Page 138 of Ravenrose

“Thanks,” I say as our eyes meet.

“Keep it.” He winks, his blue eyes sparkling.

Hayes thrusts my bow into my hands, and the two take off, running back toward town—toward the battle. They didn’t see what happened to Ayer.

My hands are covered in the raider’s blood, but I try not to think about it.

Taking a step to follow Theo and Hayes, I pause, my head turning back to the dark thicket on the edge of the forest where I last saw Ayer disappear.

With that fatal wound.

Chapter 57

ROWAN

The sounds of the battle fade away the further I walk into the dark forest.

It’s quiet.

There’s no trace of Ayer, nor the soldier he was fighting the last time I saw him.

Chewing my lip, I look down, searching the ground for tracks when a bright splash of crimson catches my eye. Tiny, sprinkled droplets of blood decorate the dead leaves below that crunch under my feet as I lean down for closer inspection.

The droplets continue every few feet, trailing deeper into the forest.

I glance back at the village. It’s still in chaos. Ayer’s men are busy subduing the remaining raiders and checking on the state of the surviving villagers while fires still burn all around.

No one is looking for him.

I swallow hard, surveying my surroundings before reluctantly following the trail of blood. The sudden oppressive quiet of the woods has me more anxious than the battle at my back.

I grip Theo’s knife tight in my palm.

Knowing what’s at stake, I move quickly but carefully. The forest only grows darker the deeper I go into it, the shadows thickening, pressing in around me as if they have a life of their own.

My skin prickles and the hair on the back of my arms stands up as a dark feeling slides down my spine.

I should go back.

I should get Theo or Hayes to hunt down Ayer. He might already be dead. It’s possible—with that wound he suffered.

Though if he were dead…

I reach for my magic. The warmth of it brings comfort as it rises to meet me—until it slams hard against that impenetrable wall of ink. Pain lances through the inside of my wrist, the mark glowing subtly in the dark woods. I pull back my sleeve, watching the rune smolder as it absorbs my magical blow. Most runes tie back to the life of their creator. If it remains, then Ayer still lives. Probably.

The shadows continue to grow thicker, and I slow my steps, every instinct screaming at me to turn back. I almost listen. My foot shifts back a half step, hesitantly.

Crack.

I freeze. The sound didn’t come from behind me but rather from somewhere up ahead.

My pulse is pounding loudly enough to drown out my thoughts. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before taking another step toward the sound.

My knees hit the dirt hard, my foot catching on something. I twist, looking over my shoulder, and realize I tripped over a body.

I scramble away from him, moving backward along the forest floor. I recognize the body as belonging to the fae raider Ayer pursued into the woods. My eyes drop to the pool of blood soaking the earth beneath him.

He’s dead. My breath catches. Because if he’s here…