Page 17

That was as good a time to go as any.

I slipped out of my tent, planning to claim I was just headed out to pee in the trees if Namir was still out there after all.

But sure enough, when I stepped out, he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

The large fabric stretched between the trees was swinging, though. And when I looked closer, I thought I could see the basic outline of a guy inside it.

Taking care to move silently, I slipped out into the forest behind the tent.

My magic swelled a bit as I stepped further into the darkness of the forest. I put my hand on the center of my chest, trying to calm the beast within me as I pressed forward.

The further I went, the darker the forest became—and the more shadows I began to notice. They were wrapped around the trees, draped through the leaves. Dancing in the wind, entwined in the flowers, and embedded in the dirt.

My footsteps slowed the further I walked, but not because my fear grew. Actually, the more I walked, the calmer I became.

The shadows started to tease me, brushing up against me every now and then, whispering soft, comforting words to me.

Eventually, I slowed to a complete stop. The shadows danced around me, tickling my skin and playing with my hair. My eyes closed, my lips tilting upward as I let them slip over me, embracing me like a long-lost friend.

I wasn’t good at physical contact—the only contact I’d ever known until a few days earlier was at the hands of my torturers. To say I didn’t like to be touched was an understatement.

But the shadows’ embrace wasn’t a touch; it was a hug, a blanket over my underprepared and overstimulated mind and body.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I felt the shadows change slightly. They murmured to me in words I couldn’t translate, but somehow, the feeling came through.

Namir was behind me, they were saying.

They released me slightly, and I let my feet turn as they slowly spun me around to face him.

The king approached, his expression one of unmistakable interest.

“I’m leaving,” I told him.

The shadows whispered to me, and the desire to stay swelled in my chest. They wanted me to stay—they thought Ineededto.

“That’s fine.” Namir didn’t look fazed by my statement at all.

That made things easier, I guessed. Though the shadows were comfortable, and calming, they weren’t alive. And if they were, I probably shouldn’t trust them. So I was sticking with my plan, which meant leaving.

I nodded at Namir, and turned back toward the forest.

The shadows remained wrapped around my arms and waist, dancing lightly through my hair and over my chest.

Rather than letting me leave him, Namir fell into step beside me.

I tried not to glare at him, and hoped that if I was quiet for long enough, he’d just leave.

Time passed, and we both continued walking.

He didn’t leave.

“What are you doing?” I finally asked him.

“Going with you.” He flashed me a small grin, but I didn’t turn to look at him, so our eyes didn’t meet. “Even if I wanted to let you walk away, the shadows are urging me to stay close.”

“So you’re not making them do this?” I checked, gesturing to my arm, which was wrapped in shadows.

He chuckled. “No. It’d feel different if I was doing it; more like a physical touch. I’ve never seen them react like this to anyone, though. Myself included.”