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Some of Sasha’s cynicism melts away as his eyes study mine. “I don’t get you. One minute, you’re threatening me, and the next, you’re warning me. Which one is real?”

“Both.” I pull away, severing whatever temporary connection there was between us. “You’re smart not to trust me. But you’d be smarter not to trust anybody.”

He lets out a sort of frustrated huff and goes to take the lead, but I catch him just in time. “Manhandling me again?”

I nod at the perfect circle of mushrooms he almost walked through. “I wouldn’t have to manhandle you if you had the slightest ounce of self-preservation.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“It’s a fairy ring.” I glance around to make sure we’re still alone. “You have a lot to learn about this place, rabbit. Wayward would have been the safer option.”

“Wayward would have killed me.” His eyes do that searching thing again. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Are you going to give me a reason to?”

Sasha shakes his head, golden curls swaying with the movement. “No.”

“Then you’re safe. From me.” I give his arm a warning squeeze before I release him. “But I don’t vouch for anyone else.”

“You also said not to trust you.” His pink lips curl with a smile, and it takes me a beat to recognize there are only a few inches between us. “I think I’ll be watching you either way.”

Relief flows through me. “Finally.”

“What?”

“Survival instinct. It’s about fucking time.”

CHAPTER

SIX

SASHA

Itrail after Lynx, less worried about him turning and slicing my head clean off, and more … curious.

This isn’t what I’d assumed the big, bad machete wielder would be like.

I’m still not sure what this is either. He checks properties, and has tree branches covered in glass bottles, and believes in fairies? Actual fairies? Like the little things that flutter around with glittery wings? Granted, I would love for fairies to be real, but I, you know, live in reality.

Has he completely lost it, living off the grid?

It’s late morning by the time we’re back at his cabin, and skipping breakfast is catching up with me. My head feels a bit floaty, and every few minutes or so, my stomach growls louder each time. The gnawing pain grows with each step, and I really don’t know how I’m going to get through today without eating. Maybe I’ll grab something while I work and tell Lynx to add it to my tab?

I’m about to split off from him when my gut lets out the loudest growl yet. I swear I feel the trees quake, and Lynx whirls on me. His hazel eyes flick from my face to where his hoodie is covering my stomach and back again.

“Why are you making that noise?”

Is he serious? “Because I’m hungry, obviously.”

“Didn’t you eat before we left?”

“I didn’t have time!” I would have loved to eat a full breakfast, but firstly, Wilde apparently expects everyone to run on his time, and secondly … I have no food to eat anyway.

“Stay here.” He turns on his heel and heads for his house, Bob keeping pace.

I wait until he’s out of earshot to complain. “You say that like I have anywhere else to go.”

Between being ferried from here to home and back again every day, and the very little time I spent lost out here, I don’t exactly know my way around. I’m at the mercy of the forest people, and at least—for today—it doesn’t seem like this one is going to kill me.