Page 119 of Spirit Trials

“You don’t need to sleep on the floor,” Kinsley says.

“I want to.” I don’t give them any chance to fight me and settle on the thick fur on the floor. “Are you guys nervous about leaving with Kaldar?”

There’s a rustling, and suddenly Kinsley is almost in my face, hanging off the bed. “Kal what?”

“Kaldar, the Jaguar King.”

“How are you on a first name basis with him?” she asks, still hanging off the side.

“He’s friends with Rysden.”

She lifts herself back up onto the bed with a huff. “Of course, he is,” she mutters.

“He’s really nice. I think—” I start.

“You talked to him?” That’s from Kinsley again.

“What is your deal?” I can’t help but ask.

“Kinsley’s in love with the Jag King,” Harper calls out from the other side of the bed.

“I am not!” Kinsley sputters. “I’ve never even talked to him.”

“No, you’ve just ogled him from a distance,” Harper says dryly.

“I have not. I...okay, yeah. I totally have. But in my defense, have you seen the man?” I can’t help my laugh. But she’s not done. “He’s tall with muscles and broad shoulders and that hair? I just want to run my fingers through it.”

“Down girl,” Harper says with a laugh.

“Try not to attack him when he comes here to get you,” I add dryly.

“I’m not going to...wait. He’s coming here?”

“How else did you think you were going to get to his kingdom?” I ask still staring up at the ceiling.

“I thought he’d just send some people from his kingdom or something.”

“Nope,” I say, popping the p. “As far as I understand, he’s coming here to personally travel with you to his kingdom.”

“Uhhhhhhhhhh.”

My eyes widen at the long moan. “You good?”

“This is so bad,” Kinsley moans.

“You’ll be fine,” I assure her.

“Just don’t fall off your horse or something because you can’t stop looking at him,” Harper adds.

“We have to ride horses?” Kinsley shrieks.

That gets a laugh out of both Harper and me. We continue teasing Kinsley long into the night before finally settling and falling asleep. I fall asleep with a smile on my face, thankful to be able to forget about real life for a little bit and just laugh.

I’m awoken sometime later when somebody shakes my shoulder. I open my eyes and take in the dark form leaning overme. “Rysden?” I whisper, coming immediately awake. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Yes.”

I sit up. “What?” My heart’s thundering in my chest. So much has happened. What could it be now?’