Page 36 of The Iron Fae
Even here at the base of the mountain the ground has begun to slope more and more. I can only imagine what sort of workout my calves will be having. It's dreadful to even think about. More so now that there is a not so real something-or-other that's about to be on our scent. Sounds just as deadly as the stupid metaphor Kai shared.
"Explain," I deadpan.
"It's a Wishing Spirit. Some say it's what we Fae turn into when we die with regret or unfinished business. Dreadful things." Kai keeps his tone even, but every so often he looks over his shoulder behind us. "They aren't physical. Not unless you touch them."
"What do they look like?"
"That's... up to you." Rowan smiles. "If a second version of me appears I'll know you're secretly in love with me."
"Not likely."
"You'll see the spirit as whatever you are wishing for, whatever your soul needs," Kai says.
"What exactly were you smelling?"
Small sprouts of trees grow up around us. I grab onto one, using it as leverage to help me forward. Ahead of us, the trees wither away to burnt stumps and skinny new blooming twigs bursting out of black rock. I blatantly sniff the air.
"I don't smell anything."
"Well not only will you see the spirit as what you want, it sort of takes over all of your senses. It'll smell like your heart’s desire too. If you touch it, it will take a physical form andfeelreal. Deceptive in every way." Kai lags behind me by a few feet.
"So what did you both smell?"
"That's personal." Rowan looks back at me. "Do you think we are going to tell you what we desire the most? No. First thing they tell you in prince training isnotto share your most valuable secrets."
"What do you think I'm going to do with this information? Sell it to the highest bidder?"
"Well you are going to be a queen that rules in a different court, Briar," Kai suggests.
"Watch out, that almost felt like a threat," I laugh at him.
Kai gives me a smug smile. "Can't be too careful."
"When I get these powers unlocked," I suggest as if it's a new level in a video game, "I'll be able to kick your butt for saying such offensive, untrusting things."
"I'd like to see you try," Rowan chuckles.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Kai waves me off, as I turn and walk backwards so I can see him. I pause, letting him get closer.
"I'll give you that good old one, two, jab." I punch at the air. Kai dodges easily.
"You think you're smooth. You best--" He stops talking, his body pausing as he perks up like a hound dog.
"Damn that was fast," Rowan snarls. "What's the plan, brother?"
"What? Is it the Wishing Spirit?" Automatically, I start looking around.
"Don't look around!" Kai barks. He turns me around. "Keep going. The options are not to make contact with it, let it stay in its spirit form and harass us for as long as it pleases or one of us can touch it and we can go for the kill."
Rowan drags a hand down his pale features. "Making it physical could mean using a lot of energy to fight it. Not to mention protecting the obviously weak princess we have with us."
"Don't you mean queen," I interject. They both ignore me.
"Ignore the spirit it is, then." Kai tucks his fingers into the straps of his backpack and stares straight ahead. "It's getting closer. Briar, keep your gaze on the ground. No matter what you think you see, or hear, or smell, or whatever sort of sense it tries to appeal you with. And for the love of all, things holy, don't touch it."
"What could be so hard about that?"I'll just channel my inner 'Collin'. He was great at ignoring me and he's an idiot so surely if he can do it so can I.
"You'd be surprised."
