“Shivering bones!” Bran hissed, jabbing a finger toward where I’d thrown the tool. “Somethin’ be there, brother. Best go look.”
“I’m not lookin’!” Jed argued, then pointed at Theron. “Hemust have done it.”
“It wasn’t me,” Theron objected. “I didn’t move a muscle.”
Jed’s brows knitted together.
“You think a soldier got in?” Theron asked, cocking his head in curiosity. “Maybe they be spying on you.”
Jed straightened, his eyes growing wide. With a low curse, he stomped toward the back door in several angry strides. “You bastards don’t want to mess with this forge no more!”
Bran was following him, wielding his hammer in the air.
“Move,” Theron hissed at me, and I obeyed. We hurried to the front door, and Theron threw it open. Just before we strode out into the cold air, I heard Bran shout, “I think I saw something move!”
I had my fingers wrapped around Theron’s arm as the icy air whipped around us. I breathed in, grateful for the relief from that sweltering heat.
But the relief died as soon as I saw the line of soldierspositioned outside the forge. And standing in front of them was Vikros. He wore a fresh tunic and seemed unharmed, which meant he had gotten his wound healed.
Perhaps the traitorous Lavinia had fixed him up.
I went rigid, but Theron squeezed my arm, reminding me we were trying to blend in. He had a pair of tongs in his hand and moved with firm, purposeful strides as if he had somewhere important to be.
A few soldiers glanced our way. Vikros’s eyes skated over me for a brief second. My heart jolted, my pulse roaring in my ears.
But his eyes traveled over me, returning to the soldier next to him as he murmured something I couldn’t hear.
I exhaled, but Theron tightened his grip on me. We weren’t safe just yet. My legs strained to keep up with his pace as we made our way down the road. In the distance, the sun was rising, bathing the town in a soft golden glow.
If we continued down this road, we would reach Stella’s home. But it also meant we were out in the open.
My head was swimming, the heat from the forge still lingering with me. I shook my head vigorously, trying to clear it.
“There’s a small wooded area around the corner,” Theron whispered to me. “If we can make it there, we’ll be safe.”
I nodded, but fog crept into my mind, clouding my thoughts. My feet shuffled to a stop, as I feared I would fall over. I swayed, suddenly dizzy. I crammed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.
“Eira?” Theron’s voice sounded far away.
Heat swelled in my veins, making me feel uncomfortably warm. I swallowed, my throat dry. “Blood and ice,” Imuttered, my tongue tasting like sandpaper. “I really don’t feel well.”
Large hands came down on my shoulders, and I was grateful for the weight there to ground me. “Eira.” Theron’s voice was laced with urgency. “You have to keep walking. Just a little further.”
“Mmm.” I tried to move my feet, but they wouldn’t budge. How far were we from the soldiers? Were they watching us?
Move, Eira!I thought to myself.Move now!
I was struggling to draw breath. My vision blurred, and I swayed again.
Blood and ice, I was about to faint. And then the soldiers would come investigate. Vikros would recognize us.
Theron’s arm came around my waist, bringing my hip to his. With a grunt, he lifted me and continued shuffling forward with me at his side. I tried not to lean into his weight, but my head was so fuzzy.
I curled my hand into a fist, pressing my fingernail into my palm. The pressure point sent a bolt of clarity through my mind.
I eased my weight on my feet and off of Theron, hobbling forward as best as I could.
A few more steps.
