Page 175 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

I sat up for the first time in nearly a day. The blood rushed to my head, blurring my vision.

Kita held the glass to my lips. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until the cool water touched my lips. Taking greedy gulps, I drank deeply. “More,” I said, my words clotted in my throat.

Baylis brought over some roasted rabbit, and Caiden and I hungrily tore into them. My stomach groaned, and my mouth salivated at the taste of the roasted flesh.

After the rest of them ate, they packed up the little cabin.

Erissa sighed. “Time to go. We have a very important meeting.”

My chest tightened at the thought.

She linked Caiden’s chain to mine with a snap of her fingers and handed one end to Kita. “Alwin, take up the rear with Baylis. Shoot anything that moves.”

“Why not just portal us? I know you have the power.”

She did not look back at me. “I can’t portal all of us. It would deplete my power.”

42AELIA

We walkedfor ages through the silent forest, not stopping for food or water. My back ached, and my muscles cried out for rest, but still, we kept walking. A tugging pulled at the knot in my chest. Was it calling to something? To the Well?

I tried to focus on my steps and not on Caiden behind me or Tharan somewhere far off, or the magical knot I had no way of controlling. We would have to stop eventually, and with Caiden and I tied together, we might be able to make a break for it. I scanned the forest floor for any herb I could use to poison them.

Alwin hurled the contents of his stomach up every so often. He would need a drink soon if he wanted to avoid the worst parts of withdrawal. He would be the easiest target. I just had to avoid Baylis seeing. She knew her herbs. She’d know if I slipped him something, but taking on Alwin would be our best bet. He was Erissa’s muscle. I could probably take Kita, even without my magic. Erissa and Baylis would be a different story. I wish Amolie were here to help me with a potion. I wish I were better at herbology. I wish my magic weren’t blocked so I could crush each and every one of these asshole’s heads.

When darkness fell, the forest came alive. Creatures called to one another in a preternatural language I could not identify—guttural clicks and clacks. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. We were in Night Folk territory. Why weren’t they attacking?

“I don’t like this,” Alwin said. “We’re not supposed to be here.”

“These creatures will not harm you as long as you are with me,” Erissa said, tapping her staff with the green stone on the end. A light lit within the rock

“And why is that?” Baylis asked boldly.

Erissa turned toward my sister. “Because they know their time will come when Crom rises again.” A feral look flickered in her eyes and her nostrils flared. “You would be wise to remember that.”

Baylis only nodded in response.

With darkness covering everything, I could barely make out the plants at my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I caught a streak of red. Rhubarb. Although put into many delicious pies, the leaves could leave one with a nasty case of food poisoning. And what luck, growing next to it: the purple-leafed valerian root. Feigning a trip, I tumbled to the ground, pulling Caiden with me. I started to cough and quickly grabbed some leaves and stashed them in my pants.

“Clumsy fool,” Erissa said. “Get her up.”

Alwin took the opportunity to hurl more bile into the nearest bush. The smell overwhelmed me, and I, too, heaved the contents of my stomach onto the forest floor. Acid burned my throat, and tears welled in my eyes.

“I need to relieve myself,” Kita said.

Erissa huffed. “Worthless… go.”

Baylis nocked her bow at us.

“Don’t try anything, you two. I could kill both of you before you made it to the next tree. That is, if the Night Folk don’t get you first.”

“Shut up, Baylis. I need them in one piece. I just healed them. I don’t have the ingredients to make another salve.” Erissa blew out a long breath. “Fine, we’ll camp here for the night.”

My gaze shifted between Erissa and Baylis. Was Erissa jealous of my sister or more annoyed she had another woman to deal with? Hmm… how could I exploit this?

“Are you going to let her talk to you like that?” I asked Baylis. “You’re basically the queen now.”

Baylis’s brows knitted as she considered my question.

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