Page 45 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“Layla owes me for all the overtime I put in while Théo was out.”
“Do you have proper gear for traveling in the woods?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about me. I can pack fast.”
While Huckleberry Castle is located about two hours from the hotel, we’re much closer to the forest’s edge here. It shouldn’t take him long. “Fine.”
Justice looks excited. “Where should I meet you?”
“At the trailhead?”
“Won’t that be you doubling back?”
I shrug. “It’s not that far from the castle. I’ll meet you there.”
Justice nods. “I’ll hurry.”
A strong sense of relief washes over me. “Thank you,” I say, trying to infuse those two words with all that I’m feeling. Not that I can even identify what I’m feeling. I touch his shoulder and squeeze.
“You’re welcome. I’ll meet you shortly.” He takes off running, and I watch him race down the trail toward Princedelphia.
As I walk to the castle, a blue jay named Jenny squawks from a branch overhead. I don’t understand her. She bows to me.
I nod back. “Hello there.”
She cocks her head, her beady eye blinking.
“Do you understand me?”
Jenny does a little bounce dance.
“If you understand me, fly away.”
Nothing. Jenny stays where she is.
A sinking feeling develops in my gut. I really have lost my connection to the animal world. If I don’t regain it, I certainly won’t be able to rule. I need to break this curse as soon as possible.
Hurrying into the castle, I pack up clothing, my toiletry kit, and a woolen blanket. I will rely on the nymphs for food and shelter, I think. I glance longingly at my books, but I don’t think I can afford the extra weight in my pack, and besides, I’m unlikely to have enough downtime to read. I leave them behind.
I take off without waiting for Martin and Hazel. It’s not like I could talk to them anyway.
But they’re too smart. Soon enough, they appear behind me.
Chapter Twelve
JUSTICE
So …yeah. I’m going on a quest with a forest prince to find his kidnapped bride. Which is not what I thought I’d be doing this week.
The change in plans is fine, though. I was just going to wallow on the couch, mourning my loss of Kalle to a princess he doesn’t know and watchingBake Off.Or work on my pixel art.
Or continue my quest to find the way to the Fae Realm. If that’s where we’re headed, then, like, two birds, one stone.
The first step in my change in plans, though, is to get permission to take time off work. I rush to work and clear it with Sam, one of my supervisors, but he tells me to talk to Layla as well.
So now I’m standing in front of Layla, fidgeting and shaking out my hands. “Um, hey. Can I talk with you?”
She perks up. “What’s going on?”
