I have, and nothing has gone wrong—but I want it to be your choice. We can take the car instead.’
The Fire Prince hesitated, clearly giving it some thought, growing unnervingly still. If he didn’t want to take the risk, I would understand.
I returned my attention to the map. There was enough doubt in my mind; I didn’t need his dwelling there as well.
‘It’s whatever you prefer, but I trust your… shadow transportation,’ he said after a moment.
I couldn’t contain the faint smile that tugged at my lips. ‘It’s called jumping.’
‘Jumping? Why?’
My shadows slipped from my hand to smooth a stubborn strand of hair beneath my beanie. ‘You’ll see. It’s easier to experience than to explain.’
The prince’s eyes tracked their movement. ‘So you’re comfortable doing it?’
‘It saves time.’ I nodded, feeling a little lighter now that he knew the risk. ‘And we don’t know how long we have before the hag commits another massacre.’
‘The Queen of Ortensia?’ he asked.
‘Who else?’