Page 74 of Glass Hearts
Max, the gentleman he is, carries my bag for me, tied onto his back since my back is still in a sorry state.
Then we start anew on our long trek.
Bear and woman.
* * *
Even though my feet are sore and my back still stings from all the movement, the journey is everything I wanted it to be. The lush green forest smells so fresh, with many creatures popping up to say hi. It’s teeming with life, and I can’t help but feel connected to it all.
The company is even better. We fall into a natural conversation, Max letting me know about tips on the forest, like where to find the perfect berries that won’t kill us, or how not to get lost. He is patient and understanding of my need to stopevery once in a while. Max offers to carry me again, but I don’t want to be a burden. He is a perfect gentleman.
“We should get to Quotina in a few hours. I probably shouldn’t get any closer, Miss Ella. There is a cave just around the corner my buddy Scoot frequents. So, I may stay there. Come find me if you get in trouble. But after a few days, if you decide to stay, I may turn back. I don’t enjoy being away from Gweny for too long, close to the humans. What do you reckon you will do once you are there?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” I let out a long exhale. “I know I need to get away from Eldor, that was always the plan. Maybe I will book a room at an inn and explore this new city. Then, decide what to do. I need to wait for my friend Lo, too. Hopefully, she got my letter. If she didn’t, I might need to go back to get her.” My gut twists thinking of having to go back. But I would do it for Lo. Plus, it would be nice to talk to Valak & Oliver. Let them knowThe Shadowhas moved on. Sadness fills me at missing my people at Harsekeep.
“If you decide to come back my way, please come visit us at the cave. I have enjoyed getting to know a human. Plus, I think my Gwendolyn really likes you.”
“Of course, Max. Thank you again for all your help.”
I lean down to give him a big bear hug and untie my pack. I wave goodbye to my friend as I start to hear the sound of city life in the distance.
Welcome to Quotina.
Sylas
The urgency in the room is heightened; it’s now or never that we make our escape to find our woman. The air thickens with a sharp tension, and each breath feels like a countdown. Just as we leave the castle, we hear the four loud shrieks of the Baudelaire Sisters.
“Sylas, baby! Where are you going!? You should be asleep!”
The sound is more like a command than a plea, and before I can even register it, their figures are hurtling toward us. Grayer is the first to react, his hand shooting out, fingers locking around Mia’s throat. His grip tightens like a vice; she gasps, her hands scrabbling uselessly at his wrist.
“Grayer, release her; killing her won’t bring Arabella back to us.”
“No,” he mutters, his voice flat, emotionless. “She has to pay.”
Before I can move, Archer gathers the wind around him, and it swirls like a storm, pushing Grayer back, forcing him to stumble. Koi’s hands dart out, locking onto Grayer’s arms with a grip like iron, pulling him away.
“UGH! What the fuck! Why are you not loving on us anymore?” Pia shrieks.
“What’s with the choking? I demand you go back to your rooms until my mother gets back!” Lia screams pointing indignantly towards our tower.
Bri is running towards us, a few parcels of food in her hands, wide-eyed at the scene taking place.
“This is how it is going to go. You all will spend a few evenings in the dungeons. Only I have the key, so even if your mother gets back, there is no way she is getting you all out. Bri here will ensure you are fed, but that’s pretty much it. We are going to go find Arabella, and then SHE can decide your fate,” Archer calmly lays out, and this gets Grayer to calm a bit.
“Yes, the perfect homecoming gift for my Duchess.”
The sisters try to run, but we act fast in detaining them. They have never had to fight or struggle a day in their life. By the time we wrangle them into the dungeon, all four are teary-eyed and spouting venomous words along with desperate pleas.
“Funny how, when Arabella was pleading at our farce of an engagement dinner, you all did nothing,” Koi adds what we are all thinking. They may not have orchestrated and executed the cruel plan. But they were just as complacent.
“Archer, baby, don’t do this. I can be just like Arabella if you need. You need me to roll in the dirt, I can do that for you.” Archer rolls his eyes, annoyed at the desperation.
“Here.” Bri hands us the food she has been carrying. “Go find our girl. I will take care of the trolls.” A sister squawks at the name, which has Koi laughing, and even Archer tries to hold back a laugh.
Grayer is still dead-eyed. It’s as if he is an angry shell of the person he was. I knew Gray had fallen hard for the Vixen, just like all of us. But I didn’t realize just how troublesome having her away from him would be. I rest my hand on his shoulder.
“We are going to get her back, buddy. Let’s get going so we can find our love.”
