“She can decide for herself when we reach Tallis tomorrow. I'm sure Papa intends for us to stay with them until further arrangements can be made.” Rosemary gave Josselyn a wink, mouthing the word “besotted”.
Josselyn choked on a laugh, then widened her eyes in surprise, an odd mix of guilt and relief washing over her. Guilt that she could find humor in anything after all that occurred in the last few days and relief for the very same reason. She pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, remaining silent for the remainder of the trip.
Her entire world had turned upside down in such a short time, and she had no idea how she was supposed to deal with it.
Chapter Eighteen
Hiram was well acquainted with the Eastern Road, and by early evening he was leading the team through a hidden path into a small clearing with a stream running nearby, much like the one they had left that morning. By the time darkness fell and the moon and stars lit the clear, summer sky, they had all washed and settled in next to a cheerful, little campfire.
Lily started singing softly, her sisters soon adding their own voices to hers, and Josselyn felt the tension drain from her body as the soothing harmony washed over her. She placed her hands on the grass behind her, tilting her face up toward the night sky. She sensed more than heard Alex approach, dropping onto the ground beside her.
“I'm sorry to bother you after such a long day, Your Highness, but there's something I've been wanting to speak with you about.”
Josselyn let her eyes drift closed, the music rolling over her in gentle waves. “Go ahead, Alex. I'm listening.”
“Last night, in the forest... when we were attacked by those mercenaries...”
Josselyn opened her eyes, sitting up straight and giving Alex her full attention. He shifted uneasily, his eyes darting around the perimeter of the clearing, as though watching for something. She nudged him with her foot, tilting her head slightly.
“When we were attacked...” She prodded.
“There was something else in the woods that night. Some sort of wildcat, but larger than anything I've ever seen. It killed three of the men I was fighting. I'm surprised I wasn't the fourth.” He looked down at her, his eyes searching her face. “It was just there, out of nowhere, and then bam! It was gone, as if it'd never even existed. You don't remember that at all?”
Josselyn shook her head, the events of the previous night swirling through her mind, and settling in her gut like a rock.
“I remember... blood... so much blood. And pain. Everything hurt, and then... nothing.”
She trembled slightly, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to hold herself together. “Father was dead and you, you were sure to follow, attempting to fight off so many men by yourself,” she whispered. “I was running, like you told me, when all of a sudden I was just so... so angry. Everyone was dying, and I just... I can't remember...”
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she was surprised to feel Alex's arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. He pressed his lips against her hair.
“It's okay. Forget I asked. It doesn't matter.”
She nodded into his chest, the tears falling freely now. He pulled her into his lap, cradling her against his chest as she sobbed. She didn't even notice when the others got up, giving them some privacy. She just burrowed more deeply into Alex's arms, letting go of everything that had happened in the last few days.
Eventually, her tears ran out and exhaustion set in. She felt Alex carry her over to the wagon, settling her onto the pallet next to Lily's. Her breath came out in a soft sigh and sleep soon came to claim her.
∞∞∞
Flames spread out in a circle around her. Screams filled the air, but she couldn't see where they were coming from. There was a man, cowering on the ground, his face stricken with terror. She reached out a hand to help him, but he shied away from her, moving back toward the fire.
“Stop! You're going to burn yourself!”
She lunged forward, trying to pull him away from the hot flames that were licking at his back, but her hands had turned into huge, black paws that ripped at the man's skin with dagger-like-claws. The flames reached out, wrapping around his torso and pulling him into the inferno.
She dropped onto all fours, a feral growl wresting from her lips, as the flames started to move in around her, smothering her...
“Josselyn!”
Lily's voice broke through the nightmare, pulling her back to reality. “Josselyn, wake up. It's just a dream.” She stroked Josselyn's hair. “It's just a dream.”
“It was me.”
Josselyn's voice came out in a hoarse whisper, her eyes wide as she stared up at Lily. “I was the creature in the woods.”She pushed herself up, shaking her head. “No, not me, not exactly... but it came from me.” Pulling her legs up to her chest, she buried her face in her knees.
“I'm a monster.”
It was quiet for a while, and Josselyn started to come out of her daze, embarrassment heating her cheeks. I sound like a lunatic, going on about creatures in the woods. What am I even saying?
“Come with me.”
Lily slipped out of the wagon, reaching back to pull Josselyn along with her. She kept hold of her hand, leading her past the dying embers of the campfire and toward the stream. Hiram looked up from where he was taking his turn on watch, but Lily just waved and whispered “girl stuff.”
Once they were out of sight of the wagon, she sat down by the edge of the stream, dipping her toes into the cool water, then tucking them up under her chemise. Josselyn stood awkwardly beside her.
“Sit.”Lily patted the ground beside her. “I have something I want to
