Page 62 of The Court of Thorns and Wings

I struggled not to let my feet drag over the ground and make more noise, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on. I suspected I’d done too much when I funneled my magic and strength into Tavish.

Something tugged at our connection, opening it back up to its normal state. Tavish jerked his head toward me, a deep scowl on his face.

You’re exhausted, and you didn’t tell me.Tavish’s eyes darkened to the storm-cloud gray that conveyed his anger or annoyance.What happened? I didn’t see or hear anything.

I swallowed, hating the way his betrayal rolled into me.It was when you were using my magic. Our bond tugged, and I pushed everything I could through it.I added the last part, not wanting him to blame himself.I didn’t know what I was doing.

He bit his bottom lip, and anger pulsed through him.I should’ve known better. I thought it felt too easy, and now you’re more exhausted than I am. You were angry because I kept the fact that Finnian and I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything from you, and you do this?

I winced, hating that he was right.

“What’s going on?” Finnian huffed. “We’ve slowed down, and if we stop, I may not be able to get moving again.”

Several pairs of flapping wings sounded overhead.

I froze.

That had to be the guards searching for us. We’d been walking for four hours, and the moon was setting. We had to get out of here before they located us.

“Get down and hide in the brush,” Tavish whispered.

We obeyed, and my legs dragged along the fallen leaves, making a sound. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t get thenoise to stop. My heart clamored, making my actions more erratic.

Tavish gripped my arm, pulling me behind him, his face turning purple from strain. I was putting a strain on both of us. Eiric came over to help, and we got under the thick purple brush that would hide us from above. The brush indicated we were close to the Unseelie side of the kingdom.

Eiric flanked me with Tavish on my other side.

“Did you hear that?” a guard asked from above us.

There was a pause, and I held my breath.

“Probably an animal, but we should investigate,” a woman replied.

Between exhaustion, fear, and a lack of oxygen, I grew dizzy.

I took a deep breath, trying to be as quiet as I could, but the damage was done. My vision blackened, and I linked,I’m passing out.Then my body gave out, and darkness took me.

My head throbbed. I reached up to rub it, and the memory of what had happened flooded into me.

The guards.

I must have alerted them to our location.

My eyes popped open, and I saw a smooth silver ceiling overhead that I’d never seen before.

We’d gotten caught. I had to find Tavish.

19

LIRA

Isat up, and the room spun. A wooden table sat across from the bed I was on, and several candles were lit, casting warm light inside the sparse room. There were no windows, which made me think I could be in a cell. But the frosty-blue sheets, dark-gray fuzzy blanket, and cloudlike pillows and mattress contradicted that thought.

Sprite, are you okay?Tavish connected, his concern hovering heavier than the covers over me.

A door opened, and I jerked my head to see Tavish enter with a lantern in his hand.

My breath caught. Somehow, he appeared more handsome than ever.

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