Page 44 of Of Wolves and Wives

“I wouldn’t mind the castle,” Lyra says.

I shoot her a glare that has her closing her mouth before I say, “We’re pushing on. If death finds us out there, fine. At least then, it's my choice.”

Rykker and Pierce look unconvinced by my words. They both glance from Lyra to me before their eyes land on her. I can see their doubts that she will survive, and I wish I had the right argument, but even I am worried for her.

“We can at least try,” Pierce says after a moment. “The prince won’t expect us to return or send word for at least another day.”

Rykker remains silent as he nods. Then, it’s decided. I smile at them as I move toward Lyra, helping her to her feet. She shoots me an annoyed look as we set off. The four of us are quiet as we work our way down the mountain. Sunshine lights the way until we reach the towering trees. I peer into the darkness of the forest, having forgotten just how menacing the trees here can be.

“Stay within sight of one another,” Rykker says as we step into the trees. “Do not stray. The trees like to play tricks on those that wander through them.”

I swallow back the unwelcome sense of dread that hits me with his words. One glance at Lyra’s pale face and wide eyes tells me that she’s doing a worse job at staying positive. I reach out and squeeze her hand.

“I’ll carry you,” Peirce offers.

I shake my head, “Carry her. I’m fine.”

He reluctantly moves toward Lyra, who doesn’t argue as he picks her up. Next to them, Rykker shifts before disappearing into the trees ahead of us. I fall into pace with Peirce, my hand protectively over my stomach as we go. Vines and moss tickle me as we move through the overgrown trees. Branches snag at my clothing and scratch my face, but I ignore them.

Soon, though, I see why the trees are so off. Strange sounds fill the air for minutes before dying off, letting the silence press in on us. The ground is uneven, with rocks and branches littering the way. Thick vines cover most of the ground, seeming to find ways to curl around our ankles as we make slow progress forward. I glance about, unsure how much progress we’ve actually made. Everything looks the same no matter which way I glance. There are no markers or signs that we’ve actually moved or that time has passed. Even our footprints seem to be swallowed by the trees.

“Stay close,” Pierce whispers to me.

I nod. The deeper we go, the darker it gets. Surely the sun must be high in the sky. Yet, I can barely see three steps ahead of us. I stick to Pierce’s side, unwilling to find myself alone in the trees. That I know will only lead to my demise.

Suddenly, Rykker reappears ahead of us in his human form.

“Follow my footsteps, exactly,” he says. “Ahead is a patch of swamp. One misstep, and it will swallow you whole.”

Lyra makes a terrified sound as I swallow down the lump of fear that’s suddenly clogging my throat. With a nod from Pierce, we follow Rykker. Stepping from the trees, we enter a large field. It’s covered in bright purple and yellow flowers, unlike anything I’ve seen before. The sunlight is a welcome relief, and I smile as I watch butterflies and dragonflies fluttering about. Here, the air almost seems to sparkle with joy.

I’m pulled in by the scene that I take a step forward. Only for Rykker to pull me back. My attention is snapped back to him in an unpleasant reminder of why we’re here. His face is grim as I frown up at him. He shakes his head down at me. Blinking, I swear that the scene past him begins to blur and fade in brilliance.

“Do not stray.”

I give him a nod. In that moment, I realize just how dangerous this place truly is. Taking a deep breath, I do my best to keep my eyes focused on Rykker’s back as he leads us through the area. I’m afraid to glance about, to once more find myself pulled into the scenery. With each step, the beauty from before fades until the brown murk of the swamp reveals itself.

Doing my best to follow in Rykker’s steps. Then I’m kicked from within. The sensation startles me as I press both hands to my stomach, a smile pulling at my lips. It happens again, and I stumble to the side. Glancing up from my stomach, I’m back in the field from before. Flowers surround me as the sun shines brightly on my face. I notice that there’s a small cottage just a few steps away.

It looks so warm and inviting. I take a step toward it, feeling like I should at least greet whoever waits inside. As I approach, the door opens, and two figures step out. One looks identical to me. The same red hair and green eyes. Our eyes meet, and the woman smiles.

“Rose, my child,” the woman says, opening her arms. “My sweet child, you’ve finally returned to me.”

“Mother?”

30

Rykker

“Hurry,” I shout to Pierce.

He lets out a grunt as he follows my steps. We rush through the swamp, Lyra bouncing in his arms as I lead them to safety. The moment we reach the other side, I turn and plunge back in. Rose is gone. Already disappeared below the depths.

A curse escapes me as I search for her, splashing through the murky water. There’s a strong current just below the surface. Combined with the vines that reach toward the surface, she could be anywhere. Carried off to the heaven’s only know where.

I glance back to Pierce. A look of understanding passes between us. He gives a nod. That’s all I need to step from the path I created before. Immediately, Rose is there. She smiles at me as several children play in her skirts. Laughter fills the air, wrapping around me and pulling me forward. My heart aches at the scene. At the hopes of a future, of a family.

I want nothing more than to sink into the fantasy. But, I force myself not to. Much as I hate the reminder, this is just that. A fantasy. Nothing more. With a growl, I lash out of the dream. My vision is momentarily cleared of the dream as I’m returned to the present. I splash about more as I search the waters for Rose, my lungs screaming for air.

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