Page 13 of Cheshire's Smile
I squirmed in place, tempted to do exactly as he asked. The fae had a hold on my body in a bad way.
There was just one problem. I sighed.
“I can’t.” I glared at Tick. “Unfortunately, he’s right. We do need him.”
Cheshire pouted. “Do we? Really?”
Lessening my grip on Tick’s neck, I lowered him back to the ground. Tick fell to his knees, gasping for air, and I squatted down in front of him.
“You listen to me well. You will lead us through this back door of yours to the Between, and the Seelie won’t find your dismembered body decorating their pretty town center.”
“Oh, love,” Cheshire groaned. “Keep talking like that and you won’t make it to the Between without me inside of you.”
Ignoring Cheshire, I focused on Tick. “Do we have a deal?”
Tick huffed and sighed. “Do I have a choice?”
My lips curled into an unpleasant smile. “No. You don’t.”
Chapter 6
Tick’s nine tails drooped as he walked in front of us. His usual swagger was missing. If I were a bigger person, I wouldn’t find a sick pleasure in having deflated his ego. However, I never believed I was a good person.
We came upon a familiar cave that made my palms sweat.
“You better not be leading us into a trap, Tick.” I sent a zip of magic at his tail, yanking it.
A satisfying yip escaped him.
I picked up the pace until I was standing beside, pointing at the ominous entrance to the cave that housed a lower fae that haunted my dreams. How did I still remember the decaying scent of the creature and not the loves of my life before now? It hardly seemed fair.
“I mean it, Tick.” I twisted to block his path. “I’m not that weak pathetic human girl just trying to get home anymore.”
Tick lifted his hands. “Look, I promise. No tricks. She’s not even in there anymore.”
“She?” I glanced over at Cheshire who shrugged. “How do you know it’s a she? You know what? Never mind. You’re suresheis not in there?”
Tick dragged his hand through his long hair. “She, just like everyone else, has either disappeared or caught the sickness. I don’t know which. She’s been missing for a few months now.”
Well, that didn’t sound good. If the sickness could take out a creature that big and horrible, then it was much worse than any of us had ever thought.
I stepped aside, letting Tick take the lead once more. My stomach cramped at just the thought of stepping into the inky darkness.
A warm hand encircled mine and squeezed. I glanced up at Cheshire, who gave me an encouraging smile.
“It’s okay. I’m right here.”
His words warmed the coldness inside of me, and I took the first step into my nightmare.
The cave was exactly the way I remembered it. I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face, let alone where I was going.
The only thing worse than the darkness was the overwhelming stench of death. The first time I’d come through this cave, it was horrible. Now that I had fae senses, it was ten times worse, and I was upgrading the stench to abysmal.
“Oh my Reaper,” Cheshire’s voice came out muffled. I could only assume he was covering his nose with his sleeve. “Is this how bad the sickness smells?”
“Worse,” I coughed out, covering my mouth with my hand. “Tick? How much further?”
Silence greeted me. I strained my ears searching for any hint of the fox leading us.
