Page 37

Jack

“T ake Sav and get out of this court while you can. But, Jack…” Hazel’s eyes flashed dangerously. “When you are in Spring, don’t trust anyone and don’t you dare put Sav in danger. You’ll be dealing with true royals in their court.”

I swallowed, scanning the hall behind Hazel. There were too many things I didn’t understand about fairies and their courts, but one thing was as true here as it had been on Earth. No one wanted to see a fairy and a human together.

There had been something between us in her room last night.

I wasn’t imagining it, but this morning, I’d slipped into the throne room just in time to hear Sav tell her uncle she and Kaspar were engaged.

Had she kissed me last night and agreed to marry this fish the next morning?

The callousness of her actions cut deep.

But even if she’d chosen him, I wouldn’t do anything to endanger her.

I nodded. “I won’t hurt her.”

Hazel snorted, her tail whipping behind her. “You hurt her by joining her in Faerie. Just try not to get her killed when you go to Spring.”

A countdown clock had begun ticking in my mind the moment we arrived in Faerie.

Leo and Grace wouldn’t make a move without me and every day I was here, Dane pushed his agenda forward with no one there to stop him.

My phone hadn’t made the journey to Faerie, not that I thought it would work here, but I was anxious to learn what new information Leo had on Janet as well.

We’d come to court and played whatever game Sav needed to gain an army, but this morning she hadn’t asked for help for the prisoners.

She’d informed her uncle of her betrothal.

I didn’t want to believe she’d been lying to me, but the proof had spilled from her own lips.

What other reason could she have for dragging me with her into Faerie?

I had no time left to wait and see. I needed to get back to Earth, where I could be free of this court and these fairies whose deceptions muddled my judgment.

An ache settled in my chest at the thought of leaving Sav, but I’d laid out my feelings, giving her honesty and she had sent me away, choosing her prince instead.

“I should leave.”

Hazel backed up as she barked a laugh. “You wouldn’t survive a day in our world without Sav to protect you.”

The memory of the creature in the woods, rough arms wrapped tightly around me, flashed in my mind, and I shuddered.

Could I make it to one of the pocket entrances on my own?

I’d been unconscious for part of our trek and had no idea where to go.

Would any of the fairies here tell me the way?

I shook my head. I was at the mercy of this world until Sav was ready to return.

That truth sunk like a stone in my stomach.

Hazel narrowed her eyes at me. “Just keep your feelings to yourself until you leave the spring court. If they think there’s nothing between you, she’ll be fine.”

Hazel had said she was one of Sav’s best friends, but everything Hazel did seemed to serve her own agenda, though I didn’t know what that was. Were these the people Sav had needed to put her trust in all her life? It was no wonder she wore such thick armor.

“You’re not dressed yet?” Sav’s voice carried down the hall.

She appeared around a corner moments later, marching past me to her room, and glanced back as she stepped through her door.

“Change into the warmest garment you can find, but dress in layers. When we breach the border of Winter, you’ll melt in these thick clothes. ”

“Sav. I’m not going with you to Spring.”

As usual, she ignored me, turning to Hazel. “Can you give us a ride? The bears hate me.”

I ground my teeth, speaking up. “I came with you to winter as we agreed, but it’s time I go home.”

Hazel grimaced. “Have you seen your human? He’s a beast. The two of you would break my back.”

Was I fucking invisible?

Sav’s mouth curled up at the corners. “Hazel Elm can’t handle two at once. Who’d have guessed?”

“Don’t you dare say my name like that,” Hazel hissed. “I won’t be bound to do your bidding. Or any others.”

Sav’s mouth split in a full grin. “Fine. I’ll ride you. We’ll find a bear for Jack.”

“Hey!” I shouted. The pair turned their stares on me and some of the heat in my veins cooled. “I can’t go with you.” I bit the words out. “Tell me how to get home.”

“Jack…” Sav crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t have time for this.” She turned in her door frame.

“Make time.”

She spun back to me. “What’s changed? I thought you wanted to help me? We didn’t get what we needed here, but I can still ask for aid in Spring.” Her eyes widened as she saw how serious I was. “There’s a pocket entrance in all the realms. The moment we have our army, we’ll go back.”

