“Quite so,” I breathed, searching as far as I could see to my left and to my right. With the ground buzzing under us every so often, getting more powerful as time passed, my eyes widened entirely minutes later. “Shit.To our left.”
King Elon’s attention snapped in that direction, dirt falling off his forehead—but he didn’t move. He squinted into the distance and then breathed, “That is a bridge troll.”
I held my breath as the mammoth man came closer and closer, nearly blocking out the weak sunlight. “Does that hair look familiar to you?” It was so light it was almost white, with spiral curls down to his massive shoulders. “I think I’ve seen that before. With blood.”
The King of Gorgons swallowed and whispered, “If he’s kin to the bridge troll we skinned alive, I am certainly not telling him that. I think it would be wise to stay still until he passes.”
“Smartly so,” I breathed.
“You skinned a fucking Fae?” King Ula suddenly rasped on a dry throat, waking from his extensive rest. Thankfully, the bastard didn’t attempt to sit up. “Why wasn’t I invited? It’s a lovely pastime of mine.”
“Shh.” I didn’t move. I didn’t blink. I observed as the bridge troll paused directly before us and sniffed at the air. His forehead wrinkled in confusion before he shook his head and continued his journey. I only sighed in relief when his back faced us from far away. “Holy Fairy, that was closer than that six-headed rabbit that wouldn’t stop talking to herself.”
“That would be Lela. She’s harmless unless you’re playing cards with her. Never trust that rabbit’s foot. It isnotlucky. It ischeating.”
King Elon and I looked at each other.
It may have been the first moment we truly felt camaraderie with one another, our exhausted eyes locked and in no mood for this weird Fae bullshit.
The King of Gorgons swung his head to his left, where the dragon king lay on his other side. “How are you feeling? Better? Able to move yet?”
King Ula stretched, making the brush hiding us shiver. “I am completely refreshed. I think we can march on.” His golden eyes danced between my dirty face and the gorgon’s filthy features. “How long was I out?”
“Twelve hours, by my best guess.” I slowly sat up, with grass and twigs tumbling off my shoulders. I popped my lower back and then pointed at the sun, which was just as defective as the moon. “It’s hard to tell, but I believe that’s right.”
Minnie stirred from her nap and peeked opened sleepy eyes at me. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, love.” I leaned down and kissed her cute, puckered lips. “It’s time to move now.”
“He’s awake?”
“He is.”
“What should I call him? Can you tell me his name?”
King Ula chuckled softly and carefully stood, shaking off the brush we’d covered him with. “Heis right here.”
“What is your name?” Minnie questioned boldly, also rising to her feet. “I needsomethingto call you.”
The King of Dragons ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to shake out as much dirt as possible. Distracted, he mumbled, “You may call me Ula.”
“Thank you,” Minnie bowed to him, and three small twigs rained down from her hair. She ignored them as she straightened, as regal as any royal, despite looking like she’d been rolling around in a stable all day. “That’s much better than the names I was saying in my head.”
The King of Dragons glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. “Do I wish to know?”
“Doubtful,” Minnie muttered without remorse.
Instantly, I stepped forward, placing myself fully between them. I nodded my head at the dark forest, asking, “That is where we’re going, is it not?”
“It is.” The dragon king started stalking toward it, not even waiting for us. “Let us hurry. Traveling there at night is even worse.”
“That, I can believe.” I shivered in place, memories of the Blood Forest at the forefront of my mind. I took my soul mate’s free hand—her other already held a blade—and pulled us forward, following the dragon. “Are there any deer in there, perchance?”
King Ula’s shoulders shook while he chuckled. “No, but you’ll wish those pests were the worst that happened by the end.”
“That bad?”
“Thatbad.”
