Page 112 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
He waves me off. “I’m fine. Go have fun with your friends.”
He’s not fine, but I don’t know that I can do anything more for him, so I go to the center of the village and talk with Dr. Seya, who is busy helping patients. She confirms that my father hasn’tcome to see her, and she agrees to go and examine him when she’s free.
From there, I hurry to Huckleberry Castle and find it in an uproar. Humans and animals alike rush around closing windows and covering things as best they can. In the midst of the chaos stands Prince Kalle, who’s even more handsome than he was last summer. His hair is longer, and he’s clearly concerned about his people’s safety.
But then he spots me, and his expression transforms. “Justice,” he whispers. He holds out his arms, and I race into them.
“We have to be careful,” I murmur into his neck. He smells so good.
“A hug is fine. Want to go for a walk? We can’t take much time.”
I nod. I glance down. “Love your new boots, babe.”
He gives me a sweet smile.
We very carefully don’t hold hands as we make our way to the Dorricott River, near where we had our first kiss.
Once we’re safely away from prying eyes, Kalle takes my face in his hands and kisses the life out of me. I kiss him back just as hard.
“I missed you so much,” I whisper against his lips.
“Me, too.”
“I never want to be apart from you.”
“Likewise.”
We know we should go back soon, but we can’t stop kissing. This summer isn’t going to be anything like the last one, I can already tell, and we aren’t likely to have many opportunities for privacy. I feel reckless, out here by the river, but there’s no one around. A squirrel, maybe, but that’s normal for the forest. “It feels like everyone is preparing for the apocalypse,” I murmur against his mouth.
“They are. I hope it won’t be as bad as they fear, but things aren’t going well. The fire queens told my parents that they want more land, and my parents refused. Now the fire queens appear to be taking matters into their own hands.”
“Then let’s go help the people in the village,” I say. “As much as I want to stay here with you, I think they might need us.”
Kalle beams at me. “You’re right. But I want to kiss you one more time, first.”
The next day, ash is spewing from Mount Pátu, and conditions are getting dire. Everyone is coughing from the smoke in the air, my father most of all. Whenever I’m not caring for him, I’m with Kalle, either helping the villagers and animals to get to shelter or finding hideaways to make out. I think Kalle might be my boyfriend. My very first boyfriend.
“Do you think there’s any way I could ever talk to animals?” I ask Kalle after he chats with a family of chipmunks.
“Maybe. A sorcerer or wizard might be able to give you that power. I’m not sure.” Kalle looks thoughtful. “Is that something you would like?”
“Of course! It’s so cool.”
He snorts. “Until you actually talk to them. Sure, most of them are decent, but there are a few chatty ones who”—he blows out a breath—“make you long for silence.”
I glance around. No one’s looking. I squeeze his hand. “Maybe I’ll get really lucky, and someday I’ll find out.”
“I’d like that.” His face drops. “My parents have been impressing on me the need to marry royalty.”
“So I’m entirely out of the question,” I say. “Not,” I hasten to add, “that you want to get married to me. Or so young. Or at all.”
“That’s the problem. I’m supposed to be married off to some rival realm to ensure peace, but when stuff like this happens”—he gestures at the ashy air—“it makes me not want to have anything to do with any other realm. I’d give it all up for you, anyway. I’d do anything for you.”
“I’d die for you,” I admit. “That’s how much I—” A tremor shakes the ground, and we tense. “That volcano is getting more active,” I mutter.
Kalle takes a step closer to me. “It is. And I don’t know how to stop it.”
He clutches me to him. I want to tell him I love him, but the words aren’t important. He knows. And we need to go help wherever we can.
