Page 35 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

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FINNLEAH

T he gushing winds raced past my ears, my knuckles turning paper white as I held on to the saddle. My stomach twisted with nausea, though this time, I had managed to keep down whatever food I had eaten that morning. A minor win, but a win nonetheless. And I needed all the positive encouragement I could gather as we flew high above the clouds, towards the four-river crossing.

I distracted myself from the terrible heights and the way-too-small of a belt holding me to my seat by replaying every legend and story Tuluma told me over the years, sorting the repeating bits into certain patterns. It could work, I assured myself, though like a shadow, a little doubt crept over my thoughts.

Gideon moved and my heart skipped a beat as he adjusted himself in his seat behind me. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding the reins in front.

“We are approaching,” he noted, pulling Greyfas into a swift descent. I swallowed a large lump in my throat, writing off the cause for my anxious feeling to the chilling view ahead and not his enthralling closeness to me.

We had managed to land through a tiny opening in the green ceiling of the Elvish jungle. The General easily slid off the saddle, setting me on the ground a second later.

“We are very deep into Elf territory, so stay close and vigilant,” he murmured, scanning our surroundings. The air this far from the Desolate Desert was chillier, a slight fog slithering between the trees.

We followed our compass far south. The atmosphere filled with a certain eeriness, growing into clear uneasiness. My heart raced with unnatural speed with each of our careful steps. The General pointed with his swords to a tree not too far from us. The light tree bark was covered with marks. Claw marks, to be exact. As though something, or someone was dragged down from one tree to another. I glanced behind me, unable to shake off the feeling that someone was following us, watching us. My skin prickled with goosebumps and my steps became bigger, closing the distance to the General until I was within his reach.

Each passing minute the feeling of approaching doom rose in my chest.

We should leave.

We should go.

Another shiver ran down my body.

Something is wrong.

We shouldn’t be here.

The rising panic within my chest sounded the alarms. Screaming warnings, I was no longer able to ignore as the morning sunlight darkened to a smoky blue-like tint.

Even the usually half-bored General tensed, silently pulling his second sword from his sheath, as his eyes meticulously inspected our surroundings.

My chest tightened, air getting stuck within my lungs as my eyes lowered to the compass.

“ Gideon ,” I whispered, unable to move. My voice was too calm, even as my whole body shook and my hands trembled, he sharply turned to me. At first glancing at my face but speedily following my gaze.

“ Do. Not. Move ,” he ordered; silver flames sparkled in his irises as enormous, demon-like creatures encircled us. Their large, green eyes hungrily glinted high above the treetops.

I didn’t move. Neither did he.

Not even a breath.

But it was all pointless, as their black and blue smoke-like figures moved, slithering through our noses, completely possessing us.