“And you know this how?”
Lia shrugged. “I listen.”
The healer gave her a hard look that said she knew about Dahlia’s late-night wanderings and didn’t approve.
“The question is if they will take humans,” Lia said, pursing her lips. “And what about Serenity?” She’d left theastryllein thewoods, only visiting once a week. The city was no place for the winged beastie. Plus, she garnered too much attention.
Loshika smiled, but it wasn’t kind. “They will if I ask nicely, but I don’t want it to come to that. It will be easier if I pass you off as my children. As for theastrylle, the caravan will be traveling through that part of the woods. You can call her then. Now, follow me across the road. There are more alleys that way.”
Lia nodded and trailed after Loshika, crossing the busy road. They kept their steps slow and steady as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Her skin crawled as if everyone knew her secret. Hours seemed to pass as they made their way toward the ice merchants.
She lifted her head slightly as they neared the end of the road—when a ghost white horse rounded the corner. Lia froze as old memories from her childhood crashed over her.
Horses screaming.
Black eyes.
Her mum’s cries.
“Lia?” Cosmos murmured. He jostled her with his shoulder, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the horse and its rider.
A Haunt.
One of the king’s elite.
Not only that.
It was Flyka.
Lia began to shake at the sight of the warrior woman in white armor.
“Oh gods,” she whispered. Death was coming for her, and she had a feeling it would not be swift.
Run.
Loshika appeared on her right, blocking her from the street. “I see her, my lady. Stay to my left, and we’ll get you out. Keep calm. They are not here for us. I can hear many horses. It is partof the army. They’re on their way to the border. Grab her arm, Cos.”
Cosmos looped his arm with her left, and Loshika took her right. They managed to get Lia moving. It was as if she’d been disconnected from her body. She shook as Flyka’s harsh gaze passed over them. It was as if she could feel the warrior’s attention.
The sleds and merchants hovered near the tree line. They only had to make it that far.
The ring of hooves on cobbles cut through the din.
Dahlia lifted her head and glanced over her shoulder and caught a glimpse of a ghost.
Her legs crumpled beneath her, and only Cosmos and Loshika kept Lia upright. She gasped, not able to catch her breath. Her brother squeezed her arm as if begging her to stay silent.
It wasn’t possible.
Shiny indigo skin.
Black braids with silver trinkets.
Long tapered ears with onyx piercings. Lia reached up to touch her matching one and the mourning piercing she’d gotten in his honor. It twinged with pain.
She blinked hard at the mirage that sat regally atop a war horse with sharp teeth.
“Neve,” she whispered. Her husband. Her one secret love.
