‘Jumping? Why?’
My shadows slipped from my hand to smooth a stubborn strand of hair beneath my beanie. ‘You’ll see. It’s easier to experience than to explain.’
The prince’s eyes tracked their movement. ‘So you’re comfortable doing it?’
‘It saves time.’ I nodded, feeling a little lighter now that he knew the risk. ‘And we don’t know how long we have before the hag commits another massacre.’
‘The Queen of Ortensia?’ he asked.
‘Who else?’
Chapter Fourteen
Miriam
We landed in the precise location I’d studied on the map, and it struck me how much the area resembled a wilderness. Trees wide enough to carve out and build shacks inside stretched until they blended into the milky sky on tall snow-peaked mountains.
Nice place to hide. Or live. The air was fresh, and the soft hum of insects had its appeal. Maybe the Crone really could be here.
For another sister, you will follow the beasts, respectful of their home, cherishing their struggle under the leaf-encrusted dome. Where the day will spook you and the night will guide you, she will watch from afar, judging.
Technically, if this were the right place, the Crone probably already knew we were here. Too bad the note didn’t mention how to draw her out, except for a vague mention of day and night.
Was that what he packed into these backpacks? Supplies to sleep here? I didn’t even think about that in my constant worry about the wedding.
My mind eased as the howling wind made the tree branches crash against each other. The leaves rustled, and a few squirrels popped their heads out to investigate. One sat on a branch a couple of feet above me, its black, protruding eyes tracking my every move. I reached toward it, and it screeched so loud I startled and dropped to the ground in panic.
Immediately, I turned to Michael for an explanation, only to find him dry heaving, kneeling and clutching the strands of grass as if he were afraid he might drift away.
Looking away was all I could do to preserve his dignity. Men didn’t react very well to being perceived as weak.
‘Don’t. Mess. With. Them,’ he managed to utter between sharp intakes of air.
‘I wasn’t planning to. Are you okay?’ I asked him after a minute of his unnatural stillness.
All I heard back was a grunt, before he forced a smile and asked, ‘Are you so used to that feeling that it doesn’t affect you, or am I a wuss?’
‘You’re not a wuss.' Laughter bubbled in my throat as I sat on the ground before him. ‘In fact, you’re handling it better than most people. It’s impressive.’
‘You must be lying,’ he argued, throwing an apple-sized fireball at the squirrel closest to us.
My heart sank at his cruel display of mindless violence.
‘Hey, don’t torment it!’ I raised my voice while he looked at me dumbfounded.
‘We landed in their breeding ground, and they’re assessing how quickly they can wipe us out.’
I looked back at the innocent-looking creatures. ‘Okay. Next time, I will ask before I try to touch any of your… animals?’
‘Bordering on vermin but sure,’ he said, snarling at another. ‘How do you even get used to this jumping?’
‘Don’t worry, you’re doing very well. Ava puked her guts out the first time she jumped. Some people faint even. It’s a peculiar experience.’
A scowl darkened his features as he let out a low, humourless chuckle. ‘Like my molecules had been sprinkled over hundreds of miles, before your shadows finally pieced them together once we reached this place.’
That sounded horrible. It had been so long since I’d learnt how to jump that I’d almost forgotten the struggle. ‘Sorry about that. It will get better every time, though.’
The tree creaked above me, and I whimpered. My shadows burst out on instinct, shielding both of us in a dome of sparkly night. Shivers ran down my spine at the thought of their sharp teeth and snappy jaws.
