Your mother failed, why would you succeed?
Everything around her shifted and swirled. The leaves that once sang now hissed, the sky that was gold instead turned a mossy green. And inside her, everything bled, everything cried.
“Sol? Sol.” Hands, warm and soft, grasped her face, and she was met with silver eyes. “You need to get it together.”
Her tears were acid as she whispered, “Who am I?”
The man pursed his lips, his brows furrowing. “You’re Sol Yarrow. You’re a barmaid who makes terrible tea. You’re stubborn, but fiercely loyal.” Sol exhaled.
“The rest will come with time, Princess. For now, know we are all glad you’re here,” he continued. “And those who aren’t are the
exact people who shouldn’t be.” She angled her head.
Cas. The man’s name was Cas.
The memory of him spread like a sigh.
“Have you always been so handsome? Can you carry me out of here, or are your muscles just for show?” She lifted her hand, tracing the soft edges of his jaw.
Cas laughed, but his eyes drifted closed as he leaned into her touch. “You’re going to be very embarrassed when the Kerproot wears off.”
Sol traced lazy circles over his skin, resisting the urge to smile when his eyes pulled open to watch her. “I remember thinking you were mean. Are you mean?”
A small laugh vibrated between them. “Sometimes, I suppose.” “Nope.” She shook her head, then let it drop against his chest. “I remember you being always mean.”
For a moment, he didn’t answer. To Sol’s surprise, he wove his fingers into her hair, holding her close before responding. “I’m sorry, Sol. For what I said yesterday. For not even trying to help Phil back there, or Felice and her brother...” He sighed against her, his breath sending a wave of shivers through her. “I—I can’t risk making a mistake to help others and in turn losing you.”
She peered up at him. He was so close she could make out strings of cobalt in his gray eyes, and the slight sadness that swam within. Despite the pull of the Kerproot, she whispered, “I can’t let the bad people win again.”
Cas clenched his jaw, as if he might have said something more.
But the flash of contemplation left as quickly as it came.
“Come on.” He pulled her up. “Let’s get out of here.”
To Sol’s dismay, he did not carry her the rest of the way.
Twenty Nine
ENEMIES AND ALLIES
MERCIFULLY,EVERYONE SURVIVEDFlora’s Trail. The good news placated Sol and gave her at least a little more emotional room to let the Kerproot dwindle out of her system.
Sol watched the forest through the carriage’s window, fighting against the Kerproot’s sweet lullaby. She was condemned to ride back with Cattya, Cas, and Zeri, while Jonah, Phil, Ezra, and Cade took another. The names swirled in Sol’s brain, oily and thick, as they slammed into a pounding headache. She couldn't deny the forest dwellers—real or not—had shaken her. They weren't wrong. What was she doing here?
“You must close the Jinn gate before the moon shields the sun,
Yarrow. After that, there will be no hope.”
“There is no other way.”
Sol closed her eyes and let her forehead press against the cool glass. Screw the talking leaves. Sol would be fine. Everything would be fine.
“First time the oh-so-innocent-Princess has done Kerproot?” Cattya snickered, twirling her loose hair around a finger. “I’ve heard it makes some people sick. Not me, though. I’ve always had a great tolerance for it.”
“She took two doses,” Cas reminded, inching away from the flick of her hair. “That would make anyone sick.”
Cattya waved a hand in dismissal. “When I Awakened, I smoked Kerproot for days straight. Felt fineafterward.”
