Page 23 of Down from the Tower

“The shadows.” His eyes dance over me, and I think that it’s better there’s space between us.

“You're going to have to explain more than that.”

“Perhaps another time,” he says, his dark hair picking up when the wind blasts past again. He watches as I lean forward, fighting to keep my balance, before pulling the hood of my cloak up.

Well, his. It almost covers my eyes.

“Clasp the other two closures,” he snaps, and my fingers scramble to obey. “Your hair throws you off balance.”

“I'm aware.” Closing the last clasp, I look back up at him. He's lower on the rooftop than I am where he stopped me from sliding off, but he's still taller than I am. “How are we not going to be seen up here? Any of the posted guards could see us if the moon shines right.”

“Don't worry about that,” he says, holding out a hand. I watch the shadows spark to life, the only telltale signs are the black wisps that float past my view of the moon. “Hiding in the darkness is my specialty.”

I swallow, deciding to go with it for now. I'm already out here like a loon, so there's no turning back. I can't jump back through the bars, and my parents might resort to the dungeon if they learn I somehow got out here through the gold.

Zarev watches me for another moment before turning away. I clench my hands and pace after him, my balance only a little bit better with my hair hidden from the wind. There's still the cloak to contend with, which is definitely made for a much taller man.

Despite the darkness, it feels like I can see Zarev perfectly. Maybe it's because I'm so focused, but the dark black clothing he wears seems to move more fluidly with the shadows. I can make out broad shoulders and a strong back without the billowing cloak. His hair catches the wind and truly makes him look like a creature of the night. When he pressed against my back, I could feel the powerful, hard ridges of his body, but he pulled his hips back before I could feel any hardness between his legs, and that’s telling.

With his sleeves rolled to the elbow, I can see his forearms are without the scars of his hands, and just as strong looking as the rest of him. He's agile on his feet, fluid where I stumble in the too-tight shoes and the unevenness of the shingles.

I might not know about the world outside of these four walls, but I know about myself. And I like getting a little roughed up if I can return the favor, especially if the guy can make our games fun. I’ve only slept with two men, and neither of them is anything compared to Zarev.

Shut up. There’s no reason he’d have any interest in a recluse.

He glances back when I slide a second time, his sharp eyes cutting through the night. “Pay attention where you’re stepping.”

Scowling, I stop admiring his handsome figure and go back to focusing on my footing. We crest the first slant of the roof, the rest of the palace's rooftops before us. I scramble after him as I hook one leg over the peak, and Zarev turns back to hold out a hand. The incline is too much, and I grasp his hand without hesitation.

Warm again. I'm chilled yet he's retaining his heat even without the cloak.

Breathing heavy, I copy his movement before pressing a hand to my chest. I'm winded from the short walk. “How much further?”

He chuckles, and I'm debating smacking him for it. But his other hand presses to my chin, the comforting warmth washing through me. “Look up, Princess.”

I lift my gaze as my breath leaves me. I've never been this high before, and even though it's a little dizzying, the adrenaline rush chases off my nerves.

In the distance is the wall, one I've seen so rarely. Even in the night it glitters like gold dust, even if I know it's solid and impenetrable. It illuminates that side of the kingdom like a beacon in the night.

At this height, I really can see over the wall. I doubted Zarev, since the wall is so very grand and supposed to be impossible to cross. Everyone comes into Tressa by the sea.

But beyond the wall, where I expect to see a drop before I can pick out the gentle waves of the sea, there's only a haze of uneven peaks and fluffy tops. I slowly shake my head. “Are those…”

“Treetops,” Zarev supplies, keeping one hand beneath my chin and the other holding my hand. “Sherwood Forest is full of all types of vegetation. Evergreens, Willows, plenty of plants you can never see from here. It's all on the other side of the-”

“Wall,” I mutter, cutting him off. “There's a forest on the other side of the wall.”

“Yes.”

“A forest…”

My voice trails off. A forest would mean land, not the endless sea Midas and Dorah always told me lies beyond the walls.

I lick my lips. “How far does it go?”

“Across Mystica. That's just Sherwood. It stretches from here, the walls of Tressa, out to Thornton Palace and to the rivers across from the Red Woods that border Wonderland. They cross into Camelot and blend with the Raven Woods down near Swan Lake. It cuts off before the Frostland, where Icicle Pass is.”

That means nothing to me. Those places mean… nothing. I’ve never heard of any of those names except for Camelot.

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