Page 34 of Golden Star

I want to ask more. Do they not eat meatever?

If so, why can’t I live without it?

I’m also not in a position to be drawing more attention to myself. Which means I have to accept the bread with a smile and pray it’ll be enough to keep me going until we figure our way out of here.

The guard leaves, the heavy door slamming shut with a finality that makes me flinch.

Zoey’s uneven breathing fills the otherwise silent cell, and my chest tightens with fear.

She’s fading fast.

I wrap my arms around my knees, trying to keep what little body heat I have left to help warm her up. If we don’t escape soon, I’ll lose her—and I have a feeling I won’t be far behind.

My healing magic apparently doesn’t work quickly enough to save me from freezing to death in a tower made of ice. Or maybe it worksjustslowly enough to make it as torturous and drawn out as possible.

Then, as I’m contemplating the horror of a long, cold death with Zoey’s frozen body next to me, something shimmers in the corner of the room near the window. A soft, ghostly glow in the shape of a woman.

The woman from the forest? The one who touched my forehead and put me through that unimaginable pain?

Then, just as quickly as she appeared, she’s gone.

Great. Now I’m hallucinating.

It’s probably a side effect of freezing to death.

Still, something tugs at me, drawing me toward the window. Something I can’t ignore.

So, slowly, I stand, my legs trembling as I walk over to the cold stone wall. The window’s high up, but I grip the edge, pulling myself up enough to peer through the bars.

Ghost is pacing near the tower’s base, his massive form a shadow against the snow.

A pang of longing shoots through me. If I were down there, I could ride on Ghost’s back, find Riven, and beg him to help. After all, I saw that final look in Riven’s eyes as Zoey and I were sent away. He might be cruel, but he doesn’t want me to die.

Why would he have made the deal to get me home if he wanted me dead? Why would he bind it with a kiss?

As I look down at Ghost, I remember what it felt like to ride on his back with Riven through the forest. I can practically feel the rush of cold air against my skin, the crunch of snow beneath Ghost’s paws, the freedom of running through the trees.

I need to get down there.

Ghost looks up at me, watching me, like he’s waiting for me.

Come down,his eyes seem to say.Jump on my backagain. Let me take you where you need to go.

I wish I could. So much that I can practically feel the snow crunching beneath my feet and the fresh air outside this tower.

Then, suddenly, Ghost is standing in front of me.

I’m… not in the tower anymore.

I’m down here. On the ground, at the base of the tower. Free.

What the hell?

I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of it.

Is this a dream? Did I teleport? Am I dying again?

But there’s no time to question it. I’m here, and now’s the time to act—not to sit around wondering how I pulled off whatever it is I just did.

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