Page 522 of Flirting with Darkness

We emerged into the garden, and she directed me beyond it to the woods. I. chose my steps carefully through the garden, staying on the trail.

Stepping into the shade cost by the massive trees—far taller than any I’d seen in the mortal world—sent the same shiver of fear I’d felt behind my house as a child. Maybe I’d sensed the walls between worlds had been flimsy and insubstantial.

Plants on the ground seemed to snare my feet and I couldn’t help constantly feeling as if I was going to be attacked by another plant. But she chittered constantly in my ear, growing more and more excited; her wings beat wildly. Her glee felt contagious.

We neared a large doorway, though it seemed to hang in the air, connected to nothing.

Tor had said the gateway was guarded. But I didn’t see any guards. My nostrils flared as an unfamiliar scent reached me. Not just the scent of rain and of wet greenery and the faint sweetness of fairy—but something else.

Blood. The rich and coppery scent was threaded just below the greenery.

The next second, four Fae slithered out of the forest around me. My heart rose in my chest, beating rapidly. They were all tall and beautiful, and it was hard to tell which were male and which were female.

I took a step back and caught a glimpse of a pale wrist lying outstretched from beneath one of the bushes. In the thick dense greenery of the forest, I’d almost trodden on the murdered Fae guard.

“You found your way back home,” one of the Fae said. “Why don’t you show us around?”

For some reason, like the fairies, they couldn’t travel without me. The king must have blocked all Fae from traveling without permission. But from what the fairy had said, mortals must trick the magic.

If I went back, they’d kill more mortals.

If I stayed, they’d only have me to kill.

“No.” My chin rose. “I’m staying.”

“Do you think the prince will love you?” A tall, strikingly beautiful white-haired Fae widened her eyes, then burst into laughter. The others joined her, laughing far more heartily than natural.

“I don’t care if he loves me or not,” I said evenly. “But I’m not going to let you hurt the other mortals.”

“You can’t stop us,” one of them purred. “But you can stop us from hurting you.”

“You know we can’t lie,” another whispered in my ear; I jerked away, because I hadn’t even realized she’d slipped behind me silently. “We’ll let you go once you bring us across.”

The tallest F ae crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at me. “The mortal world was cruel to you. Why not let us return the favor?”

“Because the mortal world doesn’t need any more cruelty.” I was surprised to find myself repeating Tor’s words. But he was right.

“A little more can’t hurt it,” the one at my shoulder said reasonably.

Two of them grabbed my arms and wrenched them behind me. I struggled against their strength, but I felt powerless as a child in comparison. Ikickedat their shins and swung atthemwithmyfists, only to be met with more mocking laughter.The world blurred with my panic, and I could've been two years old again or still twenty-two. I hadn't left behind that pathetic little girl.

They dragged me toward the portal. I leaned away from the doorway, my feet slipping over the wet Fae soil. With their laughter ringing in my ears, we plunged through the doorway and into the void.

On the other side was nothing but forest. Rain was falling gently, trickling through the trees.

“Welcome home,” one of the Fae snarled.

I tried to yank away but couldn’t escape them. They dragged me through the woods and as the trees thinned, I glimpsed green yard beyond.

And a children’s playset, the wood weathered to gray.

I pulled away still more desperately. Their hands clung to me like a predator to half-dead prey. I tugged and flailed at them, but the more I pulled, the tighter their grip.

They were talking to each other in eager, excited voices, like tourists thrilled at some sight. I wrenched away from them, and they let me go. I ran wildly for the house.

My breath came in quick, short gasps. My feet hit the ground hard, sending vibrations through the earth. The air rushed past my face, my hair whipped wildly behind me. The harsh rain stung my eyes and cheeks as I ran.

The house appeared in front of me like a beacon. I'd always wanted to stay away from it, but Tor--Tor hadn't been able to come inside without me asking, had he?

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