Page 92 of Lifebound

“What now?” I asked when Miriam took the carriage forward.

She said we’d need over an hour to get to town, but she assured us that the road down was safe. She used the pathway on the edge of the mountain regularly, and she’d never had an accident before.

As long as I couldn’t see where we were, I was fine, I figured. But I was curious to know what else awaited me before we reached the Seelie Court.

“Now we travel as fast as we can to the other side of Cloakwood, and once we reach Blackwater, we can stop to rest,” Rune said. “Remember—don’t talk to anyone and don’t cause trouble. If someone tries to talk to you,don’t answer.”

“Wait—are they going tomakeme talk like Miriam did with that smoke?” Because there was nothing I could do against that.

“No. Miriam will take us deeper into town, away from noxin territory. We shouldn’t cross paths with another before we leave this place behind,” Rune said, but he didn’t sound too certain.

“What about the dark diamond she asked from you? What is that, really?”

“It’s a precious gemstone from the deepest caves in the Midnight Court where the Eternal Water falls off the edge of Verenthia.”

My brain pulled up a blank. “I’m sorry—I was busynot understandinga single word you just said.”

Rune hid his smile with his hand while he pretended to rub his nose. “The Midnight Court is at the very edge of the continent, and the kingdom ends with a sea called the Eternal Water. Its water falls off into the darkness below our realm, and underneath the waterfalls along the edge, there are caves full of dark diamonds that can be mined and cut and used as a source of energy. Avery highsource for any kind of magic.”

“Wow,” I whispered, trying to imagine such a place, but my imagination was far too poor right now. “So, you’re just going to go get it for her?”

“No,” Rune said. “I was banished from the Midnight Court. I can’t go back.”

My stomach twisted uncomfortably. “Why?” Whom had he betrayed?

The question burned me just as the memory of his kiss did.

“Do you want the truth?” I nodded so fast I almost broke my neck. “I don’t remember.”

Well, fuck. “That was not what I expected.”I don’t remember?What kind of an answer was that?

“Andyouare not what I expected, either, Wildcat,” Rune said, and he was almost…sadabout it.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know why yet, so I said, “So, how will you get Miriam her diamond?”

“The prince.” He said the name and I could have sworn that his voice was lower. Harder. “The prince has plenty in his possession. Once we tell him about Miriam, he’ll send it to her.”

Something about the way he said that.

“And if he doesn’t?” I asked, though it was probably a silly question. Of course, the prince would do it—I was here to save his life, and Miriam had helped us a great deal. She deserved a diamond just for being cast away by her own kind, and for making this gorgeous dress.

“Then I’ll find one myself and bring it to her,” Rune said.

Notof course he will,and notthe prince will be thankful.

Rune simply had a Plan B.

“If that happens, I’ll come with you,” I said, to try to lighten up the mood.

But he said, “If that happens, it means you’re already on your way home.”

I had absolutely nothing to say to that.

* * *

Three hours later,Miriam left us at the edge of the town, behind this wide one-story building that apparently served as a sheriff’s department in this area. She again reminded Rune of what he’d promised her, and in her eyes I saw the desperation clearly.

I knew deep down, for whatever reason, she didn’t really believe that he was going to deliver her diamond, even if she tasted the truth in his words. She didn’t really believe it, and she still fed us and clothed us and brought us here. She even held my hand while we walked to the other side of the building, to the main road, the beautiful dress she gave me completely covered by Rune’s cloak.

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