I look to Kyra and we exchange a knowing glance. We will not be going downstairs. At least, not conventionally anyway.
We decide it is best to leave unannounced, so we place several gold coins on the bed for the innkeeper, then slip quietly out the window. I go first and then Kyra throws our belongings down to me.
When she sits on the windowsill and looks down at me, her eyes are wide with fear. “I—I don’t think I can do it.”
I lift my arms up to her. “I’ll catch you, Kyra. I promise.”
She draws in a deep and steeling breath and then exhales slowly through pursed lips as she carefully turns and then lowers herself until she is hanging from the ledge. “You’re not going to drop me, right?” she calls out over her shoulder.
“Never. I’ll let you squash me first.” I chuckle. “I promise.”
A nervous laugh escapes her. “All right. I’m trusting you.”
“On three,” I tell her.
“Okay.”
1…
Raucous laughter, from the tavern below, startles her and she loses her grip, her arms and legs flailing as she falls back.
I move up under her. Her left arm swings wide, smacking me in the face as I catch her.
The world tilts and spins a moment as I stumble back. The air is forced from my lungs as she lands on top of me, crushing my chest.
She scrambles off me and cups my face. Her worried blue eyes stare down at me. “Cael, are you all right? Oh my god, I didn’t mean to squash you. I’m so sorry.”
Chapter 24
Kyra
He groans in pain as he sits up. A lopsided grin curls his mouth. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
He hisses and bands an arm across his chest as he stands. “You’re right,” he chuckles softly. “You squashed me really good.”
“I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.”
He laughs and then sucks in a sharp breath. “It’s all right. Really. I’m strong.” He flexes his biceps as he straightens his back. “Aren’t you impressed by your ‘brave and dashingly handsome guard’?”
I roll my eyes at his attempt to tease me while he’s injured, and purse my lips. “Very.”
He winks at me. “Good.”
When we reach the horses, I’m glad when I notice no one nearby. Nox’s head whips toward me.
“I’m glad you are here. I do not trust these people. I heard them whispering about you carrying many coins.”
I relay what he said to Cael, confirming we’ve made the right choice to leave quietly and quickly this morning.
We place the saddles on our horses and secure our satchels tightly to their packs as well, not wanting to risk losing anything in case we have to run. We cover our faces with our hoods and then carefully lead the horses away from the stables and out onto the road.
Several people eye us warily as we pass, but no one makes a move to stop us. We use several of the smaller roads in the city to make our way through instead of remaining on the main thoroughfare in case we’re being followed.
Neither of us speak. Both of us are on high alert for any sign of danger. Every now and then Cael stops and I do too as he listens for any strange sounds as we walk down the mostly empty streets. It’s still early enough that not everyone has left their homes for the day.
This works to our advantage, allowing us to move much quicker than we would otherwise.
When we near the edge of the city, Cael lifts me onto Nox’s back and then takes his seat atop Halen as we approach the gates. Several guards are waiting there, and a chill steals through me. I want to be well rid of this place as soon as possible.
“Something is following us. I can feel its darkness,” Nox says.
“Cael,” I whisper. “We have to hurry. Nox says someone is following us.”
“Not someone,” Nox corrects. “Some Thing.”
A frisson of fear moves down my spine.
Cael meets my eyes evenly. “We’re almost there.”
“Where are you going?” one of the guards calls out to us.
Cael and I both stop as he addresses the man. “My wife and I are traveling through.”
The guard’s eyes cut to me, narrowing slightly as they rake over my form. He turns his attention back to Cael. “Where are you traveling to?”
Cael extends his closed fist toward the man and when he opens his hand a ball of flame hovers just above his palm. “We are mages. Let us through.”
Several of the guards move back, some of them stumbling over each other in the process.
“Of—of course,” the first one says, his eyes wide with fear. He yells to the others. “Open the gates! Now!”
Cael glances back at me and I nod.
As we pass through the gates, the guards watch us warily.
When we reach the edge of the forest, Nox and Halen break into a run.
They continue until we’re far enough into the woods that we can no longer see the city.
Concealed deep in the woods, Cael turns to me with questioning eyes a moment before his gaze drops to Nox.
“Something evil was there,” Nox says. “We felt it. Something is tracking your light.”
His words fill me with fear.
“What is he saying?” Cael asks.
“Are you not going to tell him? Is this not something he should know?”
“I…” I start to make an excuse but stop. He’s right. I need to tell Cael. With a heavy sigh, I pull up alongside him. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
“What is it?”
As I explain what Nox has told me about something tracking my light, Cael’s face darkens with worry.
“We will stick to sleeping in the forests from now on.” He frowns. “You should have told me, Kyra. It put you at risk staying at the inn. We cannot risk being around many people.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I just didn’t want you to worry.”
His brow furrows deeply. “I’m your guard. It’s my job to protect you.”
Guilt fills me as I
