He gives me a confused look and I roll my eyes, forcing myself to exhale slowly and quit being such a prick. Giving him the abridged version, I fill him in on everything since we parted ways.
“So we’re officially even,” I declare, and there’s a heavy beat of weighted silence in lieu of an answer. “You and I are square; I’ve more than paid my debt.”
He pushes himself to his feet, swaying slightly before regaining his composure by nothing short of sheer force of will. “Idiot. That whole ‘sell your soul to the devil’ nonsense was all you. Could have walked away any time you wanted, you just didn’t want to leave and used it as an excuse to stay.” He scrubs a hand over his jaw, wincing as he feels how swollen it is and the various cuts.
Cracking my neck, I don’t respond. I’m too damn tired to get into all of this right now, especially with everything else we still have to deal with. “We should get moving. Everyone’s likely heading to Achlys’ cult...and I have no clue where the fuck that is.”
“Didn’t you say you were walking through the shadow court forest before getting here?” He takes a step in my direction, wincing and pressing a hand to his stomach.
“Yeah?” But even before the first word leaves his mouth, I know where he’s going with this.
“So if the sky got lighter, we’re probably closer to the light court. This wasteland likely acts as a divider to keep the two sides apart, like neutral territory.”
He’s pale, but standing well enough. At least I know where the river is from here, even if we’ll have to walk a couple of hours to get there. And if he’s right, which I reluctantly have to assume he is, then we’ll be in far worse shape passing through the valley of decay just to pop out on the side of the light court. We’re in no shape to take on a single fae right now; let alone an army that’s out for our heads.
Sighing, I turn on my heel, giving him my back as I start walking. There’s a nagging sensation tickling the back of my mind, enticing me to stay. And though I know logically that we should be immune to compulsion after our revelations, I can’t help but be uneasy.
My footsteps left a clear path to follow back to the forest, and I cringe as I realize just how far into the wasteland I made it, dredging the walk back. “I hope the others are having better luck than we are.”
Chapter 3
Dorian
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What have I done?
There’s a small tingling sensation, like static racing across my skin before it’s gone just as quickly as it appeared. The changeling backs away from Cambria, rising to her full height and skipping back over to me with a feral grin. I can feel the color draining from my face in horror as I replay my wording in my head, mentally beating the shit out of myself.
I didn’t establish a timeline. I didn’t state in what capacity. All I did was give my life to this monster on a silver platter.
Turning my pleading eyes on Cambria, I ignore the way the changeling runs a nail over my arm, head canted to the side as it gets to the branding on my hand, but saying nothing. Cambria doesn’t even attempt to conceal the blatant terror on her face, and any hope that I have of her telling me she knows a loophole or how to counteract it flies out the window.
“You should start heading towards our house in the shadow court.” I swallow, forcing confidence into my voice that I don’t feel an actual blip of. “I’ll keep it from following you to give you a head start.”
Her eyes narrow, and all of her fear goes up in smoke with her fury. “Oh, hell no. I’m not leaving you behind, and you’re not making me go out there alone.”
