22. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

W e travel through the night and take a light nap near a creek when the sun rises. The boot that rudely woke me moments ago loops into a stirrup and prepares for departure.

I find my mare and mount, my heart sinking more and more by the moment. I have no idea where we are, and there have been no signs of Eoin. I'm not sure which direction I would travel in to return to Ravton Bay, Helios, or Selene.

Luc rides beside me as we trail behind his soldiers.

"Luc?"

"Legs?"

"Don't call me that." I turn to him but he ignores me. "Back at the tavern, August seemed to just disappear."

"He phased."

"What does that mean?"

"Honestly, Legs. I'm surprised more and more each moment how you've gotten along this side of the border. You're going to need to catch up if you're going to be a good emissary. Those with royal blood can phase within their borders. They can sort of. . ." He purses his lips. "Essentially we can quickly travel to places we've been before, as long as it is within our borders. You can take one, maybe two people with you if you're strong enough."

We travel several miles with a few breaks and even fewer conversations. I practice braiding various strands of my horse's mane while we ride. I pull long strands of stringy white lichen from the trees as we pass and use them to tie off the braids. It gives her a wild and magical essence, and it pleases me.

We stop at the crest of a grassy hill for a quick afternoon snack. The colossal mountains we've been chasing are now in full view, as is Selene Castle, neatly tucked into the top folds of the mountain. Its white stone and black roof beautifully contrast the dark evergreens and various red and orange trees on the mountainside. I wonder if August is there and what he might be doing.

"I wonder how many poor souls he's killed there," Luc says before taking a loud bite of an apple. "You know they bring humans to the castle . . . to drink, right? There's a reason his castle is so much more secluded than Helios, so no one can hear the screams."

The fog seems to thicken around the base of the mountain. The same castle that moments ago filled me with wonder and excitement now brings a pang of fear and anxiety. Is Eoin there? Is he okay?

"After I get what I came for, you should return with me. You'll be safer." He tosses the apple core into a bush.

"I can't."

He purses his lips. "So he does have something on you." He shakes his head. "Stick with me, Legs, and I'll help you out of his snare."

Luc rides ahead to speak to the guard, and an uneasiness sours my stomach.

We pass under a natural archway of deciduous trees, and I spot some blueish lichen hanging from a branch. I pull some to add to Penny's mane, and my hand instantly feels heavy and leaden. The feeling spreads up to my elbow, and I drop the strands.

"Doesn't feel good, does it?" Sven asks. "Never touch the blue lichen. It nullifies our powers." A gust of cold air hits us, and I pull my hood up around my ears. The sky is now a soft shade of pink, and I wonder how we will make it before dark.

As the wind picks up, so does our pace. Two ravens fly over us towards the castle, and in the distance, dark clouds approach. "Um, is this going to be a problem?" I ask, pointing skyward.

We push forward into a full gallop, trying to outrun the storm behind us. Sven and the guard lead the way, and Luc and I trail wordlessly behind. Large cold drops strike my exposed forearms and face, and my hood flies back in a gust of wind. The chill of the cold damp air hits me and awakens my senses. The rain falls faster and harder, and thunder rumbles behind us. We're not going to make it.

The castle is only a few short miles ahead; I can make out the torches near the entryway. Penny slows down as we leave the open field and head back into a stretch of forest. The sorrowful cry of a lone wolf cuts through the air, followed by several closer howls in response. I squeeze my thighs, urging Penny to pick up the pace.

The storm darkens the sky as if it were sunset. I'm not even directing my horse anymore as she follows Sven and the guard up the mountain towards the castle. A howl cuts through the air, and lightning cracks the sky open. I lean into Penny, grasping her mane, and say a silent prayer to the mother of gods.

The sky opens up, and freezing rain pelts us from all angles as the wind howls between us and the trees. The faint glow of the castle ahead is a beacon through the storm, guiding our path. We must be two to three miles out still.

Ahead, Sven and the guard come to a sudden stop and release their swords. I pull hard on my reins as several sets of red eyes appear between trees.

A dozen wolf-like creatures stand between us and the castle, heads lowered and growling. "Hang back!" Luc yells to me as lightning cuts through the sky once more. The light illuminates the threat ahead, and Penny lets out a feral scream before charging.

Sven and the guard attack the wolf creatures, large as mules, and Penny charges toward them. I pull on her mane in terror. My heart beats against my chest as her hooves beat into wet grass. I wince and cry out as I'm struck by low-hanging branches and crouch down closer to her neck.

