Page 79 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
“Your plan is flawed,” I told her. “It could be weeks before the land shifts here again. Longer, even. And if something comes hunting them in that time—which it will—they’ll be running, not waiting, as they should.”
I sighed. When we fell through a portal to the twin realms, I didn’t think it could get much worse.
Apparently, the universe thought otherwise.
“So what, we just keep moving? Toward the Fold?” Sadie rocked back on her haunches, crossing her tan arms over her chest.
“That’s what they are doing. And that is what we will do..”
Her eyebrows inched up. “I’m not opposed, but we don’t have any rations, and the walking will dehydrate us faster. All of them were with Meera and Damon.”
“Corvo,” I muttered.
Sadie threw her hands up. “How would he even know how to find us? We’re in the middle of a desert.”
Speak of the devil and he will appear.
My familiar popped up a second later, perched on a rock, blinking lazily like this was his afternoon nap spot.
“So, where’s the saucy redhead and the nephew?” he asked casually.
“Evorsus.” I spat its name like a curse. “The land shifted and separated us. Intentionally.”
“Intentionally?” Corvo blinked again. “Why are you lying on the ground? Did you hit your head?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Sadie cut in. “We were running. We would’ve made it if some rock hadn’t just sprouted up out of the damn ground and tripped him.”
Corvo hummed. “That’s . . . concerning.”
“No shit, Corvo.”
“Hey, don’t look at me,” he said. “It’s not my fault your lady love is trapped with the playboy prince. You don’t think he’d try anything, do you?”
I didn’t think. I lunged.
Pure instinct.
If not for Corvo’s feline reflexes, I would’ve had him by the throat. As it was, he leapt back just in time, ears flattened.
“Damon. Would. Not. Dare,” I growled.
Sadie raised her hands. “And Meera’s loyal. She might be unsure about the whole forever bond thing, but she’d never cheat. Besides, Damon’s not really her type. She likes the kind of guy you settle down with and have babies and all that.”
The silence that followed was loud.
She blinked. “What?”
Corvo and I stared at her.
I rubbed my jaw. “Good to know.”
“Well,” Corvo drawled, brushing imaginary dust off his leg with a paw. “You and Lady Love have been separated. Naturally, you want me to find her.”
“Yes.”
He sighed. “It’s like I know you or something.” Corvo flicked his tail. “But as much as I’d like to help, no can do. I’m only bound to you.”
