Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(155)

And that was another thing. She was from my world.

But she spoke like she was from this world.

Now, I’d heard that Americans who lived in England (or wherever) could take on the accent. But she hadn’t been in this world for decades, for goodness sakes. I couldn’t imagine her talking just like people from this world.

Not yet.

Further, I couldn’t imagine Christophe wanting to see me.

For two weeks he’d been doing his best to avoid me.

Demanding to see his father, sure.

But me?

Having time to think on it, lots of it as we trekked through the forest, that wasn’t right either.

Not to mention, she’d said that Prince Noctorno was not far.

But he was.

We kept going (and going) and she had to know we were unprotected by men or weapons and the further away from the house we were, the more danger we’d be in.

Apollo had told me that all the women knew what was going on. Their men let them in on it so they could be vigilant and cautious (he’d also added the word “obedient” but I decided to forget he said that; though, it was becoming scarily apparent that I’d forgotten the “cautious” part too).

If she was leading me to her husband who was with Chris not too far away from Karsvall, I could get it.

But she was leading me to what seemed like nothing except deeper into the forest and far away from Karsvall.

And last, she had no guard.

Her husband had let her go like that, unprotected. From what I’d heard about him, that was not something he’d do.

Ever.

No.

This was not right.

I was getting the distinct feeling that I’d been an idiot.

I knew that feeling. It had happened often in my life, this one worse than the rest (except, of course, when I’d picked Pol to pledge my troth to; then again, that remained to be seen depending on whether I could get myself out of what I was currently getting myself into).

I decided it was time to stop being an idiot and called, “Hey!”

She forged ahead, not looking back when she replied, “Not too far now.”

“Uh, I’m thinking that we should turn back, find a man to find Apollo and have you lead him back to Tor and Christophe.”

“We’re not too far,” she mostly repeated. “It would be foolish to turn back now.”

I stared at her plowing through the snow.

Then I stopped.

“Hey!” I called again to her still moving form. “I’m thinking this isn’t smart.”

She looked back, stopped and I saw annoyance flash through her features before she rearranged them and said yet again, “Really, it’s not too far.”

Did Cora, the Gracious who was beloved across an entire country and visited children’s hospitals (and homeless pet shelters, not to mention read to the blind) get annoyed?

I stared at her pretty face with all that fabulous, lustrous brown hair.

And as I did, it hit me.

And what hit me was that I hadn’t been only an idiot.

I’d f**ked up.

And huge.

Cora, the Gracious probably found occasion to be annoyed (especially if her husband was an other-worldly macho man like Apollo).

But Cora’s twin, the one from this world, the one who’d disappeared after being kidnapped by Minerva and her crew, would totally get annoyed. From what Apollo told me, she was a screaming bitch.

This had to be her.

It had to.

Cora wouldn’t lead me to danger. She wouldn’t even suggest it.

Okay, I didn’t know that for certain.

But if it were me, I wouldn’t lead Cora to danger. Nothing even near it. Not in times like these.

Not ever!

God!

I’d totally f**ked up!

I started backing away.

“Uh, how about you go on to Prince Noctorno and I’ll go back to the house. When I find someone, I’ll tell them to tell Apollo to follow our tracks to you,” I suggested.

More annoyance sliced through her expression before she looked side-to-side in a weird way I did not like then began following me, her hand raised cajolingly my way.

“It’s much further back than forward.”

“I’m cool with that,” I told her, moving more quickly.

She moved more quickly too, saying, “I fear for your safety, walking alone back to Karsvall.”

“It’s okay,” I replied. “There are enchantments that’ll keep me safe.”

Again, she eyed side-to-side.

I kept backing up and eyed side-to-side too.

I also hoped like hell Apollo (or someone) found Chris and that they were now searching for me.

I’d take the verbal lashing Apollo was going to give me after he discovered I’d been a complete idiot, and I’d take it since it was deserved.

I just wanted to get back.

I didn’t notice anything side-to-side but when I looked down to ascertain that I was following the same tracks as I’d made coming out not only so I could get home but so that anyone possibly looking for me would actually find me, I stopped dead.

There were no tracks.

I whipped my head around and looked behind me.

There were no tracks there either.

Uh-oh.

I looked back to my feet and took another step.