Jay took in Evan’s baggy green pants and open shirt with a ruffled collar. “You know this guy? What, do you guys come here instead of study hall after Lit class?”
Evan sheathed his sword and bowed low. “Ladies, my mistake.” He reached out and grabbed Jay’s hand to shake it. “I’m Evan.”
Jay extracted his hand from Evan’s. “Clearly. I’m Jay.”
“Prince Evan, to be exact,” Ava added.
“Of course he is.” Jay didn’t seem happy about the new arrival.
Evan pulled us into a huddle. “Sorry to surprise you, but Muriel’s been this way.
I remembered his vow to find her, but I no longer cared about the competition. In fact, I welcomed it. I told him about Snow.
Evan’s face darkened. “I spotted Muriel around here earlier, but lost track of her. It’s my fault Snow’s dead.”
“No, it’s my fault for leaving when I should have tracked her down immediately,” I said.
Jay looked between us. “Not to break up the guilt fest, but it seems like it’s actually Muriel’s fault, and I don’t even know who the hell she is.”
I didn’t need anyone to make me feel better. I’d feel better once Muriel was dead. “Where did you last see her?”
Evan frowned. “I lost track of her right around here. It’s like she just disappeared.”
Horace had used almost the same words to describe her, something about Muriel disappearing into the night. Speaking of night, the sun hung heavy on the horizon. Light slipped away with each passing minute, and a chill permeated the air.
“Are we near any villages?” I asked. I’d never been out this far into the surrounding woods and had no clue how far we’d come.
“Yeah, like one with a nice hotel and open buffet?” Ava asked hopefully.
Evan looked uncertain. “I’ve trekked these woods for years, and as far as I know, this forest stretches on for hundreds of miles with nothing in between.”
“Perfect. So, just to clarify, we don’t know where we’re going or what to do next? Am I following along correctly?” Jay asked. “Oh wait, I have GPS on my phone.”
He pulled his phone from his sweatshirt and punched the buttons to no avail.
Ava patted him on the arm like a small child. “There’s no wi-fi in Liralelle, sweetie.”
Jay let a string of expletives fly into the dusk.
Evan studied the sky. “Well, we’re losing light and it won’t do any good to wander aimlessly. We should camp here and try to find her trail again in the morning.”
Ava shuddered. “Camp out here? In the dark?”
Evan laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s what I do all the time. I have my sleeping roll, but you can use it.”
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Sure, or, you know, we could share or something.”
Jay leaned over. “Is it me or is he freakishly good-looking?”
I acted surprised. “I hadn’t noticed. Maybe a little, I guess.”
Jay shrugged and started pulling branches from the trees.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He twined the branches together and laid them together under the tree. “I believe the man said we were camping. I’m making us a bed.” He scooped up handfuls of leaves and scattered them on the makeshift bed.
He’d said us, but did he mean the two of us, or all of us. It certainly didn’t look like a bed big enough for four.
“Brilliant,” said Evan. “We’ll stick together, but since Bree and I have the weapons, I’ll watch over Ava, and Bree can guard you.”
Ava practically swooned. I knew what she was thinking. She had her very own prince for the night. She helped him lay out his sleeping roll and thin blanket and was probably already imagining them snuggling under it.
I watched Jay twine some leaves into a makeshift blanket. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“My Dad used to take me camping a lot on the weekends. Taught me a lot of survival stuff that I thought I’d never need. Guess he’d be proud.”
“Don’t you go with him anymore?”
Jay’s eyes darkened as he worked the leaves together. “No, he died.”
“I’m so sorry. My dad’s dead too.”
Jay smiled at me. “Yeah, I know.”
I watched his fingers move steadily and surely over the branches. I wasn’t used to someone else taking care of me. I’d always been the one taking care of everyone else. It was nice. Weird, but nice.
“I’ll start the fire,” Evan said. “It’ll have to be a small one, just enough to cook. We don’t want to attract attention.”
Ava collected twigs and arranged them where Evan instructed. He and Jay had gone to break off some bigger pieces and find some food. “You’d make a great Girl Scout,” I remarked.
She beamed. “Thanks.” It was like she’d forgotten the whole reason we were in the woods was because of a maniacal witch.
I brought over more dry twigs and dumped them on the pile. “I’m just making the best of a bad situation,” Ava said, as though she’d read my mind. “Plus, Evan makes me feel safe. No offense, I’m sure you’re really great with your sword, but he makes me feel like I can’t get hurt.”
I’d just been thinking the same thing about Jay. “I get it.”
Ava stood and brushed the dirt from her hands. “Also, I want you to know that I forgive you … for Ty. Life is too short to stay mad at your best friend.”
She left unsaid that our life might be much shorter than most given our current circumstances. I hugged her. “Ava, I’m so sorry I never told you I liked Ty. I never, ever would have gone out with him though. I swear. You’re way too important to me.”
Ava hugged me back. “Just keep your hands off Evan, okay?”
I laughed. “Done.”
She twirled a blond curl. “So, is it bad that despite all the crap going on, I’m worried we’re going to miss practice and that I’ll lose my spot in the show?”
