Three Days Later A thin ribbon of gray streamed from the horizon into the sky, and Carissa’s breath caught. “Are those campfires?” The group was slow to respond. After three days of traveling through bare, blackened forests, sleeping on dirt, and not having access to fresh water, she wasn’t surprised. They were all exhausted—even Elon,…
“Carissa! Elon!” Lyron yelled. Carissa moaned and tossed her arm over her eyes. Sunlight glowed brightly against her eyelids, but her body was heavy with exhaustion. “Please come out. Lila’s missing, and I don’t know what to do.” It took a moment for his words to register. Once they did, Carissa jerked into a sitting…
Wind thumped against the canvas of the tent as rain poured over it. The noise was so thunderous that Carissa could scarcely hear herself think. At least an hour had passed, night had swept over the land, Yare wolves howled in the distance, and Elon had yet to return. Carissa wrapped the blanket more tightly…
No matter how many times she tried, Carissa found herself unable to rid herself of her smile. She replayed her sword fight with Elon and laughed softly, recalling how large his eyes had grown just before she’d kissed him. Even though he had foresight, she was glad she was still capable of surprising him. A…
Lila kept her eyes on the forest, chills skittering over her skin. She didn’t like what the border had done to the land. It made the trees look like blackened skeletal fingers, arching over the chattering group of women, who were off to do their laundry. It reminded her of one of her reoccurring nightmares:…
Carissa whirled around and strode back toward the tent. He was afforded one last glimpse of her before she slipped inside. “You seem rather pleased, especially in comparison with your disposition this morning, your majesty.” Elon blinked at the sound of Elisa’s voice—and her bold words. He found that his cheeks were beginning to ache….
One Day Later Elon jabbed forward with his sword, puncturing his enemy’s lung. He ducked beneath the oncoming blow before slashing through his opponent’s neck. Yet another felled by his hands. “Still at it, I see.” Algernon. Elon lowered his sword to his side, letting his imagined enemy fade from his mind. More often than…
Carissa released the hem of the shirt, her courage lost. “Not particularly.” “You said you would tell me all once we were safe.” Carissa folded her arms tightly over her chest, her gaze scanning the black trees. She certainly didn’t feel safe. “I will keep you safe, Carissa.” He turned her to face him. “He…
Carissa remembered when Elon had lowered her down into the streets of Zonah, mere hours ago. She’d feared the rope would snap, and gravity would suck her to the ground before crushing her bones. That’s what she felt now: she was falling, feeling a strange lurch in her chest, the world a passing blur. She…
Carissa heard metal clashing, and someone else shouted from inside the room she’d just left. Then all fell silent. Should she call out? Or would that reveal their position to the enemies within? Before she could decide, Elon poked his head out the window and waved. Carissa released a shaky sigh. At least he was…