Page 40 of Spirit Trials

“It’s really not, but we can use some of Harper’s.”

I shake my head. “No, she has to have them just to survive.” I close my eyes and try to focus on anything besides the pain.

Sometime later, she shakes me. “Here. You need to eat.”

I open my eyes wearily. “Thanks, Kinsley.”

I watch as she checks on Harper. “Do you think she’s okay?”

I nod. “I’ve seen it keep a grown man down for an entire twenty-four hours.”

Kinsley’s quiet a moment. “In your village?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you do a lot of that? Healing with herbs and plants?”

I shrug. “Some. My mom used to be good at it when I was little. She taught me a lot. Then it was up to me to continue to learn through trial and error, but I’ve used that particular plant before.”

She doesn’t say anything for a little while, and I stare into the fire. “Try to get some sleep,” she says after a while. The night is long and painful. I sleep off and on, but the pain in my leg keeps me from sleeping too deeply. The sun finally begins to make an appearance, and I struggle to sit up. My entire body hurts, and my leg throbs. I manage to make it to my feet, trying to ignore the pain in my leg.

Harper finally opens her eyes, and a sense of relief fills me. “Hey, Sleepyhead.”

She looks over at me in confusion and then winces and looks at the leaves. “What is that?”

Kinsley kneels next to her. “Do you remember what happened?”

“When a psychotic vulture tried to tear my body in half?” she asks in a hoarse voice.

I cringe. “Yeah.”

“What are these leaves and what is that awful smell?”

“Those are leaves from a Heartshade vine. They do stink, but they have powerful healing properties and a sedative effect,” I explain. “How do you feel?”

She shrugs and then immediately winces. “I’ll be fine. What happened to your leg?”

“She took an arrow to the leg and a snake bite to the hand,” Kinsley says for me.

Harper’s eyes meet mine. “Well, at least you’re still breathing.” And that’s all I’m going to get from her.

“Yep. Let’s keep moving. We’ve been here too long.”

We gather what little we have and leave behind our safe place and venture out into the open once again. It doesn’t take long for both Harper and I to slow our progress. The hours drag by in a weary effort to just put one foot in front of the other. I don’t waste energy talking. Around midday, we stop and eat some berries Kinsley was able to procure. It’s a long, pretty awful day; but at least we make some progress; and that’s what counts. By the time we stop, my head feels like it’s going to explode. Harper doesn’t look much better. It takes us longer than usual to find a place for the night. When we finally do, I crash to the ground, no longer able to hold myself up.

The rest of the night and the next day is a blur. Kinsley catches something for us to eat; I think. I think I eat a little bit at some point. But all I remember is being so hot and then so cold and my body aching. It feels like every nerve in my body is on fire. I hear voices murmuring and somebody shaking me a few times, but I can’t open my eyes for the life of me. And then finally, blessedly, the pain eases. I remember a dark pair of eyes and feeling warm for the first time.

Chapter 23

When I open my eyes, the sun is bright. I blink and take in my surroundings and take stock of my body. It aches, but the excruciating pain of yesterday is gone. I stretch and notice my leg is doing better today too. I slowly sit up and notice for the first time the two sets of eyes staring at me. I look between the two of them. “What did I miss?” Harper and Kinsley exchange a glance, and I’m suddenly worried. “What?”

Kinsley swallows. “The prince’s wolf was here.” Her words are slow and distinct, and I don’t miss the quiver of fear in her voice.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were in a relationship with the Wolf Prince?” Harper’s words hold a tinge of bitterness or maybe distrust.

“I—” I pause and shake my head. “The prince’s wolf was here?” I can’t wrap my head around what they’re saying. “How do you know?”

“How do we know?” Kinsley repeats.