Betrayals of Spring (Forever Fae #2)(48)
We have reached the Mystical Forest and have decided to set up camp. It’s dark out now, but the moonlight shines through the trees giving the forest an ethereal glow. Ashur and I are about to lie down and rest when we hear a rider approaching. Ashur swiftly pulls his sword, and I already have my bow in hand and ready to fire in a matter of seconds.
I recognize the fierce rider coming this way by the long, white-blonde hair billowing out in the wind. It’s Finn. What is he doing here? I lower my bow as Finn comes to a stop before me and dismounts from his horse. “I thought you could use more help,” he suggests. I could use the help, but I wouldn’t feel right asking for his. How can I ask him to help me search for the man I left him for?
“I can’t ask you to do that, Finn.”
He lets out a sigh and takes my hands in his while looking me in the eyes.
“You didn’t have to ask. I’m here because I want you to be happy, and getting your prince back will make you happy. The Land of the Fae depends on you both,” he admits.
He is right. The Spring Court can’t be formed without Kalen. The Land of the Fae will falter and grow weak if I don’t find Kalen and bring him home. I pull Finn to me and he encloses me in his arms. “Thank you, Finn. I don’t know what I would do without you,” I say genuinely.
He kisses my head and lets me go. No more words were spoken as we set up camp for the night. I lie down on my blanket while Aki snuggles up to my side. We’re going to find him, I whisper to the stars above. I hope…
“Princess?”
The sound of a tiny voice in my ear startles me awake and I bolt upright. Dozens of sprites are flying around the camp and the buzzing of their wings sound like a swarm of bees on the verge of attack.
“I’m sorry I startled you,” the little sprite apologizes. Ashur and Finn are awake and by the scowls on their faces it would appear they are slightly annoyed by the intrusion.
I smile at the little pink sprite and I beckon her closer while holding out my hand. She settles onto my palm and I bring her up to my eye level.
“It’s OK. I just wasn’t expecting to have such a grand audience. What’s your name?”
Her voice sounds child-like, but if I had a guess, I would say she is older than me by centuries.
“My name is Ansley, and I came to warn you. The forest isn’t safe.” That caught the attention of my men and they stride over quickly.
“What are you here to warn me about?” I ask.
She looks from me to Ashur and Finn.
“There’s evil in the forest. It’s parading around wreaking havoc in its wake. It’s no place for a princess like you.”
Now I have more motivation than anything to find the dark sorcerer. He not only has taken over Kalen, but he’s tormenting the lives of innocent fae creatures. “Thank you, Ansley, but that evil is exactly why I’m here. I have to put a stop to it.”
Her eyes go wide and she flutters up in the air to come closer. “Please be careful, Princess,” she cries. “We are leaving the forest to seek shelter somewhere else. We no longer feel safe here.”
The sprites all around me look scared and unsure, so I do the only thing I can think of to do. I motion for the sprites to gather around me so I can address them all.
“Dear friends, I want you all to go to the Summer Court and stay there until I return. I have several sprite friends that will take care of you. Tell them I sent you, and you will be safe.”
They all murmur their gratitude and fly away in the direction of the Summer Court.
“You sure do have a way with the fae creatures, don’t you Princess?” Ashur grins.
I grin back while loading up my things.
“I do, but I love to help them,” I admit.
Aki is huffing and looking off into the forest. I know he is ready so we pick up the pace and pack up our camp. We only rest for a couple of hours, but I feel energized to go on for several days. It’s still dark outside, but the horizon toward the Summer Court is slowly turning pink with the approaching sun.
We all three mount our horses and both Ashur and Finn nod their heads showing they are ready. Aki runs ahead and we swiftly follow him into the unknown depths of the Mystical Forest. The forest is huge and I have never ventured off into the heart of it until this day. I have only traveled along the outskirts of it to get to the Fall and Winter Court from my home in the Summer. I have heard of the dangerous fae creatures that live in the forest, and I do fear of what will happen if we encounter them. I sneak a glance at both Ashur and Finn and I know they are thinking the same things as well.
We ride hard throughout the day heading deeper into the Mystical Forest until we come across a small village that looks dark and desolate. It reeks of death. I have never seen this place before, but I can tell this isn’t what it is supposed to look like. I can smell the foulness of black magic permeating the air and the taste of it is even worse. The village we are in is a leprechaun village by the symbols engraved on their doors. I was taught all the ancient symbols and these are surely ones of the leprechauns. I have met a couple of them in my lifetime and they are very superstitious creatures; hence, the symbols on their doors that stand for protection and luck.
I dismount my horse and bend down to touch the ground. With my ability for nature, it keeps me in tune to the land, and this area of land is screaming for help. I look around the village and I don’t see a soul, but I can sense they are near. They probably ran scared the moment the dark sorcerer’s evil took hold. I need to know what happened and I do not want them afraid of me.