He raked a hand through his hair and worked his jaw again. “That’s fine. You can use anything of mine you like.”
“Do you think you’ll be gone long?”
“Depends upon what they’re summoning me for. I hadn’t intended to leave you today. Not up here.” He glanced around at the barren, unforgiving landscape.
Snow and ice filled the land. We’d traveled so far north that the only land farther north than our current location was the tip of our continent, then the Brashier Sea, and then the arctic region in the fae lands, where the Solis continent lay. Considering the northern tip of Stonewild Kingdom brushed against the Brashier Sea, the Solis weren’t that much farther north, not in these parts.
I bumped Kole’s arm, trying to lighten the mood and tampdown on the remorse I still felt for him, especially since a storm cloud had begun roiling in his aura. “I’ll be fine. Just relinquish the carpet to me so I can command it, and catch up with me when you can.”
He frowned anew, then scanned the area once more.
“I don’t see any larpanoons nearby or any of those hideous creatures that escaped Silventine Wood,” I said lightly. “And if any come prowling, I’ll force their limbs to sleep and will fly right by them.”
He was still frowning, but he shook his head. “Right. Of course you could. I’ve seen how strong you are.” Intense, shining blue eyes met mine. “I’ll be back soon. Okay?” He pulled something from his pocket and gave it to me. It was round, the size of a marble, and was an opaque green.
I cocked my head. “What’s this?”
“A tracking charm. It’s how I’ll find you. Just don’t lose it, and I’ll be able to mistphase to exactly where you are.”
I nodded and didn’t ask for more details. Kole suddenly seemed edgy, and I was reminded that he was working after all, and something had just come up that required him to return to his headquarters.
I offered him a dazzling smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you when I see you.”
His expression clouded, but then he shook himself and nodded. “Yeah, of course, I’ll be back soon.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I didn’t know how long Kole was needed by the Imperial Council, so I settled in for the journey on my own. With Kole’s tracking charm buried deep in my pocket, I checked my seekerill as the carpet sailed steadily north. The seekerill’s needle continued to point exactly where I dreaded going.
Silventine Wood.
“Goddess help me.” I snapped the lid closed and shoved it back into my pocket.
Anxiety swirled higher inside me. I released a harsh breath and turned my attention inward to call Ree. I needed to let her know that I was still safe and unharmed since I’d told her I would do my best to keep her updated. I also still hadn’t told her about the creature outside of Inisville and Kole’s true reason for being in the Wood. The six shifter males yesterday had taken precedence in our brief conversation.
I had so much to tell her, but first, I did a quick search of my surroundings, especially now that I was on my own.
The snowy Wood had thinned out, and I could easily see that no fae or predators lurked about. Above, the cloud cover had finally fully cleared, and the sun shone brightly. It would be safe to connect with her, but just as I was about to, a noise came from behind me.
“Yoo-hoo!” someone called. “Is that Prim up there?”
I looked over my shoulder, and my lips parted in surprise. Jessip, Nym, and Felix barreled around a dip in the road and raced toward me on their carpet.
Relief hit me that my Faewood friends looked unscathed. Obviously, they hadn’t encountered those six shifter males before Kole and I had.
“We thought that was you!” Jessip called good-naturedly as they neared.
They sailed their carpet forward to glide alongside mine. When they reached me, Jessip frowned. “Where’s Kole?”
“He had to leave for a bit.”
“Did he get maimed?” Nym brought a hand to his chest, his expression aghast. “Is that why he left? Did he need to seek a healer?”
I shook my head. “No, he got summoned for a work thing and is fine.” I smiled broader. “I wondered if I would see you all again. I’m happy to know you’re all still safe.”
Felix waggled his eyebrows. “Of course you’re seeing us again, love. You’re my future wife after all. And why wouldn’twe be safe? Nothing is too dangerous to keep me from tracking you down.”
I snorted in amusement even though he was laying it on thick. “You know that I haven’t said yes to our nuptials yet.”
