Page 54 of Curse of Thorns
“It’s time to go,” he says, punctuating each word. “Trust me.” His eyes are sharp, as serious as I’ve ever seen him.
“You’re sure?” I ask him, my heart pounding. I’m eager for it to be true for so many reasons at once. Honestly, my biggest reason is for something to take my mind off of... what happened with my father just minutes ago.
My stomach turns.
My heart pounds faster. “Go, now?” I repeat again, stupidly.
“Yes!” he says and shoves at my shoulder.
I don’t understand any of it, but then again, I’m not in my right mind. A bottle of water is shoved into my hand, and I turn to meet Kari’s purple eyes. “Drink it. And if you need anything... my offer stands.”
I nod in thanks and then march through the crowd and out the door without looking back.
Up the stairs, I glance back only once to see the queen watching me, narrow eyes, and almost—displeased? I shake it off, my head still somewhat dizzy, but I’m determined. Determined to run from all of this. My not-father’s disappointment and disgust. The people’s hope that I’ll save them all. The prying questions. And most importantly, Caelynn.
Killian whinnies and huffs as I approach him. I unclip him from the carriage and hop onto his back saddleless. It’ll be an uncomfortable ride, but it’ll do.
I hope to God I never see her face again as long as I live, and if Tyadin is right, that something has changed and I can get through the Wicked Gates, I’ll never have to.
Caelynn
My back is pressedto the wall, knees against my chest, as I watch the fae royals mosey out of the High Court palace and to their carriages. No one notices me, hidden in the shadows. My dress has streaks of mud up the skirt. My eyes are red and itchy.
Another set of fae walk down the fairy-lit walkway but stop to look around.
“There,” a feminine voice says.
I blink to see Tyadin and Kari crossing the snow-covered grounds to meet met at the edge of the front entryway.
Kari sits beside me and throws an arm over my shoulder. My heart squeezes, and I press into her warmth.
“Are you going to tell me what happened now?”
I blink and stare down at my frozen toes, shoes lost to some bush I attacked in my pained outrage. I only have myself to blame.
With Kari here, I’m not sure if I should explain, but I don’t have the energy to think much beyond that. I trust her. Maybe it’s stupid. Maybe it’ll backfire. But it’s not like I could make Rev trust me any less at this point.
