Page 46 of A Court of Hearts and Hunger
Fin and I both wait a moment, staring at the scratch.
When it doesn’t seal over, we look up at each other and say, “Fuck,” at the same time.
“Their claws,” Fin says. “They interfere with my ability to heal. Some kind of poison, I’d guess.”
A gurgling howl echoes in the distance, and from the opposite side of the glen, more slavering groans break out, along with a swift snapping and crunching of branches as something approaches—much faster than the first three Heartless did.
I hold Fin’s gaze. “We should go.”
“Agreed.”
We leave the three bodies where they fell, and we run.
I’m stronger than I used to be. My daily training has given me more stamina and has toned my muscles. But running this fast through a perilous, unfamiliar forest is exhausting.
Fin could easily outdistance me with a burst of Fae speed, but of course he doesn’t. I’m seething as I run, trying to tell myself that even though I’m slowing him down now, he will need me later. I can’t let him do this alone, can’t let him relive whatever he suffered in Mallaithe three years ago. I can’t even explain why my presence is so important, but I know it is. I’m healthy for him. Ishouldbe here, even if it doesn’t look like that right now, with the Heartless roaring and slavering behind us.
I risk a glance backward and shriek a little at the sight of the oncoming creatures. Their faces are horribly stretched around their unnatural mouthfuls of long, thin teeth, and their hands bleed where the curved claws broke through the flesh.
My attention fuels their craving, and two of them leap forward, claws extended, ready to scoop out my heart.
A shiver of gauzy wings, and two strong, lean arms close around my body. “Time to fly for a bit, dearest.”
Holding me to his chest, Fin soars upward, dodging loops of the dangerous vines as we rise into the forest canopy.
He can’t carry me for more than half an hour or so before his wings tire. And I’m concerned about our visibility as we break out above the topmost branches.
“Our plan hinges on entering the Court separately. What if someone sees us together, Fin?” I cling to him, feeling the rapid thrum of his heartbeat as we fly, chest to chest.
“That would be unfortunate. Put your fingers into my left pants pocket, sugar. There’s a spell in there. Temporary invisibility. As I told Opal, I only have two of them, since they’re extremely difficult to make and they wear off quickly, but I think we should use one now. We can split it.”
Clinging to him with one arm, I worm my fingers into his pocket. “Your pants are too damn tight.”
“Don’t I know it,” he mutters.
“Here it is.” I hold up the wrapped sweet. With one hand and my teeth I manage to tear the wrapper off. It’s a brittle, slightly crumbly piece of candied spellwork, and I manage to bite half of it off before placing the rest on Fin’s tongue.
This close, the delicious chocolate-and-snowfall scent of him is mesmerizing. Strange how that smell has shifted from being an exotic fragrance to being my favorite scent in the whole world—a scent that means pleasure, excitement, and safety, all encompassed in one person.
I watch him chew the candy, admiring the twist of his thin lips, always so glossy pink.
And then he’s gone, and I’m gone.
Both of us have disappeared entirely.
I squeak, tightening my grip on his body, which I can still feel, though I can’t see him.
“Sshh, precious, I’m here,” he murmurs.
“I know, but it’s so strange, not seeing you—not seeing myself!”
“True invisibility is harder to handle than most people think. We’re so used to seeing our noses, hands, arms, and legs as we move throughout the day. Even though the Fae are used to glamours and therefore less trusting of their sight, we still rely on it heavily to interpret our surroundings. It’s unsettling to have that trust disturbed.”
“It’s terrifying.”
“Poor darling. But it won’t last long. We’ll soon outdistance the Heartless that followed us, and then we’ll continue on foot.”
“If another group of Heartless comes after us, you could use a wave of that rainbow magic you used on the Rat King’s forces,” I suggest. “Even if they’re resistant to most magic, it might do some damage.”
