Page 8 of Sky of Thorns

“Shit,” Aramis grunts as he scans the surrounding forest. My heart beats wildly in my chest as I follow his gaze. Fear grips my gut.

Will the oncoming chaos allow me an opportunity to escape? I just need to run far enough and find someone able to remove the enchanted band. Flashes of the shadow chimera come back to me, but I have to take the risk. There is nothing good awaiting me in Shadowvale. They would have sent an envoy otherwise, not a kidnapper. Remembering the promise I made Lemon and myself that I would get out of this mess and that I would study at Nova Ether, I readied myself to flee at the first occasion.

“Nero, take the unicorn and go,” Aramis commands, agitation lacing his words.

“But, my prince…” Nero protests, his face contorting in confusion.

Prince?!

The realization of my situation tunnels my vision. Aramis is the prince of Shadowvale. This isn’t just some ordinary band of guards sent to capture me. They sent the crown prince himself.

“Do not argue with me. We must ensure her safety and deliver her to the king and queen alive.” Aramis frantically yells, pulling Percy’s reins to turn him around. “I’ll cloak the two of you. Now, go! We will catch up.”

I immediately begin to scramble, not caring how I fall off the horse as long as it gets me away from him. How can this male full of hatred be the same who is going to rule an entire kingdom one day? In my frantic fight, Aramis lifts me from the saddle. I kick and try so hard to shift that my nose begins to bleed. Nero eyes me like I’m a rabid raccoon, cautiously grabbing my arms as Aramis places me on his horse. When I’m just about to lash out with my hands, the cool touch of binding magic wraps around me before we take off at breakneck speed.

I scream.

My voice carries through the forests, almost not caring if our assaulter follows us. Hell, if anything, their presence might be my only chance of escape.

Turning my head around, I watch the rest of the group change formation. Aramis lifts his hands above his head. A pale blue glow emitting from them is all I see before the forest obscures them from view.

***

Our ride is beyond rough.

Nero was forced to hold a blade at my throat for a good portion of our journey to keep me still, and complained that it would have all been easier if I were knocked out again. Hours pass before we stop at a small stream deep into the forest. My heart gladdens at the glimpse of the rare sky. An orange haze filters between the trees and is cast upon the ground and air. Looking through the trees and up to the hazy sky, I guess it must be close to sunset and almost time for Bolide. My heart clenches, aching to hear the laughter of the children in the village running around, chasing each other with enchanted luminescent moon flowers that emit glowing sparks like tiny fireflies. What wouldn’t I give to bite into a fresh hot sweet roll baked with sliced almonds, filled with sweet jam from the harvest.

“Fuck! Where are they? They should be ‘ere by now!” Nero shouts with frustration to himself. He stops pacing and slams his fist into a nearby tree, causing bark and leaves to flutter to the ground. It’s the first time he’s stopped pacing since he started a small fire and offered me a roll of hard bread and dried meat.

“Who cares?” I scoff. The less of these kidnapping bastards, the better.

“I never should have listened and left,” he murmurs to himself, ignoring me.

Nero continues to mumble as he drags his hands through his hair with worry. The riding cloak he took off earlier lay on the ground by the fire. The ripple of muscles in his shoulders and back catches my eye in the firelight.

“If we’re lucky, maybe they’re lost,” I comment lightly. At Nero’s glare, I instantly regret my choice of words. I know I shouldn’t speak of the precious prince that way and his look tells me I should know better. But I don’t shy away and give him a stern look in response. “Oh, come on. Do you think I really care? Of course, I’m not worried about them. You and your precious prince stole me from my home!” I aggressively nibble on the bread, which is so hard it practically bites back. “There’s not even any tea for my bread!” My complaint for comfort makes my heart happy, even as he scoffs at me.

“Ye know, ye really must be a unicorn. Ye behave like an animal.” He laughs at me as he continues to pace. “Dipping bread in tea…”

“I heard that.” I glare at him. “There were times when I didn’t have much, but I could always make a cup of tea.” I finish that statement on a choke. Mourning a place I may never see again, my home.

When I turn back to the dirt road, the hair on the back of my neck stands as if something is out there, watching me. Something not of this world. I glance at Nero to see if he has noticed anything out of the ordinary, but he is lost in thought, worrying about his companions.

The odd sensation fades as quickly as it has come.

What was that?

Nero finally settles as he sits by the fire. After all that pacing, I release a breath, relaxing with him.

“Aramis wouldn’t get lost,” he says and looks at me. “Something must be keeping them.” He pulls out a small silver flask from his pocket and gazes towards the path. The metal shines golden in the light of the fire, sparkling on its surface. A dragon mid-flight is sketched into its front, the tail wrapping around the side. I admire the craftsmanship and the way the figure appears to move as he brings the container up to his lips. A part of me is suddenly angry for appreciating something of theirs. He looks over in my direction once more and catches me staring.

“Is that something you stole from the last shifter you kidnapped?” I accuse, trying to save face.

“Nae.” He scoffs. “Look. I can’t help what’s happened to ye, alright? I serve the prince, and my loyalty is to Aramis. His parents want ye so now we’re all here. That’s all I can say.” The look in his eyes is sincere, but I can’t believe there is no further information he can give me.

“Is it true, the rebellion? Are the shifters living in Shadowvale really causing havoc?” I tentatively ask. Only because Aramis had his lips sealed, did not mean Nero would be the same.

“Listen, Sybil. The situation with the shifters in Shadowvale is… complicated. Here, do ye want some? Maybe it’ll make ye behave better.” He offers the flask in solidarity.

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