“I think I can handle that.”
Behind me, I could hear Keelynn’s breathing, harsh in the silence. When it began raining, the drops washed away my kohl, burning the shit out of my eyes. Wiping them with my sleeve only made it worse.
A sea of crows spread before us, pecking at the remains emerging from the depths.
“Why can’t things go right for once in my cursed life?” If I had my way, we would have met them closer to my land.
I turned to find Keelynn staring wide-eyed at the birds.She needed to put on the kohl to see the path. But if she put on the kohl, she’d see me too.
What did it matter? With the crows, the Queen wouldn’t be far behind, and I’d be her next meal as agreed.
I dragged out the tin. “You need to put this on in case we get separated.” Staying on that path was the only way to avoid being eaten alive by this place.
Nodding, she reached for the tin. I couldn’t bring myself to let it go.
“Do you want me to put it on or not?”
Feck it anyway. She might as well know the truth about me now. I let go of the tin, watching as she smeared blackness over her eyes. I knew the moment the enchantment took effect. Her eyes widened as she looked around. And then those wide eyes fell on me.
Her harsh intake of breath was all I needed to hear. I’d looked at myself once. Saw the death curse crawling on my lips. The shifting glamours. Never again.
“Don’t look at me.” I hated the way she stared. The horror on her face. What had I expected? That she’d see past the curses? How could any mortal see past death? “We cannot linger any longer. Do you think you can run along the path?” The sooner she crossed into Tearmann, the better. “My land borders the Queen’s,” I explained, indicating the green patch beyond the river. It was so feckin’ far away. “If we can reach it in time, she wouldn’t dare cross it.”
“Is she near?” Keelynn whispered.
“She’s always near.” I wouldn’t put it past the witch to be hiding somewhere among the crows.
“I can run,” Keelynn said with a resolute nod.
Right. Time to go. The path cut straight through the crows. Keelynn managed to stay a few steps behind. When she yelped, I twisted in time to see her falling over an ancient skull. I caught her elbow and hauled her along behind me, closer and closer to that line of green where she would be safe.
Thump thump thump.
Shit.
They were coming for us. At least two horses. Maybe three.
Thump thump thump
“Going somewhere?”The Queen’s clear voice rang through the barren forest, more deadly than the curses surrounding us.
I came to an abrupt halt, Keelynn careening into my back.
In front of me, the Queen wore her full regalia, feathered cape, and onyx crown. Two of her phantom guards sat astride their black steeds, the eye holes in their helmets trained on me.
“Hello, Auntie,” I greeted, removing the rest of my kohl. Where I was going, I wouldn’t need it.
“I take it you don’t plan on staying for tea?” she drawled, shifting on her white horse and adjusting the reins in her hands. Her black eyes narrowed.
“Must you always ask the most inane questions?” I shot back, knowing full well it would piss her rightly off.
The Queen clicked her tongue, and I could taste her bitter magic swelling with her irritation. “After all these years, I’m shocked you haven’t found any manners.”
Her gaze landed on Keelynn.
“If I had manners, I wouldn’t waste them on you,” I said, stepping in front of my wife. The queen could do anything she wanted to me, but if she so much as laid a finger on Keelynn . . .
“You and Rían missed my birthday last month.” Her lips curled into a smile that made my heart constrict in my chest. “But I suppose the pretty present you brought me makes up for it. Come out here, girl. Let me get a look at you.”