Page 27 of The Lost Fae
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A bell rings and startles me awake. I gasp and move from my bed in one swift movement, careful to avoid smacking my head off Lincoln's bunk. Outside the small window, boulders turn into rocks that turn into pebbles that fade to sand. The sea doesn't froth as it meets the shore’s edge, but instead shatters into thousands of shards of ice.
And the sand doesn't really look like sand... it's all snow.
My breath fogs up the glass as I breathe heavily with excitement. One step closer to finding our way out of The Lost Court.
"Linc--" I start, turning around only to find that his bunk is empty.
Fear, unasked for and wild, makes my body go stiff. My mind searches for the tether between us that remains intact and reveals the view of the shoreline from up on the top deck. I smack my knees off the bedframe and snatch up my jackets from off my bed. I stomp up the stairs, fastening every button I have up to my chin until my breath is stolen by the cold.
My attention roams past the busy crew members, finally landing on Lincoln. He stands with his arms tight across his chest, nodding along while Captain Beatrice talks. As if he feels my eyes on him, his gaze shifts toward me.
I brush down my hair with my fingers and walk calmly to the pair. Beatrice pauses the conversation as she notices me.
"Well, if it isn't the snarling monster from under my bed." Lincoln bites his tongue drawing my attention straight to his full lips.
“I hope that nickname doesn't stick." I shrug, pushing my hands into the deep pockets of the coat.
Captain Beatrice gives me a curt nod. "We're ready to head in toward the queen's home whenever you are." She looks me over from head to toe, one brow lifted as she waits for my response.
"Oh, like now?"
Her chin dips.
I run my hands over my coat and look down at my body. I mean, I have both my jackets, shoes, and... yes, I did indeed remember to put on pants. I suppose there isn't anything else I would even bring with me. So, yeah, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. My wings are tucked tightly against the undershirt where they poke out of the fabric, staying warm by the coats I’d layered over them. They twitch slightly as I rack my brain for any reason I would not be ready.
"Well... let's go."
"That's the spirit." Lincoln pats me on the shoulder.
Captain Beatrice Ann is already in motion. She hollers out to her crew and points toward the shore. Without her by my side carrying on that absolutelyfascinatingconversation, I look out to the waiting shore. Snow, unmarred by footprints or animal tracks, meets the slush and ragged edge of ice at the sea. It extends in a long valley, dotted only occasionally by patches of evergreen trees.
Lincoln and I stand still as pirates storm past us to their Captain and the edge of the ship. The bow cuts into the shallowest part of the snowy beach. Beatrice stands on top of the railing and gives us a grand salute before she grunts and jumps off the edge of the ship. The crew follows eagerly, crunching in the slush under their feet as they land.
"Ready?" I take the first step, spinning to watch Lincoln as I walk backward.
"Fuck yes."
The pirates drop off the deck, disappearing from view. When we reach the edge I don't bother to stall at the lip of the boat. I lift my boot and stand on the edge, my gaze following the crew members as they chat amongst themselves and head for the trees. Very few of them look back to make sure that we are following. Not even Beatrice herself cares enough to make sure we make it off the boat safely or keep up with the group.
Raising my arms off my side, I take the risky step off the boat. The drop is relatively short and I land in a crouch with my fingers dipping into the snow. Lincoln lands next to me. He kicks his boot in the ice, sending small wet droplets clinging to my face. I wipe away the flakes from my cheeks.
"You're awfully playful lately." I lift a brow and follow the steps that are pressed into the snow.
"There is just... something about this place...."
"That’s far away from your problems?"
"That's probably it," he chuckles under his breath.
The chill of the air is frigid and makes the skin on my face feel dry and brittle, but the sun shines above us and warms my back through the two layers of coat. My ears catch the wild sounds of life amongst the trees and off into the distance. Animals. Just animals.
No town or city clings to the water’s edge. There aren't any merchants offering goods they brought from over the sea. There aren’t even any signs of human or Fae life around. Just flat snowy land and tall pine covered trees.
Still we trek over the valley in mostly silence. In my head, I mull over different outcomes of today's visit. None of which give me answers to what we will do if she hasn't a clue how to escape The Lost Court.
All royalty has secrets.Lincoln's voice rings in my ears.
