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There were other animals here, too. The red bird she had glimpsed in Sorin’s rooms that day they’d arrived was soaring in a tight circle above them along with a silver hawk.A large, red stag and a stunning, white horse whose mane and tail looked like flowing water were coming from the trees.

A piercing screech filled the air, and they all whipped their heads to find the giant, black eagle soaring across the sky. It seemed angry. Really, really angry. Scarlett took a step forward, but the horse of water stepped into her path. She reached up to touch its nose. It snorted and shook its mane, spraying her with drops of water.

“Hey!” she protested. The horse’s eyes seemed to twinkle playfully. They reminded her of someone else’s eyes, but she couldn’t quite place them.

“Scarlett.”

Sorin’s voice was soft, but urgent. She turned, expecting to see him standing beside her, but he was nowhere in sight.

“Scarlett.”

None of the animals seemed to hear it. If they did, they didn’t seem to care.

The black wolf’s ears suddenly perked up, as if it indeed heard something. It was looking past her, and when Scarlett turned to see what had caught its attention, she found herself looking into eyes of the deepest jade green. Mahogany hair flowed around her face on a phantom wind. She had seen her once before, when she had watched Sorin talk to her.

Talwyn.

“Who are you?” her voice was low, dangerous. Those jade green eyes were narrowed as she reached to retrieve a sword that was strapped across her back. She wore leathers, similar to the ones she’d seen Sorin wearing as they’d traveled to the border. Scarlett suddenly found it hard to breathe. Like all the air had been sucked from her lungs. Vines ensnared her wrists, pinning them to her sides.

Talwyn advanced on her, her sword aloft, and pointed it at Scarlett’s throat. She had angular cheekbones and a pretty face, and she moved with a queen’s grace. Talwyn took a few more steps towards her. Scarlett’s throat was burning as she desperately gasped for a breath when white flames surrounded her.The flames seemed to shimmer as they separated her from Talwyn. Talwyn stopped dead in her tracks. The vines around Scarlett’s wrists disappeared, and she gulped down a big breath of air.

“Who are you?” Talwyn asked again, the same deadly calm in her voice.

“Scarlett! Open your eyes.”

Scarlett snapped her eyes open to find herself back in Sorin’s bedroom. He was gripping her shoulders, his golden skin slightly pale.

“Are you back?” he asked, searching her eyes.

She nodded mutely.

“What the hell happened?” he demanded, bringing his hands to her face.

“I think I just met Talwyn.”

“You met Talwyn,” Sorin repeated, his tone saying just how unlikely he found that.

“I think so,” Scarlett answered, biting her lower lip. “I mean, I’m pretty sure it was the same woman, I mean female, from before. We didn’t converse. She asked who I was.”

“Where were you? Where did you see her?”

“In some forest clearing. I’ve… I’ve been there in my dreams.”

Dear gods, she sounded absolutely insane.

“You were in Shira Forest?”

“Where?”

“Shira Forest. It’s believed Shira Forest is where magic originated and is where the most powerful Fae are bonded with a Spirit Animal. You’ve been there before?”

“In my dreams, yes, but the Spirit Animals?” Scarlett asked, her brows knitting together.

Before Sorin could answer, they were interrupted by a loud banging and rattling of the main door to the chambers.

“Seriously, you prick? You still have us locked out?” came a male voice from the other side of the door.

Scarlett choked on a laugh, turning to Sorin with wide eyes. “I don’t know who that is, but I already like him.”