Page 76 of Golden Star

My stomach continues to growl every so often as we trudge on, but much to my relief, there are no more screaming women or violent ice dragons. Just me, Zoey, and the cold, making our way toward the silver tree at a much slower pace than I’d like.

But as we walk, I remain alert, gazing around in preparation for attackers.

Where are Riven and his knights now?

Surely, they’re closing in on us. I think Zoey knows it, too, even though she’s not saying anything.

All we can do is our best and pray that it’s enough. And Zoey’s too vulnerable now for me to risk leaving my body for another treetop scouting mission. So, we’re going to have to let the stars guide our way.

Zoey’s uncomfortably not chatty as we continue, and eventually, my hand drifts to the whisper stone in my pocket.

Sapphire.Riven’s voice echoes in my mind, low and urgent.Are you there?

Sapphire

I freeze,and Zoey groans at the sudden stop.

“What?” She scans the area, her good hand already gripping her dagger.

I release the whisper stone, not wanting Riven to hear. “It’s Riven,” I tell her. “I touched the stone, and he talked to me through it.”

“Well? What did he say?”

“He said my name. And asked if I was here.”

“And what did you say back?”

“I haven’t said anything back,” I tell her. “I’m talking to you.”

“Then talk to him,” she snaps. “We need his help.”

I hesitate, still not one hundred percent sure I can trust him. Far from it.

But things are looking desperate here. And it won’thurt to hear him out. It’s not like he can track our location through the stone.

Or…canhe track our location through the stone?

At the thought, part of me wants to throw it as far away from us as possible and run. But another part—probably the more logical part—knows that if he could use it to track us and that if he wanted to track us, he would have found us already.

So, I reach back into my pocket, wrap my fingers around the stone, and bring it out.

“I’m here,” I say to him, and Zoey nods in approval.

Listen carefully.His voice sharpens, straight to business.You can’t go to the tree. The king’s men are already there, waiting. You need to head northwest instead—toward the ravine that marks the end of the Winter Court’s territory. It’s narrower than ravine you crossed for the bridge trial, so while there’s no bridge, you’ll be able to jump to the other side.

“Jump?” I echo, and Zoey’s brows knit together in silent question. “Riven, that’s?—”

You can do it,he cuts me off, speaking quickly, apparently having no time to waste.I’ve seen you do it before. Lots of times. You can jump farther than any fae I’ve ever seen.

Memories flash by: jumping with Zoey over fallen trees to outrun that Wendigo, flying through the treetops and from that branch into Riven’s window, and then the impossible leap to the end of the collapsing bridge.

Each of those times were fueled by adrenaline. Desperation.

If I do this crazy thing Riven’s talking about, it will be different.

Planned.

Which means I’ll have time to overthink it. To overanalyze it.

---