Go, Thayla.
You can’t let him win.
He wins, you have to face whatever version of reality this is.
My mouth opens to scream out a warning, but it’s too late.
He goes tumbling over a limb lying on the ground. He was too busy peering over his shoulder to make sure I was still following.
You should stop and check on him.
No, you should win.
I leap over his back and his laugh jabs through the rock around my heart. A small smirk crosses my lips as his magical melody echoes through the otherwise quiet forest.
His laugh and my painful pants.
Keep going, he’s coming.
The tree line thins and I push harder.
My legs pump faster and my lungs scream.
The towering forest gives way and opens up to nothing but meadow grass and victory.
I allow the glow stick to slip from my fingers so nothing weighs me down.
Nothing will stop me. Nothing will hold me back.
The knee-high blades flow across my skin in a much gentler caress. They soothe away the sting from the prickles the vegetation left behind.
“Better spread those wings and fly, angel.”
A gasp of outrage pours from my tight chest as Riven holds my glow stick high in the air, cheering as he rides on the back of Verlet.
“You cheater.”
That asshole. I was almost there. I was so close.
I could taste it like those cookies melting on my tongue.
I’ll never in my life outrun…
Feet that fall much heavier against the land than mine pound against the ground behind me.
“Seismet?”
His neigh breezes against my neck, and I choke out a laugh as he gallops to my side.
“Right here. I’ll always be here. Grab my mane.”
I twist my still sprinting body and tangle my fingers through his braids. With a leap of faith and a little push from his power, I glide through the air until I’m situated on his back.
He takes off at breakneck speed and his power cocoons me.
“Cheating little shit. Did he have this planned the whole time?”
“No. Verlet and I were supposed to follow you both through the forest in case you needed us. That was a last-minute plan on both their parts. Traitors.”
