Page 33 of Shadow Wings
Kamoi’s brow wrinkled. “I see. Then I propose this. Dyter, if you and two of my guards wish to remain here with Tyrrik, Akani and I can escort Ryn into the heart of Zivost. Your party can join us in a fewdays.”
Dyter began to nod, but I interrupted. “Nope. I’ll be staying with Tyrrik until he’s healed. He needs another Drae here to help make this nectar stuff.” I shook my head at their inquiring glances. “I can’t leave him. Either Dyter, Tyrrik, and I all come in, or we all stayout.”
There was no way I’d enter that forest without DyterandTyrrik around. As much as Kamoi was hotness incarnate, Mum would’ve skinned me alive to hear I’d gone off with some boyalone.
After a few more attempts to convince me, the prince sighed. “I’m warning you, an attempt to take him in will likely hurt him further, but if youinsist.”
We crossed through the thick rocky barrier that had nearly killed Tyrrik, and I wondered how easily the rock pikes could slide back up through the soil to impale us. I was fairly certain I wouldn’t be hurt, but I’d already witnessed the damage the pikes could do to Tyrrik. I never wanted to see anything like that everagain.
Once we crossed the barrier and neared the forest, Dyter helped me lower Tyrrik to theground.
Kamoi pointed to the closest tree. “Rest your handhere.”
“Will it hurt?” I asked. I’d become well enough acquainted with pain to want to know if more wascoming.
He deliberated. “You’ll know as soon as you touchit.”
Awesome.I edged to the tree and steadied myself. I could do this. If it hurt, I’d just break contact. I was in control. I’d be fine-a-roo. Swallowing my fear, I slapped a hand on thetree.
Nothing happened to begin with, but after a moment, a delicious cooling sensation swept up my arm to the crown of my head and down to where my booted feet were planted on the ground. I shivered, eyeing the Phaetyn’s bare feet. No wonder they didn’t wear shoes when the forest felt like this, like the trees werealive.A welcoming joy radiated through me, and I grinned at Dyter as I dropped my hand to myside.
Dyter gave me a one-sided grimace, the odd look that meant someone was short a fewacorns.
I wrinkled my nose in response and tipped my head toward the tree. Obviously, he didn’t feel the emotion. The happiness of the forest tickled my skin, whispering secrets into my ear. Just from one touch. I wanted to sit down and hug the tree and let it share its wisdom withme.
Dyter cleared his throat, tilting his head atTyrrik.
“Al’right, now for Tyrrik,” I said, still in a bit of adaze.
Dyter helped me maneuver the Drae, not that I wasn’t strong enough, but bodies were awkward to carry. Even with his missing arm, Dyter helped pull Tyrrik so his body was flopped over myshoulder.
Kamoi gestured to the tree in invitation, teeth gleaming in a smile that reminded me the Phaetyn and Drae were notfriends.
Dyter followed as I lugged the Drae to the edge of the forest. With a deep breath but no other ceremony, I took him inside the treeline.
Nothing happened, and gasps rose behindus.
“It works?” I asked with a smile as I grasped our triumph. I wondered if the trees would help him feel better too. “Let’s try thetree.”
I turned and then let Tyrrik slide to the ground. As soon as I stepped away, he contorted violently, frothing at the mouth as heseized.
I fell to my knees and made to roll him out of the trees, but as soon as my hands touched Tyrrik, his agonized movements halted.What thehay?
“Your touch is enough to grant him entry,” Kamoi said inawe.
When I looked up at the Phaetyn, I could see in the furrow on his brow . . . he wasn’t happy about that revelation. Seeing as Drae were Phaetyn’s natural enemies, I couldn’t blamehim.
I stared at my hand on Tyrrik’s chest. “How does thatwork?”
The prince stared down at my hand, too, eyes flickering. “I imagine it has something to do with your Phaetynlineage.”
Had Kamoi suspected I could do this? Confusion tangled my mind and thoughts. Was there more he wasn’t telling me, or had my time in the prison made me suspect everyone ofdeceit?
Dyter crouched, the ropey scar on his cheek pulling as he squinted at Tyrrik. “He can enter the forest, Rynnie, but it’s not practical for you to have your hand on him the entire time. We might be here for severalweeks.”
“Several weeks, at least,” Kamoi quickly agreed. His violet gaze settled on me and then drifted to mymouth.
I couldn’t make sense of the Phaetyn prince, so I turned to the only person I knew I could trust. “I can’t leave him out here, Dyter. He saved my life; I can’t leave him until I know he’sbetter.”