Page 143

I grabbed the apple off my lap and held it up to the sun. I didn’t think the apple tree had any apples for us to pick, but this one was a beautiful bright red. “They’ll be a whole day behind us, especially if they don’t know this shortcut.” I took a bite and savored the delicious taste.

“It will all be fine.” He huffed.

I took another bite. “I know you say that… but I don’t know. I just want to wait for them.”

He threw his sandwich down in anger and stood up. “Let’s go!” He commanded.

“I’m not done yet.”

“Well, you didn’t seem too concerned about that when you were asking all your damn questions.” He snatched the apple out of my hand and threw it as well. “Let’s go.”

This was not the Gage I was used to. This was a different person- a more angry and triggered person. Was this the version Gage had always warned me about? Did he know… could he feel this one living inside of him waiting to come out?

The rest of the way to the castle, I thought through every possibility I could, with the one I didn’t want to waste any time on, but for some reason kept going back to.

Gage was a traitor and was going to turn me over to the dark Queen.

I couldn’t wrap my head around it, but all the signs were there and in my dream, my mother started to tell me not to trust someone. Was it Gage? But how would she know? Wasn’t she just a figment of my imagination? Did part of me not trust him?

I saw the castle up ahead and felt a pit form in my stomach.

This was it.

The moment of truth.

I grabbed a special arrow out of my quiver and laced it into the bow. Right now, I didn’t know if this arrow was meant for Gage or the Queen. I hoped for the latter, but was still unsure. I took a few more steps and my stomach started to feel queasy.

Gage turned to look at me. It was the fifth time in a matter of minutes. Like he was checking on me, but it was more like he was waiting.

Shit.

I felt it slowly creep in, starting first at my fingers and my toes and then like a dark cloud, it spread across my skin. “What did you do?” I asked him, leaning against a tree for support. My legs felt weak like they were going to give out, but I wouldn’t let them. I had to fight. My vision spun as the world moved around me and a heat flashed across my skin. I felt my head drooping and tried to keep it upright, but could tell like it was bouncing around carelessly.

He stopped walking and came to my side, scooping me up.

“Sorry princess.” He said without mirth.

“Are you?” I pressed my hand to his face and watched his eyes flicker again before the blackness crept in.

Chapter forty

Merla - Revenge at Last

Snowhadbeenlayingin that bed for several hours. I paced around the room in frustration, fighting the urge to shake her awake. “How much did you give her? I said only a little.” I barked out, before looking out the window again.

I knew Gage had said he left early in the morning and had taken the cut through across the mountains, but I was still nervous Snow’s merry band of miner’s would show up causing havoc.

“A little is a relative amount.” He said matter-of-factly.

“A little… a fucking little! A pinch!” I held my fingers up in the air, waving them around in a fury.

“Pinch would have been more helpful.” He shrugged.

I stomped over to him and smacked him across the face.

He grabbed his cheek, but seemed unfazed.

I reached for him, but he backed away. “I’m sorry. I’m just so excited.” I walked back to the edge of the bed and looked down at the porcelain doll. “This little menace has evaded me for far too long and now I have her here.” I scraped my pointed nail down her arm, leaving a deep red line. “I’m surprised you were able to get her here without the others having an issue with it.”