A Kiss of Shadow (Court of Starlight and Darkness #2)(5)

Fear iced my spine. “Will you?”

“No.” She glared at me. “Of course not. I’m on your side.”

“Really?” Surprise flashed through me. I was pretty sure I saw some of it in her eyes, too.

“Girls gotta stick together. And I do think you’re a good person who will try to do her best by us. Hell, you’re not even one of us, and you agreed to stay and try to kill this super witch.”

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to that.”

“I don’t blame you. I wasn’t excited about it either.” She stood. “Let me change, and I’ll take you to the forest.”

Relief rushed through me.

Evelyn left the room, and Meria and I looked at each other.

“I can’t believe that worked,” I said.

“I can’t believe Evelyn is actually cool.”

“Of course I’m cool,” Evelyn shouted from the other room. “I also have excellent hearing. And call me Eve.”

I grinned. It was crazy, but I felt like maybe I was making another friend. Two friends, which was two more than I had back in the real world. All I had to do was survive to enjoy them.





3





Sia



* * *



Evelyn took us to the portal on the beach. Now that we were no longer competitors, we were allowed to move freely through the kingdom. Dain had parted ways with us when we’d reached the path back to the castle, and from there, it was just the three of us girls.

Frankly, I was surprised the king didn’t have a guard on me.

Until I spotted one lurking on the path behind us. I frowned and turned to look at him. He wore the palace uniform and carried a long sword at his hip.

“I see the king has his eye on you,” Eve said.

“Do you think that’s who has been following you?” Meria asked.

“No. Definitely not.” Right? “I was sure they were dressed in darker clothes. This guy isn’t hiding, either. The shadow following me is a major lurker.”

“You’ve got someone following you?” Eve asked.

“Yeah.” I described what I’d seen as I’d gone through the woods.

“Sounds shady,” she said. “But I’m not surprised. You’re queen now, and you’re new. Some people are going to object.”

“But I’m supposed to save their asses!” I still wasn’t keen on fighting a mysterious super witch, but the Truth Teller had made it clear what would happen if I didn’t—devastation. So I was going to do it. That should at least keep the townsfolk from trying to murder me.

“Could be someone from another kingdom,” Eve said.

“How did they get in? Isn’t this place protected?” I asked. During the competition, it had seemed like the kingdom was safe from outsiders.

“It is,” Meria said. “And we’re well hidden. But fae are cunning and determined. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few could find their way in.”

I grimaced.

“Fortunately, we’re at the portal, and we’ll leave your stalker in the dust,” Eve said. “For now.”

It was a small comfort.

We’d reached the pebble beach where the portal was located. It shimmered with a silver glow, a spot in the air that appeared disturbed. The guard who monitored the portal stepped aside to let us pass, but the one who had been following us raced to catch up.

“You cannot leave," he called, still about forty feet away.

“Watch me.” I grabbed Eve’s hand and dragged her to the portal. She was the one who knew the way, so I had to go through with her. “Get me out of here so I feel like I have at least a little freedom.”

“Roger that.” She grabbed Meria’s hand and we stepped through the shimmery silver air.

The ether sucked us in and spun us around, twisting us though space in a way that made my stomach lurch. When it spat us out on solid ground, I stumbled, clutching my belly. “I’ll never get used to that.”

“Probably not,” Eve said.

“A little too honest sometimes, Eve.” I’d been hoping she’d tell me I’d be fine in no time.

“Yep. Now come on.” She started forward, and I followed. Meria caught up and stuck by my side.

The portal had ejected us onto a grassy hillside. The sun shined overhead, and a faint breeze carried the scent of wildflowers. In the distance, a massive oak tree reached for the fluffy white clouds.

I craned my neck to see the top. “Whoa, that’s big.”

“Yep.” Eve nodded. “Biggest and oldest in the world, thanks to the spirit who lives within it.”

“And she’s the Truth Teller?”

“The one and the same.”

“It’s amazing,” Meria said. “Never thought I’d see it.”

“Anyone can come,” Eve said.

“But not everyone knows the way,” Meria said. “And I never had any question worth asking. But maybe…”

“Your family?” I asked.

“Yeah. Maybe there’s another way to get them back.”

I hoped so because I was pretty sure my "blood sisters" plan wasn’t going to work.