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I scanned the path, my eyes searching the trees edging it. They thickened into a forest, creaking in the wind. Theshadows between them were too dark to discern anything but the occasional moving form or pair of gleaming eyes. I prayed those belonged to animals and not bloodthirsty fae or other monsters.If there is a path, surely it leads to one of their towns or dwellings.The fae would be eager to collect any humans who wandered beyond the barrier, whether to torment, enslave, or murder them.
A bitter laugh escaped me. Hoping for shelter among a people who would enjoy my misery seemed like madness, but at least that gave me a slim chance of survival. Maybe.
Footsteps on the path made me pause. They didn’t come from ahead, but from behind, making me hope—foolishly—that Charles had seen reason and returned for me. That he’d chosen to brave the dangers of Brytwilde rather than leave his elder sister to die here.
But those thoughts faded when I turned and found none other than Garrick approaching, his gold eyes bright in the dimness. This time, he wore a fur coat and was fully armed, like a hunter venturing through the woods in search of prey.
“There you are,” he said, as if he’d been scouring the town for me since Charles dragged me from the ballroom. He rushed forward, shucking off his coat and offering it to me.
“You!” The single word came out in a rush, full of accusation.
Garrick blinked, as if stunned.
“You’rethe reason I’m here.” My teeth chattered, but I was too upset and distrustful to take the coat he still held out to me. Tears stung my eyes. “You unleashed that magic in the ballroom, framing me, and then you disappeared.”
His brow furrowed. “I can’t wield winter magic.” Without waiting for my response, he stepped forward and wrapped his coat around me tightly. I was shivering too violently to resist. It smelled of pine and earth and fresh mountain air, and it enveloped me in a warmth that sank into my bones.
Garrick scanned the path ahead. “We need to find shelter,” he said, taking my arm gently and guiding me forward.
My face was numb, making it difficult to speak through my cold lips. “Can I trust you?”
Garrick cast me a disparaging look. “Firstly, your people were already against you. Secondly, that magic was your own. And thirdly,” he added, his teeth flashing in the night as he grinned, “why would I give you a coat if I wanted you to die?” Before I could try to argue further, he added, “I left because I worried my presence was the reason you lost control of your magic. I didn’t think your people would be so rash as to cast you out after one incident, without a single question asked.”
My mind whirled, refusing to latch onto the idea that I had magic. Cold as I was, my resistance to walking with a stranger was swiftly breaking down in the face of my need for help to survive. I allowed Garrick to lead me forward. “Perhaps you want me to survive long enough to run and provide entertainment,” I suggested. “You told me you’re a hunter, after all.”
Still smiling, Garrick shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that to a magical creature like you, Starlight.”
I frowned but chose to ignore his nickname—reminding me of the way he’d said I hadhair like starlight—and his insistence that I possessed magic. I was too overwhelmed. “Hesoldme to the Silverfrost family,” I muttered as Garrick drew me off the path and into the forest, shoving branches out of our way.
“Who?”
“Charles, my half-brother.” I sniffled, feeling pathetic, but Garrick didn’t offer me a pitying glance. Instead, he stared into the darkness, seeming to be mulling something over.
“There’ll be a penalty to pay if you don’t arrive on their doorstep soon,” he explained. “They’ll send some of their servants from the castle to find you. They may have already.”
A shiver darted down my spine despite the warmth of Garrick’s coat. “What will they want with me?” I breathed.
In the darkness, I couldn’t read Garrick’s expression. “It depends. With most humans? Slaves or entertainment. With you and your magic? I cannot say. They might accept you as one of their own.”
Might.I couldn’t risk my entire future on a chance.
“Is that where you’re taking me?” I asked, my voice tremulous.
Garrick hesitated, a long moment passing between us, and I was reminded that fae could not lie. “I am taking you to shelter, or you won’t survive the night. There’s a cabin not far from here that I often stay in. After that, we will decide what to do in the morning.”
I paused, contemplating his words. “What doyouwant to do?”
Garrick didn’t miss a beat as he pressed further into the woods. “Ensure your survival.”
“Why?”
This time, Garrick’s rich laughter echoed off the trees. “Because no one deserves to freeze to death simply for being different.”
I couldn’t argue with that. “Why were you in Altidvale?” I went on as the trees began to thin and starlight flooded through the forest canopy. We entered a glade covered in pine needles. Nearby, a stream burbled over stones, winding deeper into the wood.
“I told you. I wanted to join your ball.”
“Doesn’t Silverfrost offer entertainment?”
