Page 22 of Crown of Envy

My heart raced as I watched him struggle. The demon poison was definitely taking a toll on him, eating away at his strength with each passing moment. His face was ashen, a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead despite the cool air. Dark circles under his eyes stood out starkly against his pale skin.

Without hesitation, I moved to his side, looping my arm through his. Tremors ran through his body, and the heat of fever radiated off him. Normally, he would have pushed me away, his pride refusing to accept help. This time, he didn’t. He leaned into me, a testament to how weak he’d become.

“I’ve got you,” I murmured, trying to keep the fear from my voice as panic clawed at my chest. He needed fresh blood, and soon. The urge to offer mine was overwhelming.

I wished he would take mine. The thought of his fangs piercing my skin, of my life force flowing into him, healing him, should have terrified me. Instead, it filled me with a desperate longing. I’d give anything to see color return to his cheeks, to see strength flow back into his limbs.

“Justice,” I whispered. “You need to feed. I can?—”

He cut me off with a weak shake of his head. “No,” he rasped. “I can’t…won’t risk it.”

The others gathered around us, concern etched on their faces. I saw the question in their eyes. Would Justice be strong enough for what lay ahead? As we stood at the edge of the Grove of Whispers, with unknown dangers lurking in its depths, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our greatest threat might not be Justice’s deteriorating condition.

Something was in there. Something evil that seeped into my heart.

The air grew thick and heavy, carrying a scent of damp earth and something ancient, almost primordial. Mist curled around our ankles, its cool tendrils reaching for us with an unsettling purpose. The trees loomed overhead, their branches twisting and intertwining in unnatural patterns, creating a canopy that devoured what little sunlight managed to penetrate.

This reminded me more of the Unseelie realm than Earth. The shadows between the trees seemed to writhe and dance, hinting at otherworldly presences beyond our perception. An eerie silence blanketed the area, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind through leaves that sounded disturbingly like distant, indecipherable voices.

If the Unseelie were connected to this forest, why hadn’t Garrick said anything? I glanced at my companions, wondering if they felt the same sense of otherworldly dread creeping over me.

The dense cluster of ancient trees stood before us like sentinels. Gnarled oaks and towering pines stretched skyward. A thick layer of fallen leaves and moss carpeted the forest floor, muffling our footsteps.

Two massive, weather-worn stones marked the grove’s entrance, their surfaces etched with faint symbols that seemed to shift and change as we approached. As we passed between them, my blood ran cold. We were crossing a threshold into another world entirely.

Then the whispers started, faint at first but growing clearer with each step.

Come play with us.

Help us.

The air grew cooler and damper as we ventured deeper into the grove, the whispers a constant, unsettling backdrop. Shadows danced at the corners of my vision, and more than once, I turned quickly, certain I’d seen movement among the trees. Yet, each time, nothing was there. Only more mist and shadows and those haunting, ethereal voices.

Come play with us.

Help us.

The whispers seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, twining around us like incorporeal vines. I glanced at my companions, trying to gauge if they heard the voices too or if I was slowly losing my grip on reality.

Brody held up his hand. “Sawyer, time to get the mirror and compass out.”

Damon clasped Justice’s arm, his eyebrows furrowing with poorly concealed worry. “Whoa there, Bambi on ice. You trying to recreate a drunken sailor impression, or is this your audition for ‘Dancing with the Demons?’”

His tone was light, but his grip was firm, supportive.

Justice glowered at him. “I’m fine.”

Damon shook his head. “Seriously, man, you look like you’ve gone ten rounds with a wendigo and lost. Maybe ease up on the demon juice cocktails, huh?”

I gave my brother a grateful look as I reached into my backpack. The mirror shimmered like a dark lake and began to glow. Once again, my mother’s voice emerged, clear and resonant. “Seek ye the Heartstone amulet, hidden deep within the Grove of Whispers. This ancient artifact holds the power to reveal hidden truths and protect against dark magic. Only those who prove their worth may claim it.”

Brody’s eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful. The lines on his forehead deepened. “The Heartstone amulet,” he repeated slowly, tasting the words. “It sounds like it could be the key to navigating the challenges ahead.”

A tense silence fell over the group. I could almost hear the gears turning in everyone’s minds, weighing the potential benefits against the unknown risks.

Zara nodded eagerly, her gaze fixed on the mirror. Her eyes gleamed with an intensity that made me uneasy. “It’s said to be imbued with the magic of this grove,” she explained. “Anyone who possesses it can grow stronger. The amulet taps into the essence of this place.”

Maybe the amulet would help Justice.

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