I didn’t even get the chance to explain that to Saxon before the shove-happy Seelie pulled on his diamaint gloves and pushed me through the fairy circle. He was sure it would work—I knew better—but look. Here I am, though it’s anyone’s guess where exactly this is.
The dark’s creeping me out. It’s quiet, too. Really quiet. I can hear my frantic breathing and that’s about it. No wind, no wildlife, not even the flapping wings of a pixie.
It’s also strangely cold. Not enough that I start to shiver or anything, but that’s probably because my jacket—and my temper—is keeping me warm. It’s worn leather, a perfect fit for me, and the last piece of home I have. I lost my cell phone within days of arriving in Faerie and my promise ring was my golden ticket out of Siúcra. I offered it to the spirit of the prison as a tangible signal of my sacrifice so, yeah, that’s also gone.
I cling tighter to my bag of apples. Besides the clothes on my back, that’s all I have. It’s a good thing that I do. Even though it’s obvious I’m still in Faerie, the few trees surrounding me are completely bare. No leaves. No fruit. I have maybe another twenty-four hours before the cramps kick in if I don’t eat at least a single bite of faerie food. So long as I have my stash, that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about for a while.
Hey. I’ll take it.
Besides, it’s not like I have any other choice, huh?
Did I think it was already dark out? Ha. The longer I linger where the fairy circle spit me out, the darker it gets until I can barely see in front of me anymore.
I’m so stinking pissed that I lost the seeing stone. I spent the last half an hour or so on my hands and knees, patting the crunchy grass, hoping that I dropped it when I landed here. Uh-uh. If it’s here, I can’t find it. And, without the seeing stone to peer through Faerie glamour, I’ve got no hope of finding another fairy circle.
I’ve accepted that there’s no way of Faerie. Fine. But even though the huldra who owned the inn had tried to roofie me with fairy wine and Saxon warned me that the Faerie Market was nearby, I’d much rather be in the Summer Court than wherever the hell I am. At least it was warm there and I didn’t feel like I’m the last person in the universe.
I don’t know what’s worse: that I’m entirely alone or that there’s a chance that I’m not. The shadows are so heavy, anyone could be lurking out in the darkness and I’d never know until it was too late.
I gulp, trying desperately not to dwell on that thought.
And it’s not like I can expect anyone to come looking for me. My stupid ass didn’t tell Saxon about my sacrifice so he’s gotta expect that I’ve crossed back over. For his sacrifice, Rys supposedly gave up his fated soul mate—and, at some point, I’m going to have to really come to grips with the fact that that’s me—so that means he’s not allowed to be with me now that Siúcra has let him go. I don’t want to believe that, but I’m a prime example that Siúcra doesn’t renege on those sacrifices. Otherwise I would be back in the city instead of being transported to another part of Faerie.
Fucking wonderful. And I honestly thought my luck couldn’t get any worse.
Welp. I was wrong, wasn’t I?
I can’t just stay here. It would be a huge mistake. Say I am alone right now. What if someone else comes waltzing through the fairy circle and they find me standing around like a lost little kid? I still haven’t forgotten the muttered conversation I overheard between Saxon and Coal, two of the guards walking past my cell. I might not be an untouched human any longer, but I don’t think that’ll stop any of the arrogant fae who look at humans and only see a plaything.
And that’s if they don’t look at me and see a target.
That thought in mind, I start to move. Do I know where I’m going? Not at all. Does it matter? Not really. Despite being surrounded by all the dead-looking trees, I’m more exposed than I want to be. Until I can come up with a new plan, I just need some shelter and—
Caw!
I jump at the screeching noise. I’ve grown so used to the quiet, the caw seems deafening; worse, because I didn’t expect it at all.
What the hell was that?
Ignoring the way my heart is thudding all of a sudden, I tilt my head. Squinting, I think I see something shifting in the deep purple sky. The clouds are already like ink, rolling back and forth like an ominous warning, but the dark spot moves quickly, gracefully over my head. It might be a crow. It certainly sounded like one.
Oh, great. Because having some kind of black crow or raven circling over me is just what I need when I’m worried about being followed…
I shake it off. So long as it stays up there and I’m by myself down here, that’s fine. Cradling my apples to my chest, I exhale softly, trying to settle my nerves before heading off again. And if it seems as if I’m heading in the same direction as the crow’s flying, well, that’s just coincidence, right?
Fingers crossed.
All I want is somewhere safe to hide out until morning. I’m not so tired, thanks to the nap I had back at the inn, and, honestly, I’m too keyed up to actually sleep out in the open. But I also don’t see how it’s a smart idea to keep on walking blindly into the woods. I could be getting more and more lost without realizing it, and I’m hoping that my shitty situation will look better in the daylight.
Of course, that’s assuming it’s night here.
Please let it be night. Because if this part of Faerie is always so dark and shadowy, I’m screwed.
I move carefully, relying on my sense of hearing since I can hardly see in front of my face. While I clutch the bag of apples like the lifeline they are, I keep my other hand outstretched so that I don’t walk headfirst into something. It’s not ideal but I have to work with what I have for now.
I don’t know how long I’m walking for or how far I’ve gone—with my luck, I’ve been walking in circles—when my ears prick up again.
The sound starts off low, somewhere in the distance. Stupidly, I wonder if it’s thunder. It’s a faint rumble that has me putting my hand out, palm up, waiting to see if rain’s gonna fall.