Page 18 of Tricky Princess

“Pretty and prickly,” Sam said with a small laugh. “It’s perfect.”

“I’m not pretty, you annoying pup,” Ros grumbled, but he couldn’t help the smile pulling at the corner of his mouth.

They rounded another hedge when a wave of magic weaved around his ankles, making it feel like he was trudging through sand. Ahead of him, Billy stood at a fork in the maze. To the left was a clear and easy opening filled with the morning sunshine; to the right, the shadows surrounded a turn Ros couldn’t make out.

“Last turn.” She pointed to the right. “In the past, the entrance was just a divide in the path. You could feel the magic as you got close, and each time you went through, it got easier. It seems, over time, nature and those who care for this island have stepped in.”

All five of them stood there looking at one another.

“Ready?” Garm asked.

“This is the easy part,” Billy said. “It will feel like stepping through a shadow portal. When we arrive, be ready. I never had issues as I entered, but it’s been so long.”

Devon and Sam both checked their weapons at their hips. Ros knew where his were when he needed them, and Billy’s claws slowly elongated.

“Ready,” Ros stated.

They all headed toward the darkness. It welcomed them.

Ros felt stripped bare as his foot hit a grassy floor. He quickly took in the area, making sure no one was going to jump and attack them. When it was clear, he felt for his weapons. Everything was still there, but it felt as though something was missing. The rest were doing the same, and he wondered if they felt as shaken as he did.

“Is everyone okay?” Ros asked, looking at his friends.

Everyone but Devon nodded, patting themselves down and checking their bags. Devon was hunched over again, dry heaving from the trip. Billy turned slowly in her spot. She sniffed once and then met eyes with Ros.

“It’s the same. Even smells the same.”

“Then lead the way,” he said to her. “I want to get as far as we can before night falls.”

Devon tightened the straps on his bag as Sam gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, avoiding his mouth. The hollow feeling in Ros’ chest grew, but he had hope. He was in the same realm as Ellea, or as close to it as he had been for the past eight days.

Ros tore his eyes away from his friends’ exchange and took in the surroundings again. They were at the base of a vast mountain that reminded him of the ones outside his window in his bedroom at the castle. To the right, there was a small wooden bridge hugging the rocky wall. Billy nodded toward it, and they headed that way.

It took them two hours to climb the mountain with its wooden bridge. Then another five hours by foot to get through a sparse forest. Hills and valleys took up most of their journey, and they settled for the night a hundred feet outside a dense forest.

“Well, that was easy,” Sam said, throwing his bag on the ground.

“Sam,” Billy and Devon said.

“What?”

“Don’t jinx us, pup,” Billy scolded.

Ros shook his head at his friend’s blatant disregard for superstition. It didn’t matter how many times he told him not to speak ill of something or not to kill a spider because it would rain.

“But it was!”

“You say that now.” She shook her head and grabbed a tent from her pack. “The next leg will be equally easy. It’s the last two we need to save our energy for.”

“How did you manage alone all those years?” Ros asked.

“It’s easier to sneak around when you’re alone. I also didn’t stop much.”

“Are you going to tell us why you had to visit Hel so much?” Sam asked with a raised brow.

“No.”

Ros pressed his lips together. He knew Billy was hiding something, but she would come out with it when she was ready. Or he would pry it out of Garm after things were settled. Four more nights until he would be at his father’s castle. Four more sleepless nights until he would get to Ellea. He wondered when they would be able to rest. It would be a battle to get her out, and he didn’t know if they would come back this way or if his ability to portal would be fixed. Either way, he only wanted to touch her, kiss her, see her. To make sure she was whole and safe—his.