Page 75 of Edge of Wonder

I rolled onto my back, staring up at the ceiling, blissfully imagining our life together. First, we’d have to get rid of that nasty thorn forest. It was a blight on the realm, and I had no intention of it staying in my backyard. Then we’d get married. Sebastian could set up his own ghost hunting agency, and I’d invite his family for a visit. It was well past time they cleared the air.

But mostly—my cheeks heated as my thoughts turned toward last night. We weren’t going to leave the castle for days. Giddy with the thought of seeing Sebastian again, I grabbed my clothes and laced up the front of my bodice.

The scent of coffee greeted me at the bottom of the stairs. My smile was going to be a tough thing to crack, and I tried to adopt a normal expression, but it wasn’t working. The last thing I need was for everyone to take one look at me and know what had happened.

“Um…Alice?”

I jumped as Shire’s voice popped into my ear. Did she already suspect? She was going to want all the details, and I would happily deliver them because, for the first time, I had a genuine friend. Seriously, unless I died in the last challenge, nothing could ruin my mood.

“Yes, Shire?”

“Have you seen Sebastian?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just, one of the guards saw him about an hour ago, heading into the forest toward the gateway. His things are gone, and no one has seen him since.”

“What? That’s impossible. He probably just went for a walk and took his bag.”

“That’s the thing. The guards have been searching the forest since dawn.”

“He didn’t leave, Shire.”

“Alice…”

“He didn’t leave!” The air had gotten thin; the sunlight was too bright. I inhaled a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Shire was mistaken, and there was a simple explanation.

I went into the kitchen and found Duchess stirring a pot of porridge over an open flame. Her features were drawn, worry lining the creases in her brow. When she saw me, she clasped her fingers in front of her.

“Where’s the gateway?” I asked.

Duchess sighed. “I don’t think you should go. Why don’t you sit down and let the guards finish looking?”

“I’m going, and then I’m searching the forest. He’s out there somewhere. We have to find him.”

“We already checked the traps and the forest pits. They were all empty. I suppose that’s a good thing,” Duchess said, her voice fading at the end. “Follow the trail behind the house about one hundred yards. You’ll see two rock pillars. The gateway is there.”

“I’m coming too,” Shire said.

The guards had gathered in the front yard. They looked exhausted from their search, eyes downcast, and defeated. Sebastian’s absence affected not only me. He’d taken charge of our group and had earned their trust and camaraderie. He couldn’t be gone.

I forced a smile on my face, hoping to ease their worry. But it faded as I walked down the trail and through the dense forest. My throat was so tight, I could barely swallow. How could he do this? It didn’t make sense. Even if I’d been wrong and he was still planning to leave, he wouldn’t do it without saying goodbye. Without talking to me. Not after last night.

The wind whistled through the trees as I approached the gateway. It shimmered faintly in the sunlight. A raw chill permeated the air, and I tugged my cloak closer around my body. I’d felt so warm before. So complete. And now I felt hollow. The gateway mocked me with its soft glimmer.

Tears stung my eyelids, and I swiped them away. I would not cry. I had promised myself I’d let him go if that was what he wanted. But I felt like an idiot. I’d initiated last night. Hadn’t even let him speak. If I had, he probably would have told me the truth. I didn’t know which was worse: not knowing he was leaving or knowing it wouldn’t have mattered, and I still would have stayed with him.

“This isn’t like Sebastian at all,” Shire said, seemingly from above me. “I think something happened, Alice. My mind might not be what it once was, but I don’t need a note on my arm to know he cared for you.”

“I thought so, too,” I whispered, unable to tear my gaze from the gateway. “But what other options are there?”

“Maybe there’s someone in our group we can’t trust. Someone who just arrived,” Shire said in a not-so-subtle tone.

“Tristan? You think he hurt Sebastian?” Cold fear slithered up my spine as I looked at the clearing with fresh eyes. Had there been a struggle? The ground didn’t seem disturbed. I sifted my boots through the underbrush, and then I saw it.

“Shire! Look over here. There’s blood in the grass.”

She whistled low in her throat.

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