Page 5 of Across an Endless Sea

That’s all right. My gift doesn’t need contact to cause pain, but Rose could easily get caught in the crossfire.

I run my hand over Lox one more time as I jump. The movement is so familiar that my wings erupt from my shoulder blades before I can even start to fall, catching the wind and pulling me up into the dark clouds. A fat raindrop splashes against my cheek as I climb. Then another.

Is the weather a bad sign?

If it is, it’s only getting worse. Within minutes, the small spattering of rain drops turns into great sheets of icy cold water that pelt us both. Beneath me, Drystan tugs his cloak over his head, and I stifle the pang of jealousy.

Rose feels farther than I’d hoped. The court of Elfhame is vast, and she must be a few hours north of the capital city, at least. To make matters worse, she’s moving away from us.

That doesn’t matter, I remind myself, as long as we get to her before Caed does.

Hold on, dragonfly. We’re coming.

* * *

Rhoswyn

I’m shivering, but I can’t actually feel the cold anymore. Is that a bad sign? The rain hasn’t let up, and the heathland I’m trudging through is so shrouded in mist, I can barely see where I’m going.

“I thought Faerie was supposed to adapt to my needs?” I mutter. “How is freezing me to death helpful?”

Mab snorts. “It’s hiding you.”

True. If I can’t see five feet in front of me, I doubt Caed will be able to search me out. “I just wish there wasn’t so much rain,” I murmur. “And it will slow Drystan and Bree down as well.”

I can feel them drawing closer, but they’re still behind Caed, and the gap isn’t closing.

“Eat that mushroom,” Mab says, brows creasing in worry. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I probably am, and I’m not sure eating another pixiecap is going to prevent it. I’ve been walking for hours without stopping. My body is numb, my head feels light, and there’s a stitch in my side that spreads a stinging pain across my ribs with each inhale. Despite the soft moss that’s sprung up like a carpet wherever I walk, my feet are blistered and bleeding again.

“Am I going to make it?” I ask Mab.

“Just keep going.”

I’ve been around her for long enough to know that means no. The yellow mushroom turns to ash in my mouth, and I force myself to swallow.

I want to push harder, but I just don’t have it in me. Slow and steady. One foot at a time.

The fog is so thick I almost walk into the first tree.

“Am I…?”

“You’re on the edge of the thicket,” Mab says, grinning smugly. “Now quick, find yourself a tight hiding spot and cast some glamour. I hear someone nearby.”

She’s right. Now she’s pointed it out, I can hear them too. I shove away from the trunk I’ve been clutching and bury myself into the small thicket, pushing through brambles and thorny branches in my quest to get as far into the trees as possible. I stumble, fall, and then eventually give in and start crawling, wincing each time the thorns snag on the delicate membranes of my wings.

“Am I far enough in?” I hiss, curling into a ball in a natural depression full of mud and leaves.

Mab nods and presses her fingers to her lips.

My shoulders slump in relief, and I finally allow myself to focus on catching my breath. Now all I have to do is stay hidden. I throw up a quick glamour over the top of me, silently pleased that I’m getting good enough to maintain both the illusion of clothing and the one of invisibility above it.

With the loss of the urgency that fuelled me, I start to drift off. Exhaustion has been pulling at me for too long, and now that I’ve stopped moving, I can’t fight it.

“Rhoswyn?”

My eyes spring open, body tensing. How long has it been? It felt like I just closed my eyes for a second…

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