Page 36 of Queen of Thorns
Caelynn
Rev and I walk handin hand through the dark forest. The black leaves of the shadow maples glisten and dance in the wind, almost like they’re waving at us as we pass by.
The ride to the Whisperwood was several hours in a cramped carriage with three other fae. The portal workers were more than willing to agree to a detour so Rev and I could stretch our legs and take a walk through the Whisperwod.
The shadow sprites bounce through the trees, whispering and cheering. The occasional wisp of a kiss tickles my cheek, and I shiver. But the sprites don’t seem to have anything to say to me today. They whisper to each other, excited and hushed, but I can’t make out the words.
We crest another hill, and the Shadow palace can be seen just on the horizon. The sharp peaks veiled behind grey clouds. My chest squeezes, not for the first time. I’m going there, now. For the first time in my life, I’ll see my court’s palace. I’ll walk through those gates.
I half expect something to happen, to stop me from completing this lifelong dream. The Night Bringer will show up, just in time to stop me, and swallow me whole. I don’t get to be happy.
But I force down those fears and insecurities.
A blackbird flies overhead, screeching. I follow its descent through the leaves until it disappears, blending into the dark forest. I smile, thinking of Raven, even as my stomach sinks. I miss her, and I long to know where she is and that she’s all right.
An inky black shadow about the size of my fist drops onto Rev’s shoulder. He flinches and then laughs as the shadow sprite hops to his head and then back into the tree line.
“Have they spoken to you?” I ask Rev, nodding to the shadow sprites, leaping through the trees.
“Not much,” Rev answers.
Well, that’s more than I’ve gotten. “I haven’t made out a single word. But they do seem excited.” A group of about a dozen sprites leap after us, chattering eagerly. They bounce and twist and chuckle.
Rev smiles. “They are definitely excited.”
My eyebrows pull down. “What did they say to you?”
“Home,” he says, voice low. “That’s all. Just ‘home.’”
I meet his stare, his silver eyes soft. Then, I turn back to the Shadow palace just before it disappears behind another hill. “Home,” I say softly, testing the word.
Several shadow sprites leap straight at me, and I wince as they latch themselves to my arms and shoulders.Home. Home. Home, they agree.
I chuckle. “I guess they liked that.”
“They did indeed.”
Rev pulls me to a stop suddenly. I frown, about to ask him what’s wrong, but before I can get the words out, his lips are on mine. I gasp and stumble back, but his arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me in tighter.
Heat floods my whole body, and I allow the feeling of being adored to fill me. To own me, here and now. Because I may never feel it again.
