Page 33 of Facade

The nocturnal lullabies soothed my frayed nerves as I fixated on the lights from the distant manor. The crunch of leaves mingled with the woods’ music as the branches creaked and swayed. A pair of eyes flashed as an animal darted through my line of sight. The air was thick with the earthy scent of damp leaves and moss, mingling with the faint, sweet aroma of pine. It was almost too dark for me to see anything; the shadows had merged into a vast, inky sea. Fire was too risky, and we hadn’t come this far to ruin it for the sake of extra heat or light.

Shrieks echoed in the distance, and my heart leaped in my chest. Then a howl that made the hair on my arms stand on end. The sounds carried through the dense trees between me and the commotion. A chill raced across my skin, lifting goosebumps in its wake.

Then everything stopped.

The woods became eerily silent. The thick material of my cloak did little to block the chill that crept along my skin. Sticks snapped, agitating the horses, as something large approached. My hands trembled as I stood, pulling out the small dagger that Ryker had instructed me to keep on me at all times.

Witches didn't need weapons under normal circumstances. I never thought I’d require the knowledge. Someone close to me long ago had offered to teach me how to use such things. If only I had let him, then maybe the handle I squeezed hard enough to hurt wouldn’t feel foreign and terrifying in my hand.

Apprehension coiled in my stomach until a flash of silver and a head of white came into view. Every muscle in my body instantly relaxed, a ragged sigh loosening.

“How many skurs did you lure over there?” I demanded, shoving the dagger back into the small sheath at my hip. It was supposed to be a subtle distraction so he could see how many of the King’s guards we’d be dealing with. Not a full-on assault.

He shrugged. “Ten.”

“Great moon, Ryker!” I shook my head incredulously. Ten skurs? Alone, they were challenging, but in a horde? An absolute nightmare. This was only supposed to be recon. To see if we were on the right track. Skurs, in any number, could draw more attention to this area, which would not be good for us. The Shadow Stalkers would sniff us out too fast. Especially Ryker.

“Why are you covered in their filth? What happened?” My gaze quickly worked over him, checking for any bites. Blood dripped from his arm, which he’d crudely bandaged up. He looked up, as if he’d felt my scrutiny.

“It didn’t bite me. I had to get closer to see what manner of beings we’ll be up against. Don’t worry, I made sure enough of their rancid blood stained the air to cover my scent.”

He removed a dagger that had been tucked into his waistline, placing it in the saddlebag before exchanging his ripped, soiled tunic for his fighting leathers and the sheath for his double swords.

I crossed my arms, impatiently tapping my foot while he worked the buckles. “And?”

He loosed a breath, hands stilling. “I saw her, Aniah.”

“What?” My face went slack. The reality of finally finding her hit all at once. He pivoted toward me, his silver-tinted blue eyes glowing as he reached back, sheathing the swords in an ‘X’ across his back.

He smiled. The first real smile I’d seen in three years. “We found her. Her hair is the wrong color, and the scent is off, but it’s her.”

Relief seeped into my bones, shoulders easing as tension dissipated. After three long years of hiding and searching, we’d done it. The tree supported me as I leaned against it to keep me upright.

“It’s not all great news. She had ink banded around her ankles. I noticed them beneath her sweater on her wrists, too. It’s a Witch’s marking, right?”

I gritted my teeth and nodded. “Cressida. It’s a proximity curse. Nastier than a normal proximity spell. This is messier than I had hoped. They must know what she is. Who she is.” I chewed the inside of my lip as I paced in front of him. Those predatory eyes tracked my every movement.

“There’s more.”

“Oh, good moon. What else could possibly be wrong?” I asked.

“Her memories are gone.” He crossed his arms, jaw set. “She had no idea who I was.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger.

“Please tell me you didn’t approach her.” His silence made my teeth grind. “Ryker, we agreed to stay away until we had all the facts and a safe escape route.”

He scowled as he strapped more daggers around his waist.

“Besides, you’ve let your hair get ridiculously long. I barely recognize you,” I deadpanned. He rolled his eyes.

“I was about to leave, but then a stray skur was headed straight for her. I had to intervene.”

“What?!” I dragged a hand over my face and exhaled. “Okay, no—” I snapped my fingers. “This isn’t all bad. We can work with this!” Optimism coated my words, despite the concern lurking in my gut.

He raised a dark brow, not bothering to hide his doubt. It stung a little, if I were being honest. We wouldn’t be in any of this mess with my magic.

“She’s seen you. So, if we can somehow… get her away from the King’s guards without them knowing, we could earn her trust by breaking the curse that keeps her shackled. Then I can work on putting together the concoction and spell to unweave the memory lock Cressida put on her.”