Page 137 of Shades of Silver City

What does the Reaper want with me?

As I chew, I close my eyes and rest my back and head against the glass. I sift through my brain, trying to put this fucking puzzle together.

Citizen Confinement and Perimeter Security Directive

Silver Edict #2

“In the event of a successful border crossing, the individual will be on their own to navigate the Wilds. Reentry is forbidden, and any attempt to cross back into Silver City will result in immediate on-site neutralization.”

CHAPTER 33

ARCHER

Time becomes a blur.

Trusting that Scathe will watch out for Tasia, and Godric and Zeke will take care of Reed’s body, I focus on myself for once. I need to release this soul before it becomes a permanent part of me.

I’m not sure what the implications of that would be, and I don’t care to find out.

The soft dirt underfoot swallows the sound of my footsteps as I navigate a less-traveled section of the Underground. I follow one of the tunnels east, away from the coast and toward the Wilds. There are a few tunnels that run beyond the wall, but I seldom use them. We have no business out there.

The unsettling buzzing in my blood continues, pestering me to find another soul.

It’s still hungry for more.

I take a sharp left, and the tunnel narrows into a smaller path that barely allows me to stand at my full height. My shoulder brushes against the wall. I pick up my pace.

I’m half-fae.

Reaper fae.

The irony isn’t lost on me, but I truly had no idea. Godric and I have always known we were different, assumed we were part fae, but I hadn’t expected this. And it’s not like we could start a magic support group and find others like us.

As far as we knew, since fae and magic are banned, we were the only ones like us in the whole city. Two boys who got lucky in finding one another.

The dirt path begins to curve upward, growing steeper. I grab a rope that rests on the dirt beneath me and give it a tug to ensure it’s still sound. Using it to pull myself up the steep slope, I walk slowly, taking small steps and moving hand over hand.

As I get closer to the surface, birdsong reaches my ears.

Eventually, the ground levels off again. Early, pink daylight seeps in from a hole overhead. It took hours to walk the distance to the Wilds—zigzagging through the tunnels. Hours of being alone with my thoughts.

Hours of hating myself.

Gripping the edge of the hole, I hoist myself up and out, landing on a bed of plush, thick grass. I lie there for a minute on my back, reveling in the soft morning sun on my face and the chattering of birds flitting in the trees nearby.

A shudder racks my body as the sweet arms of nature wrap around me, welcoming me back with warmth and tenderness.

When I get up, I glance toward the city. The wall sits a few miles away in the distance, an ominous black thing cutting off nature from the sprawling metropolis.

Sighing, I search my surroundings to ensure I’m alone. From what I’ve heard, fae normally don’t wander this close to the city—why would they? They prefer nature to the horribly polluted metal and brick wen.

This area lives up to its name. All around me lush wilderness stretches on, teeming with flora and fauna. There are a few trails cutting through the dense foliage, but most of them are overgrown, untamed. Everything is alive with color.

Putting my back to the city, I face the expanse of nature and exhale forcefully, attempting to free the soul I consumed.

Nothing happens.

I try again, closing my eyes, focusing on Reed’s spirit within me.

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