“The creatures are gone. My girl, you are safe,” she says, her voice soft. Maybe too soft, and she’s attempting to lure me into a false sense of security.
I let out a bitter laugh, my hands curling into fists. “Like hell I am.” These people—fae—aren’t going to sit here and gaslight me. Nothing about those creatures was safe. If those monsters live here, what other evil creatures dwell in the shadows? I was so eager to get out of Grym Hollow, I didn’t properly think through what that would mean and the type of fantastical creatures I would encounter.
Is my life going to be in danger every day? I’ve lived in survival mode without my family for so long, I had hoped that wouldn’t be the case here. I don’t know what I expected. Maybe a fairy tale world I read in stories?Where the prince would come and sweep me away, and we’d live amongst the cute forest creatures. Like deer and bunnies. Not whatever the hell that thing was.
The small green person flutters over to me, perching on the tip of my boots. Part of me wants to shake him off again, but I resist. Barely.
He studies me once more, tilting his head. “You aren’t fae,” he determines. “What are you? What’s your name? I’m Finnick. This is my mother, Lady Thalia.”
“Pleasure to meet you, young lady.” Lady Thalia acknowledges me with a slight bow.
“My name is Evangeline,” I sputter out, even though my heart is beating rapidly, fear threatening to consume me again. “Is…this Mescos? I’m supposed to be in the fae kingdom.” Damn The Guardian for leaving me like he did. Is this how he treated the others? Did they even survive their arrival to Mescos? I chide myself for not asking when I had the chance.
Finnick and Lady Thalia share a glance, speaking without words. “Yes, dear girl, these are the fae courts. Where did you come from?”
“Grym Hollow…with The Guardian,” I gasp, my breath ragged. The weight of my reality crashes down on me all at once, suffocating me.
I’m alone.
In a strange world.
A world where the people aren’t really people—where creatures exist that could kill me without a second thought.
Panic grips my chest like a vise. “I can’t be here. I have to go…” My voice shakes, and I get up, turning in frantic circles, searching for something—anything—to ground me.
My suitcase lies overturned on the damp ground, its contents scattered, clothes soaking up the moisture like they, too, have accepted their fate. But none of it matters at this moment. Nothing in that suitcase can fix this. Nothing can change the fact that I’m trapped in a world I don’t belong to.
“The Guardian? Ender brought you?” Finnick zips over to flutter in front of my face. “You’re a human!”
Lady Thalia presses her lips into a tight line, and then I feel her hands on me. The modicum amount of stability I still possessed snaps. I can’t be here. I can’t do this. The Guardian made a mistake.
“Evangeline? Are you okay?” Lady Thalia’s voice is soft, soothing, reminding me of my mother’s after a nightmare. But Lady Thalia isn’t my mother, and this place isn’t my home.
The trees seem to press in around me, their towering forms twisting, leaning closer, suffocating. My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out reason, drowning out everything but the primal urge clawing at my chest.
And then, I break.
I turn and run.
Lady Thalia shouts my name. Finnick calls after me. But I don’t stop. I don’t look back. I just run.
Chapter 8
Niko
Coming out from our bubble in the woods, I see the stark reminder of my failure. Bodies lie motionless on the cold, damp ground. Not as many as I originally thought, but every death is blood on my hands. The injured nurse their wounds, and the few healers we have hurry from fae to fae to administer their assistance the best they can, despite being weak and worn down themselves.
Water is passed around, but the food is scarce. Stale bread. Berries. Not enough to curb the hunger or even sustain us for long. Still, no one passes up the meager portions they are allocated out of fear of not knowing when or where their next meal will come.
Those who are able have taken to burning the Nephilim. The air is thick with decay and burning flesh. The earth fae are doing their best to mask the scent with florals, springtime rains, and burning logs, but the odor persists. I shed no tears for the fallen Nephilim or feel anounce of remorse. Those creatures want to hurt my family, my people, and my kingdom. I can’t allow it.
Iwon’tallow it.
I don’t realize I’ve stopped walking until Zephyr’s hand wraps around my wrist. I meet my mate’s gaze. His normal, intense stare softens as his thumb gently caresses my palm in slow circles. I don’t need to tell him what’s on my mind. He knows. Zephyr reads me better than anyone in this world. Even before the mating bond snapped into place and we could sense each other’s emotions, Zephyr always had a keen eye. Sometimes I love this about him, but other times, I wish I could keep my burdens to myself.
I know what he’s going to say before he even speaks.
“This isn’t your fault, Niko.”
