Page 41

“ W e really need to stop meeting like this,” I teased as we quietly made our way out of camp.

“Why? Our best moments happen while everyone else is asleep.” Jase playfully winked at me.

He wasn’t wrong. That night in front of the window—even though it crushed my heart—was one of the few moments we’d really connected. He had given in to his baser instincts. Something I secretly wished he’d do more often. I think it was the only time I ever saw him in his true nature.

Thornwyn Forest under the blanket of darkness, offered a hauntingly beautiful backdrop.

The night sky was alight with twinkling stars, and the nocturnal creatures were out making their evening rounds.

A shiver ran through me, and I wasn’t sure if it was the cool night air or something more foreboding.

“If memory serves, we have a long walk ahead of us.” I tried my best to distract my wandering mind with small talk.

“Mathenholm is a bit of a trek. We should go as far as we can before making camp. The others will be on our tail the moment they realize we’re gone. And I’d be willing to bet they’ll be pissed.”

“Are we making a mistake?” I asked sheepishly.

“Not telling them.” In the hours before we left, I’d made the difficult decision not to leave a note behind.

It was heartless, but not giving them a direction to search would buy us more time.

I purposefully hadn’t allowed myself to consider how they would feel about our hasty decision.

I knew they would be angry. But honestly, Jase had made a strong argument.

The next full moon was only seven days away.

Surely, with time, they would understand.

“The only mistake being made was my siblings waiting for the ‘perfect’ opportunity. Johan has set the clock in motion. While they sat back and pondered the situation over a cup of ale, our brothers are being tortured while awaiting death.”

That was all I needed to hear to relieve my concerns.“They’ll forgive us once we have Hunter and Finn back, right?”

Jase huffed. “I don’t think you’re capable of doing something they wouldn’t forgive. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but they are beyond obsessed with you.”

I chuckled. “You really think they’ll get over it?”

“Mic, I’ve never seen my brothers behave the way they do with you. I can all but guarantee you—in their eyes, you can do no wrong.”

Daybreak was upon us, and Hiraeth awarded our bravery with the most beautiful sunrise I’d ever seen.

Rays of brilliant orange filtered through the towering trees, casting a warm, glowing light across the forest floor.

The ferns sparkled with morning dew as they danced in the gentle breeze, giving an enchanted appearance to the shadowed ground.

Wildlife all around us was waking up, and the ominous owl hoots of the evening hours were slowly shifting to the chatter of songbirds.

“Are we going to make camp soon? I could use a break and maybe something to eat.” I considered using the sprite ash—not because my cancer was weakening me, but because it would give me a needed burst of energy.

“We need to get a bit further. Caldreim River should be just up ahead. We’ll make camp there. The fish are plentiful. We’ll eat well.”

I remembered the cold, rocky waters of Caldreim well. We’d crossed them to ensure our scent couldn’t be tracked while escaping Mathenholm. “Great… more fish.” I scrunched up my nose.

“What’s wrong with fish?”

“Nothing,” I quickly retorted.

“Then why the face?”

“It’s not my favorite. Why does it have to be so… fishy?”

He laughed. “I suppose we can keep an eye out for salmonberries. But you’ll need some protein with all the energy we’re expending.”

“Fine, I’ll eat the fish. Can we please hurry up and find the river? I’m exhausted.”

“Typical female.” He smirked, looking over his shoulder at me. “You all get cranky when you need a nap and a snack.”

“Is that so?”

“Sorry to offend you with the truth. Deepest apologies, My Lady.” He stopped and comically bowed before me. “Do you need me to carry you?”

I giggled at his mockery. “I’m fine, good sir.”

“It’s just a bit further. Promise.”

It was more than an hour before we made it to Caldreim, and then at least another hour after crossing the rushing waters, searching along the riverbank for what Jase deemed a proper spot to make camp.

We settled on a vacant den tucked into the side of an enormous boulder.

A large evergreen grew at the base, its low-lying branches almost completely obscuring the entrance.

The short walk from the forest’s edge to the river made it an ideal location.

“Do you know how to start a fire?” Jase asked.

“Umm, without a lighter?” I already knew his answer.

“A lighter? What’s that?”

I chuckled. “I can try.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. Gather some tinder while I get us some food.”

Jase made his way over to the river’s edge and began to strip. I tried in vain to keep my eyes to myself and focus on the task at hand, but my god, he was a delectable specimen. He waded about waist-deep into the water, stopping for a moment, looking down at the surface intently.

