“If I kissed you…” His hissing voice fell silent.
I ground my crushed body against him, gasping at the sparkling sensation. A hissing sigh sounded at my ear, the vibrations travelling through my body.
“Do it.” I couldn’t stand another second of it. I needed lips and flesh. Maybe even teeth, as long as they didn’t go too deep. Or maybe I wouldn’t care as long as I was being touched. And if I died, so what? It was only a few hours earlier than the fate the witches had in store for me.
Jacques took a step back, freeing me from the prison of his body. I slumped a little, my legs weak.
“If I kissed you,” he repeated, “your prince would have my head.”
I bristled. “What?”
“You will be his queen. The Human Queen, promised millennia ago. He will be your king. I must not touch you.”
“I don’t belong to him,” I protested, indignant and desperate for his lips on my neck once more. “I can do whatever I want, with whoever I want. He’s not my prince.”
Jacques’ shrugged, giving me a half smile. “Perhaps, but it will not be me who tests your theory. Bonne nuit, Aliza.”
He swept his tangle of waves back and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me hot and cold and bothered, in more ways than one.
15What Did We Learn About Caves? Fuck All, Apparently
Iwas groggy and quiet over breakfast, my mind as far from my soggy bowl of porridge as it was possible to be. We were on the move before the sun had risen over the treetops, with Sage snapping at our heels like an energetic but bad-tempered sheepdog. I couldn’t say I shared her impatience. Every step carried me closer to my doom. A substantial part of me wanted to turn and run before we ever reached the horrors King Maelgwyn had in store for me, but I knew I wouldn’t make it far before something hunted me down. I was dead either way. Besides, where would I run to? The sealed rifts? Much good that would do me, even if I had the first idea where to find one. There was no place for me in this world.
I walked with my head low, not daring to look up from our path through the tangled roots and clumps of flowers. Even Pansy gave up her attempts to pry conversation from me. I had no more interest in the mysterious properties of the plants, or in learning about the creatures and people of this world. What did it matter to me? I would either succeed or fail my mission. If I succeeded, I was going home. If I failed, as was more likely, especially after such a terrible night’s sleep, I would die.
“Aliza,” Pansy whispered. “Are you well?”
How could I be well? I had no idea what lay ahead, other than that no human before me had ever come out of this mess alive. This wasn’t some test that could be studied for. It was my life, and the fate of this world. I was woefully unprepared.
I forced myself to smile. “Just nervous.”
Pansy nodded but didn’t look convinced.
The trees ahead thinned out, revealing a towering, mossy cliff face, half covered with trailing ivy. Sage came to a halt, bracing her hands on her hips and staring up. If she thought I was climbing that, she had another thing coming.
After a minute, she told us to wait and veered off along the base of the cliff, trailing her hand through the vines. Pansy sank down onto a rock with a sigh, but, tired as I was, I couldn’t settle. My blood fizzed in my veins, as though it had turned to lemonade. I crossed my arms and shifted my weight between my feet, watching Sage’s progress. As much as I didn’t want to climb, or do anything else for that matter, the cliff was pretty. Layers and ripples of different hues of grey and white, broken by the rich green of the vines. What would it feel like, to trail my fingers over the rock, as Sage was doing? I imagined the chalky residue it might leave on my skin, and rubbed my fingertips over my thumbs. I left Pansy on her rock and followed in Sage’s footsteps.
When I pressed my palm against the cliff face, the stone was warm, from hours baking in the sun. It seeped into my hand, drawing out some of the tension from my body. It wasn’t quite the same as the hum of energy the crystal tub back at Nairsgarth gave off, but, if I didn’t know better, I could have sworn the rock was alive. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it swelled beneath my hand, drawing in a breath. It was comforting, like coming home at the end of a long shift, to find the windows glowing in welcome.
“What is it? Do you feel something?”
Sage appeared at my shoulder, and I snatched my hand away, hiding it behind my back as I faced her. “What? No.”
The witch gave a knowing smirk. “It’s not the rock, it’s the magic. It’s them.”
“Them?”
She rolled her eyes. “The princes, girl. They’re here.”
I gave the cliff a dubious glance from the side of my eye. “They’re… in the rock?”
Did I have to chisel them out? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe I could do it. Sure, it wouldn’t be easy, but it didn’t sound like something that could kill me.
“No. They’re on the other side.” She set off again, following the base of the cliff. I hurried after her.
“How can you tell?”
“I can feel the magic of the curse. It bleeds through the rock, trying to push me away.”
“Away? I thought…” No, it was best to keep my mouth shut about the energies of crystals and rocks, even here, where such things didn’t seem quite as ridiculous.
Sage frowned over her shoulder. “What did you think?”
Oh, whatever. Who cared if I was insane? I definitely wouldn’t be the only one. “It’s like it’s… calling me.”
Sage halted, narrowing her eyes in contemplation. “I see. Perhaps you should be the one to guide us from here.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t.” I took a step back. “I wouldn’t know what to look for.”
“Nor do I. We have never searched this particular place before.”
“Why not?”
Sage shrugged, her eyes losing their focus, as though she was journeying through her memories. “Other places seemed likelier. In the early decades, humans found their way through the rifts every other day. There was always a willing volunteer to test my latest theories with, but one by one, they failed, and I exhausted my options.” And the humans died. I swallowed. “Now here we stand in one of the few places I did not have the chance to try.”
“After so many failures, you truly believe that you’ve figured it out this time?”
“Yes.”
