AllFreeNovel
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The rider keeps going. Without another word, he strides away from us, the hem of his long cloak swishing around the heels of his leather boots. Ice cracks beneath his feet, like he’s heavier than his slender build suggests. And then, in between one step and the next, he disappears.
It’s just like, poof, and he’s gone. I can still see the imprint of his last step in the crusty snow, so I know he was really here, but he’s not anymore.
I gasp. “Where did he go?”
“Where does the Hunter go when he has no Hunt to lead?” murmurs Rys, already pulling himself up on the back of the horse. “He’ll be back. Sooner than later, I’m sure, but there’s no time to worry about that now.”
I give my head a quick shake. Rys is right.
It’s time to go and break Jim out of fairy jail.
I pace back and forth, too amped up and anxious to sit still.
Riley offers to create a tent for the two of us, where we can sit down, rest, and keep warm. Turns out that she can basically create anything out of her shadows which I might’ve appreciated a whole lot more if I wasn’t too busy worrying about Rys and Jim.
As soon as the rider had left, Nine and Riley reappeared in the clearing proving that Rys was right when he said the Shadow was shielding them with her power. Because they were hiding all along, they heard the entire exchange between Rys and the rider which was a good thing. We didn’t have to waste time telling them what happened.
No, instead we just bickered about who was going back to the prison.
I lost. Big surprise, huh? Rys absolutely refused to even consider bringing me with him, even though I pointed out that the supersized horse could probably carry me, Rys, and Riley.
But, since Riley was willing to hang back while the two fae went off to see what they could do about getting Jim out of the prison, there was no point in my really arguing. It was three against one, and every second I spent bitching was another second that Jim was in trouble.
So, after making us promise that we would stay right where we are so that they can find us again, Nine slips into the shadows and Rys kicks Herla’s side, sending the horse galloping off into the trees.
After that, I pace. I pace because we still haven’t found a fleasc and the ground is super cold. I pace because I have this urge to run after that horse and walking helps. I pace because I’m so tired, if I do sit, I’m probably going to have a hard time getting up again.
Riley watches me go. I notice she’s careful to keep space between us, and the one time that I get close enough that I nearly clip her shadowy cloak, she jumps away from me.
I immediately stop moving. That was a pretty weird reaction. “Hey. You okay?”
“Too close.”
“Huh?”
Riley moves back a couple of more steps. “Sorry, but you’re too close.” Holding up her hands, she motions for me to stay put. “I can’t… you can’t touch me.”
“But I’m human. I don’t have any touch magic.”
I don’t have any magic at all.
She shakes her head, her long, pale blonde hair falling forward, covering her face. “It doesn’t have to do with that. Well. No. It does… I had a lot of bad experiences when it comes to the fae.” She pauses, then admits, “With Rys, actually.”
I’m already so worried about what’s going on with Jim, and how Rys and Nine are making out. Didn’t think I had enough room in me to feel s
uper jealous over that revelation.
I already knew that, but—
“He told me he stole a touch once.”
Riley rubs her gloved hands together, the leather rustling back and forth. I don’t even know if she realizes she’s doing it. Her gaze is on the expanse of shadows behind me.
Finally, she lets out a rough sigh. “Elle. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m not the type of chick who beats around the bush. I can tell you’re anxious. Me, too. But if there’s something you want to ask me, spit it out. I brought it up. Least I can do is own it.”
You know what? I can appreciate her blunt honesty.
“Okay. I will. When I first met Rys, we were in prison together. I’m sure you know that. We don’t hide it. If you ask me, neither one of us should’ve been there. All I did was tell some stuck-up Seelie noble that I didn’t want him touching me, and Rys…”