Balled fists at my sides loosened as I searched her face. Was it another lie? I wanted to believe her, to trust that she wasn’t using me for some game I had yet to see, but her face was a mask I couldn’t read.

“You said you came to winter for an army. But you didn’t ask your uncle for an army this morning. You announced your betrothal.”

Hazel backed up and Sav swiveled her gaze to her friend. “Don’t leave. We’re going to Spring.”

Hazel froze, looking between us. “This seems like a private discussion” Not waiting for either of us to respond, she turned and fled.

My focus returned to Sav.

“You really want to do this now? In front of the guards?”

I flicked a glance to the motionless, armored statues lining the walls. “Why are we truly here?”

Sav’s eyes rolled to the ceiling. “I told you. I need an army to save the folk trapped by—” she glanced around the hall and pitched her voice lower.

“Dane. Heath reported us to my uncle, and I had to do something. Kaspar is my friend. He saved both our lives this morning.” She stepped closer.

“I realize now, my uncle would never have helped. Our only hope is my former court.”

It had been on the tip of her tongue to say my dad, and my stomach sank. She was putting a lot of faith in the son of a man who tortured and killed her kind, and cared enough for my safety to swear my identity to secrecy. I had given her very little of my trust.

I swallowed, nodding. “And you swear once we meet with the prince of spring and get your army, you’ll show me the way back?”

She met my gaze. “I swear.” Something burned in my chest, and I rubbed absently at the lingering bit of pain. “Now get dressed. I’ll meet you in the stables in fifteen minutes. Hazel will show you the way.”

I was sweating when we reached the stables. Digging my fingers into the collar of a thick fur-lined coat, I exhaled a hot breath. I would suffocate soon. Rounding the corner of the long corridor, I gasped as I took in a massive frozen structure built into the side of the castle.

I supposed in a kingdom this frigid, everything must have interconnecting passages, but it wasn’t the marvel of ice lined halls that stole my breath.

In the oversized stalls, instead of horses, each held a mammoth fluffy white beast. Truly beast was the word for them, for a polar bear held nothing to the creatures exhaling grumbling breaths in the long wooden pens.

I moved tentatively forward, holding my fingers out toward the nearest creature. Hot, wet steam blazed across my skin as a massive black nose leaned closer. My lips twitched up. “There, you see. I’m your friend,” I whispered.

He chuffed something that sounded like a laugh before pressing his nose into my palm.

“Damn!” Hazel exhaled, moving up behind me. “I’ve never seen Axallar do that with anyone.”

I glanced back. “He knows good people when he meets them.”

His nose pushed harder into my hand, knocking me back, and he leaned against his pen, getting closer. I slid my hands through the bars.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Sav cautioned as she stepped through the door.

Axallar, the world’s largest polar bear, pressed against my hand, rubbing his furry muzzle up my arm. Something resembling a purr erupted in his chest.

“Huh.” Sav said, stopping beside me. “I guess we found your ride.”

Standing so close, her scent wrapped around me, climbing under my skin as a new heat enveloped me, twice as hot as the thick coat and clothes suffocating me. But her presence wasn’t stifling. Instead, it tugged me toward her, begging me to close the space between us.

Axallar growled and yanked his head back.

His solid black eyes fell on Sav and he spread his lips wide, roaring loud enough to make my ears ring.

I pulled my hand out of his pen and backed up as he pawed the ground, grunting and exhaling steaming breaths.

“He doesn’t seem to be a fan of yours,” I smirked.

Sav’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not a fan of males with poor taste. You can have each other.”

“I didn’t know you had such a low opinion of redheads with freckles. If you want, I can help you dye that mane of yours. But you should know, red’s my favorite color.” I winked.

The corner of Sav’s lip lifted a fraction and my heart warmed at the sight of it. Behind her, Hazel shook her head at me.

“Come on,” Sav said, sliding the straps of her bag over her fur-clad shoulders. “The earlier we leave, the better our chances of making it out of Winter before dark.”

Hazel moved past us, unhooking a massive latch that should have been far too heavy for her, but if there was one thing I was learning about creatures in this realm, it was that they were all deadlier than they looked.