Page 28 of The Shadow Prince's Ruin
I’m already regretful about having to wake him up. The guy’s been through so much in the last twenty-four hours yet stood by me even after finding out I’m on the run from the cops. If that’s not a good sign for our future, I don’t know what is.
I believe at least some of what he told me about his family is grounded in reality, so I’m not surprised he escaped to la-la land after experiencing such loss.
I stop the car and listen, to make sure no other vehicle suddenly appears on the road. When I’m satisfied with the silence, I get out and dive between the trees, taking a lungful of fresh pine-scented air. I used to hate this part of the process, the need to exit the vehicle, push through bushes that never failed to scratch me or leave a spider in my hair, but now I relish the touch of leaves, and the crunch of old needles under my feet. Moments later, the hidden gate is open, and I drive through it, then carefully mask all traces of my presence. I even kick the gravel about to hide tire marks before returning to Sylvan, who hasn’t woken up throughout any part of the lengthy process.
My family and I haven’t always been on the best of terms, and none of them has ever set foot in any of the jails and prisons I’ve been in throughout the past five years, but they are blood. I can count on them when it matters.
As I make my way down the narrow road leading to the family property from the back, I hope the privilege of being one of the Colemans extends to me even now. After all, we have a code.
It takes around twenty minutes for the vehicle to approach the familiar compound, leaving behind the dense woodland and entering the clearing. A light comes on in one of the cabins,making me think they might have installed a motion sensor. Moments later, another window lights up, this time in the biggest house on the property, the one I know so well. The one my parents live in.
I lean over to Sylvan and push some hair off his forehead as I kiss his lips. If I have to wake him up, I want to do it gently.
Even after a whole day, he smells so fresh, like the rain, and dew on dense grass, and as I slide my finger over his pointy ear, his eyes open.
“Where… what?”
“We’ll be spending the night here,” I explain and kiss him again, but he pushes me away, sucking in air as he raises his hands, staring right past me.
I exhale and look over my shoulder, straight at the barrel of a shotgun pointed at us from behind the window.
“Have I really changed so much, Wolfie?” I ask, and the gun lowers, revealing my older brother’s face.
Wolf shakes his head. His hair is just as dark and shaggy as mine, but much longer. “Fuck me…” He takes a good long look at Sylvan. “No. You haven’t changed at all from what I’m seeing.”
I shrug and open the door, shaking Wolf’s hand as I step out. “I take it you already heard—”
“Did you abduct him?” my brother asks, leaning close as he whispers, and I feel my cheeks burn. “When did I ever do that kind of thing?”
Wolf rubs his face, blinking his eyes awake. “What am I supposed to think? You’re on the run from prison, and you show up here with some snowflake-looking kid.” His voice is lowered, but I still worry Sylvan might hear him as he gets out of the car from the other side.
“We just have… similar goals,” I mutter as a familiar silhouette appears on the porch alongside numerous other Colemans watching us from their homes.
This is exactly what I always tried to flee from.
“Is it him?” My father asks.
Wolf shrugs. “Sure is. And he has company.”
I pull Sylvan close as soon as he’s within reach and wave, acknowledging everyone. “Don’t you worry, I won’t stay long… but I do need to swap this car for another.” They’ll know what I mean.
Sylvan pulls on my shoulder so I lean down, and only then he whispers into my ear. “Do not tell them about my origins. They will not understand.”
This is actually for the better, because I’d have a hell lot more trouble explaining that my new boyfriend is an elven prince.
All the Coleman men are tall, but my father? He’s like a bear. About my height, but much broader around the middle, and with a much hairier face than mine. When he approaches, Sylvan steps back, and it makes me feel so protective of him I’m struggling against the need to pull him into my arms for a cuddle. Where he’s a toothpick, my dad is an oak tree.
“You better tell us everything and quick,” Father says with deep grooves appearing on his forehead. There are only a few lights around, but I still spot some new silver in his hair.
Before I can speak, Wolf decides to fill him in. “The kid’s also on the run.”
I don’t even get to clear up the misunderstanding when my other brother, Fox, butts in. “What? You brought your prison boy toy?”
“There’s nothing to see. Go to sleep!” Father hisses and looks around the cabins making up the compound. My brothers’ wives are visible in the windows of their respective homes. Leah’s even holding a child young enough for me to not have met.
This command makes me relax, and I rub Sylvan’s shoulder as the other members of my family retreat into their homes, surely back to forgetting about my existence.
“We just need a different car,” I repeat. “We’ll be on our way soon.”