Ahead, one of the larger wolves takes down a soldier's horse, and two of the other wolves attack the soldier, tugging and pulling at his armor. His screams are partially suppressed by the sounds of the torrential downpour. The wolves grasp the guard by the shoulder and the hip, and tug in opposite directions. The guard's screaming intensifies and abruptly stops as he is ripped in half, organs spilling onto the grass.

It feels as if I've been hit with a bucket of ice water, and I can hardly breathe. I'm faintly aware someone is screaming. Hang on , my darkness says, and I pull myself closer to Penny, grasping her mane with all my strength. Hot tears run down my cheeks, and I beg Penny to turn back, but it's too late. We slam into the pack at full speed.

Penny snaps at and kicks the wolves, stopping for nothing. She bucks and kicks with impressive aim, taking out three of the four closest wolves.

Sven's horse screams as it is taken down by a wolf. I don't want to die like this. Help me, I say to my darkness and pull my short sword.

We charge towards Sven who is now standing with sword in hand, ready to face his doom. Penny kicks a charging wolf, and I cut down two on the way. I fight to hang on and swing my sword at one of the wolves leaping towards me. Its large jaws clamp down on my thigh, and I scream.

It pulls hard, dragging me from the saddle, and I slam into the cold, hard earth, dropping my sword. The wolf bites and tugs at me as I try to crawl away, slipping in the mud. The torrential downpour is deafening and disorientating, and I'm not sure if I have one wolf or two tugging on me. I'm too afraid to look. My well quickly depletes as I heal in real-time.

The edges of my vision darken as I finally reach my short sword and slide my hand around the cold, wet grip. A wolf grabs me by the ankle and drags me, separating me from the group. I twist onto my back and hack down at him with my sword, cleaving his shoulder and part of his back open, releasing me from his jaws.

I try to stand, but my ankle gives out. The freezing rain continues to pummel us, and I can't feel my fingers. Sven is somehow still fighting off wolves, and Penny charges two away from me. I kneel in the mud and count the red eyes. Don't give up. My darkness sounds distant.

Just then, three fae males appear in the open spaces around us. They charge and fend off the pack of wolves, killing several in the process. Their attack is coordinated and precise, similar to the fighting style Eoin uses. One male in particular catches my attention as he uses a fire shield to fend off three wolves at once.

The three wolves gnash their teeth at him and he uses his fire wall to block two of them while he cuts the third's head clean off. My eyes catch the dismembered body of the guard again, and I look down to my own growing pool of blood beneath my knees.

As the threat dissipates and the rain lets up, I look back to Luc who is still hanging back on his own. The fighting dies down, and the remaining wolves retreat. One of the fae males approaches me as he sheathes his sword. Lightning strikes and lights up the evening sky.

"August," I say, taking his hand as he helps me up. I shiver uncontrollably, and my knees wobble. I fall into his arms, and he holds me up, lightly running his fingers up and down my back. The terror of a few moments ago is chased away by his warm, steady hands.

"How did you know we were here?" I ask him.

"I heard you screaming like a piglet." The corner of his mouth ticks up. "It was hard to miss."

"I thought it was your job to keep these things at bay?" Luc asks as he approaches, still mounted. "There shouldn't be this many this side of the Forgotten Court." He points to August. "You're supposed to stop these things when they cross the border."

August's jaw clenches. "I'd say we certainly did more than you did, hanging back there like a human prince." August folds his arms across his chest. "Welcome to Selene."

Luc and August stare at each other for several seconds, the tension between them like two stags during the rut. The two other Selene fae join our triangle, hands on their hilts. The world around me spins, and I throw my hand out, catching myself on August's forearm. My knees give out, and August shifts, laying me down gently.

"She's not healing," he says. He rips open my pant leg, revealing a series of puncture wounds and a small tear. He removes his belt with one hand and tightens it around my upper thigh. "Pull from Luc."

Luc dismounts and yells to Sven, "Get her in the light!" He points ahead to a break in the trees where the waning light still trickles through. Sven bends to pick me up, and August growls at him.

"There's no time; you need to send her some of your power." August stands and moves closer to Luc, looking down at him. They're mere inches apart. "Now," he growls.

I don't know if it's because I'm about to pass out, but I swear Luc's hand trembles slightly. The warmth of pure magic flows into my hands and spreads through my being. My leg heals fractionally, and the bleeding slows.

"More," August says to Luc.

"No," Luc says, and his posture changes. "I will not be able to regenerate until morning. I am not going to give her any more until then. She will be fine." Luc helps me up, and I lean on him for support.

"Ciaran," August calls over one of his soldiers. "Have Mads ride in on Bronwyn's horse. You track down the rest of that pack and deal with them." He returns his attention to Luc. "I'll deal with you later."

In the blink of an eye, August grasps my elbow with his right hand and pushes Luc back with his left.