“You little bitch,” he snarled, staggering upright.
But I was already moving. My legs barely worked, the world spinning beneath me. But I ran. I ran like the fire was at my back, like death had a name and breath and boots.
“I know where you live!” he roared after me. “I know where you fucking live!”
I didn’t look back.
I just wanted to get home. To my safe house. My safe bed. At least there, I could pretend. Pretend he wouldn’t tear the walls down just to get to me. He wouldn’t forget what I did. A man like that never forgets when you hurt his pride. Hishonor.
Arche’s voice followed me, wrapped itself around my lungs like wire, and sank beneath my skin. But I didn’t look back. And maybe it was pointless. Maybe running didn’t matter. I don’t even know why I bothered.
There was nowhere he wouldn’t find me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
I didn’t sleep that night. I just lay there, counting the cracks in the ceiling. At dawn, Will would come for me, and then he would leave. I couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving. At some point, my thoughts drifted back to when we were kids.
Licia and Aran were crossing an old bridge near Red Creek. The river ran through town, usually tinged slightly red. People said it was because the butcher dumped blood there, but I never knew if that was true. Everyone still called it the Red Creek though, rumor or not. And Aran always loved coming up with new dares, new challenges. The kind that usually ended with someone crying, or limping home.
Will and I were watching from the hill. Or shouting, really, telling the both of them to stop being idiots, then Will nudged my arm.
I turned, and he was holding a small wildflower toward me.
“For me?” I asked.
He didn’t look at me. Just kept his eyes on the bridge.
“Thought it was pretty,” he said. “Thought you’d like it.”
That was it. Just a flower, just Will being… Will.
I slipped out of bed and rummaged through the mess in my wardrobe, shoving clothes aside, reaching for the hidden stack of books at the back. My hand closed around an old storybook, it had a pink cover, of a princess with a silver crown.
I opened it gently, turning page after page, until I found it.
The flower.
Pressed flat and more fragile, but still beautiful.
I tore a page from the book, folded it and tucked the flower inside, just before I heard footsteps outside.
Will was waiting by the fence, and when I first saw him, I flinched. The silver caught the light wrong, and my mind saw Arche. But it wasn’t him. Will’s armor was a lighter, muted silver and there was no Eye embossed on it. It fit him too well to be stolen.
The reins were looped loose between his fingers, and his shoulders were tense, but his eyes still found mine. A horse stood at his side, shifting restlessly. The poor thing had no idea it was walking into slaughter.
A dozen horses and riders waited by the road. I caught sight of Eryx, and the sword strapped to his back.
A real one, but the Eredians would cut him down before he ever got close enough to swing it. And I saw Jorek, he was quieter than usual. Two rifles crossed his shoulders, and a satchel hung from his saddle, clinking faintly as he shifted. They all looked ready. Or maybe they just wanted to be.
I hoped Will was. Gods, Ihopedhe was. That he’d tightened every strap, every buckle, and armed himself to the teeth.
I couldn’t bear to lose him too.
He had to survive.
But deep down, I think I knew it would be the last time I’d ever see them. Any of them.
The road was soft with morning fog, and I kept glancing at his hand. I wanted to take it, but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to let go.
