in the loom its secrets unfold.
Once a bridge of finder’s luck,
now a curse to madness struck.
What did that mean? Azulo’s wide aquamarine eyes flickered to the window again, and he rapidly shifted back into a fox. Dyna put away the scroll as the den’s green door opened.
Leoake stepped through, letting Fair in. “It’s time. Here, take this.” He shoved something in her hand. “To keep you from retching again.”
“Thank you…” Though Dyna doubted it was because he cared. She studied the glass vial with a translucent pink liquid. “What is it?”
“Water.” He shrugged at her skeptical frown. “Healing waters with the power to cure nearly any ailment, even on the brink of death.”
Her eyes widened. “Am I ill?”
“The In Between wasn’t made for humans to use. The air is poisonous to you.” Leoake shut the door and drew the curtain over the windows. Returning to the door, he yanked on the red lever. A crackle of dark energy crawled over her skin.
Dyna quickly drank the potion. It tasted of sweetened rose water. Whatever was in it seemed to settle her stomach.
“Let’s get on with it then,” Leoake grumbled as he reached for the doorknob, and she clutched Fair’s reins.
Normally, he was so nonchalant. Cynical. But only in situations, she realized, when he knew what was going to happen. That meant he couldn’t see everything. Deviating from his little game had irritated him, because it changed his plans.
“Leoake.”
He paused.
“What are you scheming?”
A smirk played on his lips. “Chaos in order and madness in reason.”
She glowered. “Do you always speak in riddles?”
“Only on special occasions.”
“You want something on the island, don’t you?”
The Druid flicked away the accusation like swatting a fly. “I care nothing for gold and jewels.”
Of course not. His fingers were bedecked in fine rings, and a pink pearl glinted on his pointed ear. With such lavish clothing, it was clear he had no need for wealth when he already had it. Many have paid well for his services.
“And yet I didn’t ask if you wanted gold.”
His expression danced with amusement. The fae could speak no lies, but they found ways to twist truths. He pulled open the door, revealing a spiral of golden light. “Ladies first.”
Dyna clutched Fair’s reins. But now that she would get what she wanted, she hesitated to go through. Every warning that her Guardians gave her, every time Cassiel accused her of recklessness, surfaced in her mind. She was headed straight for the most dangerous man alive.
Why did she expect to survive this?
“You have seen my future,” Dyna said. “Tell me the truth. If I go after him, will I die?”
Smiling sharply, the Druid leaned in close and murmured in her ear, “Not today.”
An icy current swept down her spine. There was no point in considering what that could mean. He was only teasing her.
Even if he wasn’t, everyone would meet their end one day. But this was her life, and only she would decide how it would end.
Taking a deep breath, Dyna stepped through the Door.
