Page 32 of Until the Stars Fall

Owen answered this time. “Magic.”

Quirking a brow, I lifted my eyes to peer up at him.

Anna sighed heavily. “Magic is one way to look at it. But really, they’re made with rare materials that are fatal to immortals.”

“Just immortals?”

“Well, the knives can kill anyone as well as any other blade if used properly, but yes, the materials aren’t fatal to humans.”

“So why stop me from touching it then?”

“Because the more they’re handled and touched by humans, the less effective the—”

“The magic,” Owen said, ignoring how his wife glared at him for finishing her sentence for her.

I eyed the pair sitting across from me, unsure what to make of this tale. Magic existed, of course; I knew that. The prince’s ability to shift was evidence enough, but something felt off here. Something I couldn’t quite figure out. What weren’t they telling me?

You’re being paranoid, Lieke.

They’ve trained you.

They’ve cared for you.

They’re family.

Yes, my unease was surely unwarranted. I was just nervous about returning home. Sliding the blade into its sheath, I placed it back with its mate on the table and watched as Owen wrapped them both up again. When he extended the bundle to me, I accepted it with a forced smile.

“You said they were to remain hidden?” I asked as I pushed myself away from the table to stand.

Anna stood as well, lifting another parcel from beneath the table and handing it to me. “Here is a new riding skirt for you, along with a knife garter for your thigh and a wrist sheath for under your sleeve.” She waved a hand toward the screen in the back corner of the tent. “Would like to make sure everything fits before we send you on your way.”

Once I had changed out of my leggings and into the riding skirt and secured both knives to my thigh, I stepped out and nodded my thanks to the older couple.

Anna smiled. “Perfection, Lieke. Do you have any questions?”

I frowned slightly, looking from Anna to her husband and back. “Just one. Why do I need a riding skirt exactly? Am I not taking the palace carriage back?”

Anna said nothing as she waved for me to follow her out of the tent and into the morning sunshine. Raven was already approaching, leading a beautiful chestnut horse toward us. I reached a hand toward the mare, and she nuzzled my palm, her warm, breathy snort tickling my skin and pulling a giggle from me.

Raven handed me the reins and scratched the mare behind her ear. “This is Honey. Trained her myself since she was just a filly.”

“I can’t take your horse!”

“Of course you can, and you will. I want you to. I’d trust her to no one else.”

“This is all too much,” I said as tears began to surface.

Shaking her head, Raven offered me a tight smile. “Not too much for you, friend.”

Anna reached an arm around my shoulders. “Mr. Marstens has arrived to escort you back to Engle before you make your way home.”

I swung my gaze toward the edge of the camp. The demi-fae waved from where he sat atop his horse, waiting patiently. Before I could say anything more, Anna placed a kiss on my temple.

“We will miss you, Lieke. Truly,” she said. I started to protest that the goodbyes could wait until I had retrieved my belongings from my tent, but then Owen came walking up with my bag in his arms and proceeded to tie it behind the saddle.

Raven pulled me into a tight hug and stepped back quickly. She seemed to hate goodbyes as much as I did, so I lifted myself into the saddle, adjusting the skirt to cover my legs on either side. Thankfully, it was only the three of them—and not the entire camp—here to see me on my way. With a small wave, I clicked my tongue quietly to Honey and gave a light squeeze of my legs to nudge her into an easy walk toward the edge of camp. Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes as I rode further into the trees.

CHAPTER 16

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