Page 107 of Whispers of the Elderoak

“True,” Quinn admitted, then looked between Ava and Raine. “What’s up with you two? Are you suddenly friends or something?”

“Yes,” they replied at the same time.

Raine put his arm around her and yanked her close.

Thorne pointed at Casimir and Quinn. “You two should take a page out of Raine’s book. Learn to relax and have a little fun once and a while.”

“Says the king who never relaxes,” quipped Quinn.

Thorne glared at her while Casimir remained silent, expression unreadable.

“Fine.” Quinn sighed. “I hate to admit it… but—” she gave Ava a reluctant smile. “It’ll be nice to have some feminine energy around here. It’s exhausting being the only one among this group of assholes.”

Ava smiled back. Had Quinn just accepted her?

“Ha!” Raine looked at her. “I knew you’d come around eventually.”

“Oh, fuck off pretty boy.”

Casimir walkedat the front of the party next to his king. Jorrar and Quinn were behind them and Raine took up the rear with Ava. They were getting closer to the swamp filled with the treacherous mists and hungry beings who resided there.

“We need to stop soon and prepare everyone for what we may face in there,” Casimir whispered.

“I know.”

They continued walking through dense woods, the landscape slowly changing as they neared the territory of the wood nymph. The trees were more gnarled with few leaves, mostly draped in gray and green mosses and the ground was becoming soggier as they closed in on the watery terrain. Birds had stopped their chirping and the only sounds they heard were faint cries of the swamp creatures, calling to each other as they hunted.

He stopped and turned to the group. “We need to discuss our plan before we enter the swamp. There are beings in there that will try to trick you. They will try to lure you into the surrounding pools. They will use voices of those you love, whispers of souls long deceased.” He looked around and his eyes met Ava’s. She looked terrified and he felt a small pang of guilt for dragging her along into another perilous situation. “We remain in pairs and watch each other. Do not follow the voices. Stick together. The mists will try to confuse and separate us. And whatever you do, do not go into the water.”

Thorne added, “Skye is on standby should something go wrong. But the swamp is not friendly to the other animals, so they had to remain behind.” He turned to Ava. “Ava, you’re with Casimir. Quinn, you’re with me and Raine and Jorrar will stay together.”

Casimir tensed as he looked to his king. “What?” he said at the same time as Ava.

“You’re the strongest fighter and she’s still human. You’ll be able to protect her best. Stay in the center. Quinn and I will lead,” he answered. He then grabbed his bow and quiver full of arrows off his back and walked to Ava, handing it to her. “Something familiar should you need it.”

“Thank you,” she said.

The party rearranged themselves and Thorne spoke from the front. “Let’s go.”

Casimir walked quietly next to Ava as they began their trekinto the swamp. The trees were completely different now, twisting together with no greenery at all and there was a pale mist snaking its way through them, getting denser the further along they went. The wet ground squelched beneath their feet as they made sure to avoid the deep pools of water scattered around them.

Thorne had tasked him to protect their princess.Princess. He was still in disbelief of the new revelation from earlier this morning. The human woman they had found lost in the woods, snarling and terrified like a feral animal. Bruised and beaten. This whole time she had been Thorne’s sister. Deidamia had been torturing their princess and it infuriated him.

Last night he had felt some strange pull to protect her when the silver serpents showed up. Even though she exasperated him, riled him, he’d gone to her side without consideration. When she’d been cornered by that soldier, Aro had told him she was in danger. Unable to disengage from the fight he was in, he’d sent Raine to get her. Though he was still furious she had brought their enemies to their doorstep, he would guard her. Keep her safe.

The mist grew heavier, completely blotting out the sun, and made it difficult to see even a few feet in front of them.

“Stay close,” he whispered to Ava.

All was eerily quiet as they continued. Too quiet. The group remained together as the mist closed in, but it was too dense and Casimir lost visual on Thorne and Quinn in front of them. When he turned, he could no longer see Raine or Jorrar either.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“What?” Ava asked.

“We lost the others. Thorne? Raine?” he tried calling quietly to see if they could hear him, but no answer came through the mist.

He could smell Ava’s fear as she inched closer to him,seeking safety in his presence. He let her and they stopped, looking around for the others.

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