Page 69 of The Fallen Kingdom

“I’m not incompetent,” Aithinne says easily. “I just hate you.”

Sorcha rolls her eyes, grips her skirts and shoves past me. “Look, let’s just find Kadamach and finish this so I can be rid of you both.”

She doesn’t get far before a loudcrack!makes us all go still.

I grip my sword, my eyes scanning the trees. “What the hell was that?”

“What I wouldn’t give for my powers,” Aithinne mutters, turning sharply at another low rustle from somewhere I can’t identify.

“How about a blade?” Sorcha says in a low voice. “I’ve already vowed not to shove it between your ribs—”

Pop! Pop pop!

We whirl, just as the massive oak behind us tilts forward. I lunge to the side, scrambling to get out of the way before it falls.

It doesn’t. The damn tree is moving.

Branches reach for us like creaking, gnarled fingers. Roots wrap around Aithinne’s ankle and yank her back. She drops to the ground and the tree drags her forcefully across the wet soil.

“Go!” Aithinne shouts. She slashes with her sword, hacking away to free herself. She pushes to her feet and breaks into a run.

We sprint through the dense forest. Our boots kick up mud and water; it’s difficult to move through quickly. Slippery leaves on the ground further hinder our pace, but we keep going. We don’t slow down. Behind me I can hear the snapping branches, a crash as a heavy root hits the ground.

I look over at Sorcha and see movement to my left. “Behind you!”

I’m too late. Branches wrap around Sorcha’s torso, pulling her off her feet. The trees jerk her back through the mud, slamming her body painfully to the ground.

I can’t help my fleeting thought:Leave her there.

But even if Sorcha can’t help me find the Book, I still need her to open it. It’s the only reason I’ll bother to save her worthless hide. She’s right: I am ruthless.

I charge forward, slashing into the tree. The fae metal slices through it easily—but a branch grabs me around the ankle. I hack at it, severing it before it has a secure grip. Then I lurch to seize Sorcha’s arm.

“It’s about bloody time, Falconer.”

My blade whistles through the air as I cut her loose. “I considered leaving you.”

“I thought you would.”

I yank her with me as I break into a run. “This doesn’t mean anything. I need you to open the Book. I still hate you.”

“Believe me, Falconer, I understand your motives are far from noble.”

Where is Aithinne? I look left and spot her battling with a massive, towering tree—and others are starting to close in. The Morrigan has brought the entire damn forest to life.

Aithinne vaults into the air to avoid a branch, but another comes right at her. She spins into a crouch, her sword slashing high. With a running leap, she joins us. Her expression is grim; her shoulder is bleeding.

We break through reaching branches, fighting and clawing our way out. The forest is dense—too dense. I can’t see where it ends and this assault is too much, too quick. My limbs are burning, growing tired. When I slice through one branch, another takes its place. And another. Their grip is forceful, rough, leaving bruising red welts on my wrists and arms.

“There,” Sorcha gasps.

Through the line of trees is a shining portal.

Aithinne’s shout draws my attention. She slashes her blade, her movements fast. When she reaches me, Aithinne gives me a hard shove. “Go through the portal! Find the Book!”

Her silver eyes are bright. “Let me buy you time.”

“But—”

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