“What?” I sit bolt upright. “No!”
“You really thought there was a way to outwit us?” Tam Lin chuckles, pleased to have the upper hand.
“Where is Hazel?” I growl. “Where is my sister?”
“Her whereabouts are the least of your worries,” Tam Lin says as the carriage comes to an abrupt halt. “We’re here.”
He jumps out of the carriage. I attempt to look out to see where ‘here’ might be but discover my strength has deserted me.
All I can do is stare up at the billowing canopy and curse the so called resistance who told me Hazel would be safe if I volunteered to go in her place. At the same time, my heart is in pieces. I daren’t close my eyes because I know I will see the arrow hit Linton over and over.
A sob escapes my lips. Everything is destroyed. I have lost my Linton to the Faerie and now it seems I have lost my sister too.
I have nothing left.
Nothing at all.
LINTON
“So, how do you know so much about Tam Lin’s plans?” I growl, increasing my pace to keep up with Warden who has changed to his Brag form.
“I don’t.”
“Then why am I following you?”
“Because you have no alternative to get back into the Night Lands.”
“I can get back into the Night Lands if I want.”
“You were walking in the completely wrong direction when we left your place.” Warden tosses his head.
“I was checking for Redcaps.”
He snorts at my lie.
“I thought Bluecaps were good at navigating” he says.
“If there is a moon.” I make an exaggerated gesture at the sunlit sky.
“Seems like a pointless ability to have,” Warden mutters.
“Depends whether you like the dark or not. I am deadliest in the dark.”
“You are annoying in the dark.”
I clutch at my chest. “Oh, my wound. I don’t think I can go on.”
“If you think for one single second I’m letting your bloodsucking form on my back, you need to think again,” Warden growls.
“I’m in my mating cycle,” I retort. “I only feed from my mate.”
“Lucky female,” Warden rasps. “What did she do to deserve you?”
“She accepted me for what I am.” I move ahead of Warden. “And she let me put my spicket in her…”
“I don’t need to know.” Warden puts on a spurt of speed and trots past me, kicking up dust. “Really, I don’t need to know your weird mating practices.”
I decide Warden is simply jealous of my mating prowess. Which is understandable. I have a mate, but he does not.