Was he going to catch breakfast with his bare hands?

Before I could ponder any further, he dove beneath the flowing current. A mere moment later, he popped back up—a fucking fish held tightly between his teeth.

“You’ll find more firewood if you actually look for it,” he snarked, making his way back to the river's edge. He dropped the fish on the rocky banks and headed back into the water.

“Touché. Can’t blame a girl for enjoying the view.” I blushed, embarrassed I’d been caught gawking. Sticks, Michaela. You’re looking for sticks .

I foraged through the tree line, easily finding plenty of kindling. With my arms full, I made my way back to our den. I stopped and pulled out the vial of sprite ash.

A tiny dose won’t hurt.

Jase was busy catching fish. He’d be none the wiser. I was exhausted. I just needed a little boost. Popping the top I collected the tiniest bit from the bottom of the cork and smeared it between my breasts, feeling that familiar buzz kick in instantly.

“How goes the hunt for firewood?” Jase startled me, regaining my attention. “I want to get this cooked quickly. The scent will be a huge tell. We need to keep our location hidden.”

“Speaking of fish,” I said, dropping the pile of sticks at the entrance to our hideaway. “Did I watch you catch that with your teeth?”

Jase looked at me blankly. “Have you ever tried to swim with a fish in your hands? No. I didn’t catch it with my teeth.” A smile crept across his face. “I could have, though.”

I smiled at his playfulness. I’d never seen this side of him. His tough demeanor was slowly softening. He was in his element out in the wilderness—seemingly more at ease here than I’d ever seen him before.

I watched intently as he effortlessly started a fire. “Where did you learn to do that?” I asked as he tended the delicate spark, blowing at its base ever so softly, coaxing out a flame.

“Finn and I spent countless nights camping in the woods. It was a reprieve from our father’s never-ending lessons.”

“You and Finn? Are you two close?”

“Finn is more than just my brother,” he paused, gutting the fish. “He’s my best friend.”

“I can relate to that.” I nodded. “My sister has always been my best friend. When our parents died, she became my everything. I owe my life to her.” My heart winced at the thought of Gwen. We’d never been apart for this long. “I miss her.”

“Here.” Jase handed me a stick skewered with fish, motioning to the small fire. “Work on this one while I gut mine.”

“Do you really think we’re going to pull this off?”

“Did you make this journey with doubt in your mind?”

“Life’s about taking chances— even risky ones.

If I hadn’t taken a chance with Gwen, I wouldn’t be here in Hiraeth now.

” I paused, thinking back on all we had been through in such a short period of time.

The entire trajectory of our lives had changed in a matter of weeks.

“My life has been filled with difficult choices. Some downright scary, with no guarantee of a happy ending. The ‘treatment’ for what you call Tribulation in my realm is to blindly trust your ‘healers’ while they pump you full of poison, hoping it might kill off the cancer before it kills you.” I reached up, feeling the lumpy port still embedded under the skin at my collarbone.

“I guess I’m used to jumping into the unknown, hoping it works out. ”

“What were you just rubbing at?” he asked, pointing at my chest, his brow furrowed.

I placed his hand on my scar, allowing him to feel the device still implanted beneath.

His eyes widened. “What is that?”

“It’s called a port, where the doctors—healers—would administer my so-called ‘medicine.’ It was supposed to reduce the number of times they had to stick you with needles.”

“Seems barbaric.”

“To be honest, it was. But in my realm, it was the only option I had. Well, that or death.”

“Sounds like we’ve both had to make a few questionable choices along our way.

” He offered a knowing smile and continued on.

“I spent my childhood in Mathenholm. I know every hidden passageway, every dark shadowed nook and cranny. I could navigate her halls in complete and utter darkness. That has to offer us an advantage. Besides, Johan’s guard is no match for my shadows.

We’ll succeed, Mic. Of this I’m certain. ”

“Your confidence is all I need.”

“Good! Now eat your fish, and we’ll get some rest. We have a long day before us.”

Jase collected a few low-lying evergreen branches to pad the floor of the den. That, paired with the small blanket I’d tucked into my belt, would have to suffice.

“It doesn’t look very comfortable, but it smells lovely,” I said, trying to find something to take my mind off what loomed ahead.

“You brought a blanket?” Jase asked, his brow rising in question.