“In the schoolhouse.”
A beat of silence echoed around us. “You didn’t bite into it, did you?”
“No.” My heart picked up speed. “Why? Do you think it’s poisoned or something?” His answering silence made my throat tighten. As I stared at the perfect red apple, my stomach decided this was the right moment to grumble. “What if it’s not poisoned, though?”
He tipped his head to the side and squeezed one of his eyes a little shut, sending me ahow-big-a-fool-are-youlook.
My stomach protested. Just because fresh produce wasimprobablein a place like this didn’t mean it was impossible. Maybe it was some sort of gift to prisoners. A way to keep them alive so they could be tortured one more day.
“Does your father know this place exists?” Remo’s question towed my attention off the apple.
“I don’t think so.” He’d never mentioned it to me. “Your grandfather really never mentioned this place to you?”
“Not once.”
“Do you think anyone could actually still be alive?”
He pressed his lips together and slid them back and forth, as though mulling my question over. “Well, I’ve found zero traces of life, and no water, so my guess is that if anyone’s alive, they’ve moved away from this quaint little town.”
Little, sure, but there was nothing quaint about it.
He stared at the tunnel in the mountain. “Until we know the extent of—”
“We?”
“As much as it pains me to suggest this, Trifecta, it might be safer to travel together than alone.” Must’ve pained him a hell of a lot because he couldn’t even meet my eyes when he suggested it.
My hands slid off my hips. “Ifwetravel together, then we need to lay down some rules.”
“Rules?” His green eyes snapped to my face. “Shall I remind you that you arenothinghere, Amara Wood? Neither princess nor queen.Nothing. There is no calling Iba or Nimafor help.” He pronounced the Gottwa names for Mom and Dad that I’d adopted over the Faeli designation with disgust. “There are no servants to do your bidding. No guards to protect you. And your little collection of powers . . . it doesn’t work here.”
And here I thought I’d reached the pinnacle of my aversion for this boy, but there wassomuch farther to go. “Screw you. You don’t know the first thing about me. And as far as traveling, I’ll make my own way because I’d rather have my own back than be followed by someone who wants nothing more than to plant a knife inside of it.”
Had he brought one?Lucionagausually carried weapons, but Remo was still wearing his formal engagement attire. “I wouldn’t befollowingyou. I’m not a dog.”
“No. Dogs are devoted and kind. You don’t know the first thing about kindness.”
I jumped down onto the tracks, which were much lower than I anticipated. Ankles and shinbones smarting from my leap, I grabbed my apple, then straightened up. Chin raised high, I marched along the tracks toward the mountain, because like everything in this damn town, the locomotive was surely a useless prop.
“You walk away, and I shelve my offer!” Remo called out.
Like. I. Care.
“Don’t count on me to save you next time you get in trouble, Amara Wood.”
I spun around. “Save me?Why don’t you shelve that hero-complex next to your stupid offer? I don’t need saving. Besides, I neveraskedyou to save me. Wouldn’t want to waste ourgajoïon something as silly as my wellbeing when I havesucha great plan for it.”
Remo’s entire body seemed to expand as though he were flexing each one of his six hundred muscles.
I turned back around and walked. This time, I didn’t sing. One, because my teeth were too firmly wedged together to let out anything other than huffs and grunts. And two, what Remo said had gotten to me. However much I wanted signs of life—if only to reassure myself that this place didn’t kill fae off—I’d rather come upon them than they come upon me.
But mostly, I didn’t sing because of number one.
Right before I reached the arched mouth of the mountain, a low growl had me stuttering to a stop. Instinctively, I tried to push off the ground to fly, but my boots didn’t lift off the rails.
Crap crap crap.I squinted into the darkness, praying that whatever had made that sound wouldn’t launch itself at me like the shrieking pink flowers.
Another growl sounded, this time louder, as though its source had moved closer. Heart blasting, I backed up.
