Page 130 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

I’m so exhausted that, for a brief instant, I think I hallucinated it.

As the air grows quiet again, I worry that I have.

But then …

“Maddy!” The shout is louder this time and definitely sounds like River.

It takes all of my energy to drag myself up and step off that rock. “Over here!” I manage to yell as I frantically search the trees for a sign of him in the midst of the graying darkness consuming everything.

But then I spot a drop of light piercing through the nightfall.

“River!” I shout as loud as I can as I stumble toward the light.

“Maddy.” He’s close now, and the light starts barreling toward me.

I move to. Closer and closer.

Then I see him, his dark but warm eyes, his damp, dark hair, and full lips that are beaded by raindrops. The amount of relief that washes over me is enough to almost cause my legs to buckle, but I manage to stay upright and reach him.

He’s holding his phone with the flashlight app on, and the instant I’m within reach, he wraps me into his arms and pulls me close. He has a rain jacket on, and the fabric feels weird against my skin. He also doesn’t smell like he typically does, the scent of rain wafting off him. Despite that, and despite how earlier today I was questioning spending time with him, right now, I’m so damn grateful to have him in my life.

Even though the concept is foreign to me, I wrap my arms around him and press my head into the crook of his neck. I shut my eyes and pretend I’m not standing in the trees, drenched in rain and mud.

“Are you okay?” he whispers, his lips brushing my temple.

I nod, even though I don’t believe I am. I’m also shivering uncontrollably.

“No, you’re not.” He moves back and scans me over from head to toe. Then he quickly shucks off his jacket and starts to put it on me.

I shake my head and step back. “No, you’ll get cold.”

He gives me a tolerant look. “You’ve been out here for hours, and you’re soaked. There’s a chance you’re starting to get hypothermia.”

He might be right, so I comply even though my stubborn side wants to be persistent.

My arms tremble as I loop them through the sleeves, and then he zips it up. Again, I don’t protest his help since my fingers are too numb to do much.

“Come on,” he tells me as he slips an arm around my waist. “Let’s get you back to my car. It’s about a mile away, but there’s a trail just through these trees.”

Nodding, I let him guide me through the branches and mud. I lean into him the farther we get, and by the time we stumble out of the trees and onto the path, not only do my eyelids feel heavy, but my shoes are caked with so much mud that it takes a lot of effort to put one foot in front of the other.

“Just a little bit farther,” he says encouragingly, carrying most of my weight.

Looking back, I’ll probably loathe how weak I am, but that thought is a dim light in the midst of the darkness currently plaguing me.

I clutch onto him instead and let him steer me downhill, where the trees thin. Eventually, they part and reveal a parking area where River’s car is.

The pressure in my lungs begins to release, and we quicken our pace, not slowing down until we reach the passenger side. River only lets me go to unlock the car then opens the door and reaches to help me inside.

“I don’t want to get your seat muddy,” I say, my voice hoarse.

Shaking his head, he takes my hand. “I give zero fucks about that.” Then he helps me get in before shutting the door.

He runs around the front, climbs in, starts up the engine, and cranks up the heat.

“You should take the jacket off so your clothes can dry out and the warm air can heat you up better,” he says as he twists to face me.

Rain drips from his hair and down his cheeks as he leans over the console and helps me slip the jacket off. My muscles are stiff, and my teeth clank together as I chatter. I’m so out of it that I find myself staring at him with a desire to whisper the words tickling my tongue, words I haven’t dared utter aloud before.

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