Page 62 of Spirit Trials

“Okay, yes. I promise to stay with you...unless...”

“Farrah,” he growls.

“Well, what if something happens and I need to go...I don’t know...pee or something?”

“You don’t do anything without me and that includes peeing. Am I clear?” He pauses a moment. “Or we can just go right back to my house.”

“First of all, your home is a castle; you need to call it that. Secondly, fine.”

“Fine what?” he pushes.

“I’ll stay with you,” I give him.

“No matter what?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I turn to look at him and regret it immediately. He's right behind me, and that puts hishead only a few inches from mine. “Okay. Fine. I’ll stay with you no matter what.”

He nods as if it’s settled. Thankfully, Jamik comes back a minute later. He meets Rysden’s eyes and nods. “Okay, let’s go. Stay close.”

“Pretty sure I can’t be any closer," I mutter under my breath.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Rysden says in a low voice. Was it my imagination or did he shift closer?

I push aside thoughts of Rysden and focus on finding my friends. Hector rides ahead of us. I wasn’t sure what to expect but not Harper and Kinsley standing at the edge of the banished community, clearly waiting for us. I hop down, ignoring Rysden when he growls my name. I run to my friends and pull both of them into my arms. “Are you both okay?”

“Farrah, we were so worried about you,” Kinsley says. “Areyouokay?”

“I’m fine, but I’m so sorry about what happened last night.” I meet Harper’s eyes and see the anger there. “I’m sorry about Maritus. I know he—”

“Don’t say his name,” she snaps. I accept her rebuke. I know what it’s like to lose somebody. “He wouldn’t be dead if not for you.”

“Harper!” Kinsley says in shock.

I swallow. “I know. I—”

“You don’t know anything. You should have never come here. If you hadn’t, he wouldn’t have died. It’s your fault he’s dead.”

Her words ricochet through my head, and I take a step back. Something solid meets my back, and somehow, I know without looking that it’s Rysden. “If you want to be angry, be angry at me. I’m the one who killed your friend. Farrah did not. But let me remind you that your friend held a knife to her throat, one he planned on using. I won’t apologize for killing him.” I wince at his callous words.

“Harper, I—”

“Leave,” she cuts me off.

I stiffen. “What?”

“Just leave. We don’t want you here, and we certainly don’t need you.”

“Harper,” Kinsley says in a wide-eyed whisper.

“It’s fine,” I tell Kinsley, swallowing hard.

“Are you coming with?” I ask Kinsley.

Kinsley glances at Harper, and I know she’s already made her decision. I bite my lip. “Okay. Let me know if either of you need anything.” I turn and walk away before they see my heart breaking. When we get back to the horses, I walk right over to the extra one Jamik has a lead on. He doesn’t say a word when I climb on its back. I know when Rysden joins our group, but I don’t look over at him. I will him to let me be. Thankfully, he does.

“Let’s head back.” That’s all he says before we leave the banished and my heart behind.

Chapter 33