Page 27 of Fallen Star

Ghost lets out a low rumble, as if reminding us that he helped, too.

Zoey smiles at him and pets his head. “Don’t worry,” she says. “I’d never forget you.”

He purrs in contentment and snuggles into her.

Has hereallydecided he likes her better than me already?

She leans against the cave wall, using her fingers to brush Ghost’s thick fur. “Speaking of going places,” she says. “When can we head home?”

My stomach clenches.

I knew this question was coming, but that doesn’t make it easier to answer.

“We can’t go home,” I say simply. “At least, not yet.”

Her smile fades. “But we survived the final trial,” she says. “Riven’s here. He saved our lives. Which means he can take us home. Right?”

As she speaks, I can tell she realizes it isn’t going to be that simple.

We are, after all, dealing with the fae.

“About that...” I start, glancing at Riven for help.

He simply raises an eyebrow, leaving this to me.

Thanks for nothing, Winter Prince.

So, given that he’s apparently not going to help, I turn my attention back to Zoey.

“I made a deal with Riven,” I tell her.

Her eyes narrow. “What kind of deal?”

“The kind where he helped me save your life, and now I have to help him save his father’s sanity.” The words tumble out in a rush. “We can’t go home until I help him make a potion he needs for his father. And we couldn’t go back to the silver tree anyway, since we’re sort of fugitives from the Winter Court, since Riven killed his own knights to come here and help us.”

“His own knights?” She gapes at Riven, who shrugs, as if murdering his men is nothing worth discussing.

“The point is,” I continue, “going back isn’t an option. Not until we have what we need to cure his father.”

“So, we’re trapped here.” Zoey slumps against Ghost, who nuzzles her shoulder.

“Not trapped,” I say. “Just... taking a detour.”

She lets out a hollow laugh. “A detour through a realm that wants to kill me just for being human.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” I promise. “Neither will Riven or Ghost.”

“Like how you stopped that ice dragon from slashing my arm? Or how you stopped that dark angel from throwing me into a tree?”

I suck in a sharp breath, and she winces, immediately looking guilty.

“I’m sorry. I know you did everything you could. I just...” She runs a hand through her tangled hair, which has long fallen out of the thick bun she had on the top of her head when we set out on the first trial. “I hate feeling so weak.”

“You’re not weak,” I tell her, although while it’s generally true, there’s far more to it than that.

“I’m human. In this realm, that means I’m weak,” she says, although she gets herself together before I can reply, looking me dead on and straightening her shoulders. “Anyway—where do we need to go to get these potion ingredients?”

“Really?” I blink, caught off guard by her sudden attitude shift. “You’re cool with coming with us?”

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