Page 118 of A Courage of the Chosen

The stone path cuts through the field in twists and turns, and ahead of us, a cluster of small houses are etched in the side of the mountains that loom over us.

By the time mid-morning arrives, we’ve reached the stables, that are barely big enough to house fourteen horses, but boast a large pasture round the side where they can relax and graze after a challenging journey.

The Seelie that greet us are quiet, barely acknowledging us as Callahan hands them a few gold coins to take care of the animals until we return in a couple of days.

We agree to rest for the remainder of the day and tonight, with plans to begin our ascent as the sun rises. Only Brodie, Rach, Callahan, and I will be the ones to make the climb. And that’s exactly what it is. The path we’ll be taking juts up into the grass-dotted mountain face. Gently at first, but the further it gets, the steeper the incline rises with it.

For now, there’s nothing for us to do but have a hot meal and rest ourselves in the small inn that’s easily the biggest building in Klunnoch.

The woman who shows us to our rooms is as reserved as the stable hands, and she eyes us through the heavy fringe over her slightly milky brown eyes. She limps along the corridors as she leads me and Callahan down to our room. Since there are only eight in total, a few of us are having to share.

The woman, who carries a stale lilac scent, thrusts the key at Callahan and points a gnarled finger to the door at the end of the hallway, communicating in a grunt that this is where we’re staying.

Do I point out that there was zero reason for her to navigate the rickety stairs, because the inn is only two floors and all the rooms are numbered? Nope. I do not want to invite the wrath of this woman.

She doesn’t hang around to see if we understood her, just hobbles off the way we came.

Callahan unlocks the door and opens it wide for me to enter first. The room is dated, but has a certain charm to it that oddly works. The large window is directly ahead of the door, and overlooks the stretch of grass that borders the forest. A bed takes up the right side of the room, occupying most of the space and leaving little room for anything else. I imagine the sheets were once white, but have since been dulled by time and countless washes.

Neither of us reaches for the bond as Callahan closes the door and flicks the lock, and not a word passes our lips as he heads to the other door in the room, closing that behind him, too.

Water hitting the sink cuts through the air, and my shoulders slump as I fight the sting in the backs of my eyes.

On the eve of potentially discovering how we can bring an end to the Dorche, my mind is only occupied with one person—the Seelie hiding himself away from me in the bathroom.

Callahan joins me by the window after another few minutes. Our hands brush against one another, and when his little finger hooks around mine, I cave and rest my head on his shoulder.

“I asked for food to be brought up,” he says quietly.

“Thank you,” I hush back.

His amber-and-pepper scent is dulled by pine and mildew thanks to the damp forests. It still fills me with hope, though.

I’ve found comfort in this man in my darkest hours, and perhaps when I need him the most, he’s the person I’m scared to rely on.

When all has seemed lost, Cal has been my home. Even now my body sings to his, despite me fighting the pull that draws us together.

I’m so tired of carrying the hurt and pain. Tired of fighting. I take one step forward and three steps back, forced to deny myself at every turn.

First, it was the reality that my family had lied to me about who we were. Then it was Tavish’s betrayal, and what came with that. Then my birthright. Accepting the crown, and what that means for me. And now it’s this new magic, that’s as powerful as it is terrifying.

There’s only one thing I can’t deny. Something that needs to remain protected and hidden, since it will only cause us both more hurt in the end.

The first tear falls and my heart cracks wide open.

Because I’m in love with Callahan, and he can never know.

Chapter 34

Elsie

The sky is stained pinks and oranges and blues, as a new day begins without a cloud in sight, which means our climb will be as easy as it can be. We’re standing at the back of the inn, gathered where the town path turns into the mountain one as we begin the trek. We’re all carrying a backpack with supplies, and a short sword each. We wanted to travel light without leaving ourselves unprotected.

“You’re uncharacteristically reserved this morning,” Rach remarks to Brodie as she entwines their fingers together.

Brodie’s face is solemn, and creased into an expression that is far too similar to the one that Callahan wears most of the time. It’s entirely out of place on my friend who is permanently cheery.

“I know what’s waiting for us when we get there,” he murmurs.