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Torin’s steely chest warmed me from behind. With me secure in his grasp, my muscles slowly started to relax and melt into him. For the moment, at least, I felt safe with him. But when it came down to it, we were probably still stuck in this world. What were the chances of finding this veiled woman? And if we did, would she help us?
It felt like chasing smoke.
But as long as Torin had hope, I’d keep my dark thoughts to myself. I couldn’t bear to see the look on his face if I told him I thought we could be trapped.
9
AVA
Abriny wind swept over us, nipping at my exposed skin as we raced through the river. From the salty taste in the air, I thought we must be near the sea. A thick fog billowed around us.
When Torin reined in the horse, the sound of rushing water roared like a waterfall nearby. “Ava, that might be an abandoned house over there.”
A gust of sea-kissed wind swept over us, sweeping away some of the fog. Between the tree trunks, I could make out a stone structure that overlooked the cliff, a small cottage with darkened windows.
Torin helped me off the horse, my feet sinking into the cool water. I snatched the dress off the horse and pulled it on.
Torin was already kneeling to drink from the river, and I joined him. I cupped my hands together, scooping it up. The life-giving river streamed down my throat, running down my chin and dress. Oh, gods, no wonder people worshipped rivers in the old days.
I was still drinking when Torin stood. “I’m going to make sure it’s empty before we go inside,” he said. “Bring the horse closer to the house in case we need a fast escape.”
I waded out of the river after him, watching him stalk into the clearing, his sword slung at his waist. When my gaze slid down to his feet, my heart cracked at the sight of his lacerated heels.
With the night air growing colder, I hugged myself tightly, leading the horse out of the river and into the clearing. After days in the bleak cell, the house looked cozy as hell. Dark, but the idea of a place with a soft bed seemed like absolute heaven. One side of the house overlooked a jagged cliff that sheared off into the glittering sea, and the forest arched protectively over the back. A rounded door gave the home a cozy appearance. In the moonlight, I could see that the house had been painted sky blue long ago, but the paint looked worn down by the sea winds. Red leaves littered the ground in a carpet of claret.
I took a step closer to the cottage, watching as Torin drew his sword and climbed the steps to the front door.
I turned, my gaze skimming over two crooked tombs outside the house. As I moved closer, I took in the brutal, beautiful carvings on the stone, twisting, interlocking designs, coiling serpents of blue and purple. Runes marked the names of the ones buried there, but I couldn’t read them. Cobalt vines with blood-tipped leaves crawled over the tombs, as sinuousas the carvings. Whoever had been buried here, someone had loved them enough to take great care with their burial, etching their names for eternity.
Overturned tin troughs stood by the side of the house, which suggested there must have been farm animals here at one point. I found a post, too, for the horse, and tied him up.
As soon as I’d finished, a rustling in the branches pulled my attention back to the forest.
My heart raced.
From the shadows, an enormous insect with spindly limbs of beaming silver loomed over me. My jaw dropped. The thing was as big as a horse. Not a spider this time, but what exactly was it? Before I could get a good look at it, it dropped to the forest floor and disappeared into the forest once more. I let out a long, shaky breath, but tension still coiled my muscles.
My relief was short-lived. In the next heartbeat, the creature rose up on its back legs, its head beaming in the moonlight. My heart froze as it towered over me like a metallic praying mantis.
It lunged for me, one of its massive scythe-like arms slashing at my head. I dove out of the way and rolled to my feet, sprinting away from it and into the salty wind. “Torin!”
I reached the edge of the sheer, dark cliffs and had nowhere else to run. I stood in long seagrasses and whirled to face it. Luminescent compound eyes stared at me, a pair of enormous fangs twitching and spasming hungrily in its mouth. Its blade-like arms flexed.
Finally, Torin slammed the door open and drew his sword.
The mantis stopped moving, its head swiveling to assess the new threat. As Torin slashed at the mantis’s torso, the creature leaped away, driving me to the very edge of the cliff. From behind, a gale whipped sea spray at my back. I glanced back at the sheer drop off the cliff. Far beneath me, the ocean churned. My breath caught in my throat.
The mantis lunged at Torin. He swung his sword, slicing one of the creature’s arms, and the thing screeched in pain. A sliver of dread twisted through me as I wondered if the soldiers would hear its cry.
Torin swung again, and the insect darted away, lightning-fast. My heart skipped a beat. The mantis could easily jab its remaining arm straight through Torin’s body.
My mind had started to go blank, filled only with the rush of the ocean and the low, musical hum of the nearby forest. With the wind whipping over me, I ran around the mantis, putting myself between the creature and Torin.
“Ava!” he shouted, but I ignored him.
My instincts had crystalized around one idea: I would keep Torin safe, and the forest would aid me.
As I stared up at the mantis, my mind bloomed with images of the earth coming to life, bending to my will. Of the long seaside grasses rising to pull the mantis into the sea…
