Penelope nodded. “For now our main aim is to find Morgana and the Dagger. She will not use it until she has the book and all the keys in her possession. If we can get into her camp and steal the Dagger before she or the general has a chance to use it, we may have a chance. Without it they can’t move ahead with their plans.”
I nodded gravely. We had to get to Illiador as quickly as we could, and the fastest way was through the fae portal in the Cascade Mountains. It was the same portal Rafe had used when he first followed me from Pixie Bush to Silverthorne Castle. He was the only one besides Duke Silverthorne who knew where it was. He had agreed to lead us to it, after which he would ride east and meet his army near the Eastern Pass. If the Eldorean army could hold the pass, they might be able to stop Morgana’s forces from entering Eldoren.
Captain Raingate and Erien also accompanied us, as Erien had to return to Silverthorne Castle as the new duke and ready his troops for the upcoming war. I was not pleased Danica had accompanied us as well, as she wouldn’t leave Rafe’s side. She even feigned exhaustion halfway through the journey so she could ride on his horse with him. She ended up sitting demurely in front of him, his hard chest pressed against her back, his strong arms encircling her. I tried to act like it didn’t affect me, but I would be lying if I said it didn’t. In fact, at that moment all I wanted to do was claw her eyes out.
When the sun started to set, we stopped and made camp in a shady glade on the outskirts of a little village. It was better to remain unnoticed until we crossed over into Illiador. Morgana’s spies were everywhere. I sat on a log staring into the fire while Penelope and Danica laid out the food. Rafe and Tristan went to check out the area. After we ate, Danica set out her bedroll next to Rafe and lay down.
I tried to ignore them. I definitely wasn’t going to be able to sleep, so I sat near the fire for a while longer. I glanced over at Rafe, and my heart tightened in my chest. I quickly looked away. It was no use thinking about what we’d had together. He had forgotten about it and moved on. Mentioning what happened would only reopen old wounds. Once Rafe showed us the way to the portal, he would return to his castle with Danica, and I would probably never see him again.
The forest was quiet at night, with the occasional hoot of a lone owl breaking the silence. I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard a twig snap and looked up. Rafe had gotten up from beside Danica, who was still sound asleep, and come over to sit beside me.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he mumbled, poking the fire with a stick.
I looked away and pretended to concentrate on the fire. “Me too.” I kept my voice low so as not to wake the others, who were all motionless under the twinkling night sky.
He turned slightly to look at me. “I want to apologize,” he said abruptly.
My heart fluttered as I turned my head to gaze into his devastatingly gorgeous gray eyes. “For what?”
He ran his hand through his dark locks, tousling them a little, and he’d never looked so handsome. I had to look away. “I shouldn’t have let you get involved in retaking my throne. If you hadn’t come, you would still have your powers.”
I put my hand gently on his arm. Even that slight touch sent thrills coursing through my body. “It’s not your fault, Rafe.” I smiled. “You couldn’t have stopped me anyway,” I added, trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t want him feeling guilty for my failures. But at least I now knew he still cared.
He shook his head and moved his arm away. “No, I probably couldn’t have.” He shot a dark look at me. “It’s better you are with Tristan anyway. He seems better suited to the task.”
My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We are too different, you and I.”
“And I suppose Danica is a perfect match,” I said tartly.
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
I stared back into the fire. “Then there’s nothing more to talk about, is there?”
“I suppose.” He got up and went to lie down next to Danica.
The leaves rustled as I got up from the log. I spotted Tristan leaning against a tree, watching me. I had forgotten Tristan was on night patrol, since he never seemed to need sleep. He looked me straight in the eyes, turned, and disappeared into the woods.
Great! I thought. Now Tristan was also upset with me. It seemed I couldn’t win either way.
The next morning, warm sunlight filtered in through the canopy of trees. The leaves rustled gently in the spring breeze as we packed up our things and headed for the mountains that lay beyond Silverthorne Castle.
We rode swiftly though the Willow Woods, stopping only to sleep and eat. Rafe never spoke to me alone again. He stayed beside Danica, who looked as smug as a cat that had gotten all the cream. In four days, we were cresting the hill that overlooked the flower-filled valley beyond.
Silverthorne Castle rose up amid the rolling hills, meadows, and colorful fields that encompassed the valley. Tall white towers glistened in the midday sun as they rose effortlessly upward, spearing the sky. The town of Fairlone stretched out around it, protected by high stone walls. Beyond it lay the Cascade Mountains, a vast range that separated Eldoren from Illiador.
Rafe rode forward to speak to Penelope and me. “We will stay the night at Silverthorne Castle.”
“We need to press on, Rafe,” said Penelope. “Time is