I thought of Adrian and how fast he’d give Catelyn the lead if I missed again. How fast my resume for Juilliard could self-destruct. “No, it’s not bad. It’s normal. We’re just dealing with very abnormal stuff right now.”
Ava sighed. “Yeah, tell me about it. Anyway, going back to the boy thing a sec, Jay seems like a cool guy. Anything going on there?”
Heat flushed my cheeks and I was grateful that the sun had faded in the sky. “Maybe. Not sure yet, but I’ll keep you posted.” The twilight cast shadows across her face. “So, what’s going on at home, A? I’ve been worried about you.”
Ava stared out into the woods before looking back at me. “Let’s see. Dad’s still cheating, Mom’s still drinking, and my brother’s still a dickhead, so … yeah, that about covers it.”
“I’m so sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say. My dad might be dead, but my mom was amazing, and my brother was the coolest kid ever. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like if my entire family sucked.
She said it so low, I almost didn’t hear her. “I’d rather stay here in Liralelle ... except for the witch.”
“Okay, ladies, here we go.” Evan appeared from the trees carrying several large logs. He also had a small bag hanging around his waist.
Jay followed with an armful of his own logs.
“What’s for dinner?” Ava asked.
Jay met my eyes and I knew that the food in Evan’s bag wasn’t a nice, plump turkey.
“Ugh. I can’t even believe I’m eating this.” Ava gagged between bites. We sat close together, huddled around the fire. It crackled, giving off warmth and light within the darkness of the forest.
Jay chewed a minute. “It kind of tastes like chicken.”
“It’s just a squirrel. They’re good…I eat them all the time,” said Evan, a trace of defensiveness in his voice.
Trekking through the forest had worked up my appetite and I was famished. I didn’t care if I was eating a huge rat. I tore into my piece.
Jay laughed. “I like a girl who’s into more than sala
d.”
I blushed in the dark and rushed to change the subject. “So, what’s your story, Evan? Why do you stick to the woods so much? Shouldn’t princes be living in a castle?”
Ava forgot the chewy substance in her mouth and waited for his response.
He tossed a bone aside. “Not me. My parents have pretty much kept me hidden my whole life. They said it wasn’t safe for me in Liralelle but wouldn’t say why.” Evan took a swig of water from his tin cup and passed it to Ava. “Once I got old enough to be on my own, my dad taught me how to live in the woods, just in case. But it suited me, so I’ve done it more and more.” He spread his arms wide. “I love it out here. And as soon as it’s safe for me to come out of hiding, they want me to marry Ms. Crazy Pants, so I’m good with the trees … for now.”
Ava hung on every word. “But can’t the Queen help you?”
“Don’t know. I’ve never met her.” Evan peered at me over the fire. “We live on the opposite side of the Kingdom and I’m told she doesn’t venture out much past her gates. Anyway, I overheard my parents one night when they were out in the garden. They spoke about the village girls disappearing, and then mentioned Muriel’s name.” He tossed the last of his bones into the fire and a small spark flew up. “I decided I was going to find Muriel myself.”
I pondered his words but couldn’t make sense of it. “But there are other princes out there who aren’t hiding. They’re marrying princesses ... princesses without mental health issues.” I would know—I’d provided a sort of assassin/matchmaking service for several years.
Evan chuckled. “I know. I heard about Hubert proposing to Rapzy. The guy’s a total dork. He’s lucky she’s dumb as a brick, or she’d wonder how he ever managed to defeat a witch. Now he can climb her long hair for eternity.”
Jay choked on his water. “I’m sorry. Rapzy as in, like, Rapunzel?”
My mind churned as I tried to figure something out. “Yes, Rapzy is what the town folk call her, sort of like “ditzy” because she was always tripping over her hair—before she got captured. Anyway, that’s not the point.” I looked back at Evan. “Why are you not safe and they are?”
Ava cleared her throat. “You did say that he’s not like any other Prince in Liralelle, right?”
Jay turned toward me. “You said that?”
Why did everything I say come back to haunt me? “I just meant that I’ve never seen any who were, um, strong enough to take on a witch themselves. That’s part of why I’m needed here.”
Jay didn’t look convinced. “But he clearly is, so why wouldn’t the Queen want to use him rather than go through the trouble of bringing you all the way here?”
He was right. Her Highness had an able-bodied—no, more like super awesome-bodied guy at her disposal—yet she sent for me instead. Why? I frowned. “Maybe she doesn’t know you exist … if you’ve been hidden by your parents for some reason.”
Ava yawned loudly, dramatically even. “This is super interesting, but I’m exhausted and think we should try to get some sleep.”
Evan jumped to his feet. “Yes, you must be exhausted. I’ll ready your sleeping roll and will take first watch.” He pulled his sword from his sheath.
Ava’s face fell in disappointment, her hopes of snuggling with Evan likely fading by the moment. I had to make up for what happened with Ty earlier.
“No, I’ll take first watch. I’m not even tired,” I lied.
Jay stretched his arms over his head. “I’ll keep you company.”
Ava flashed me a bright smile and walked the short distance to the trees where the sleeping roll was laid out. She hopped into it, with no trace of fatigue that I could see, then patted the spot next to her.
Evan hesitated, but placed his sword back in place and joined her. Evan held up three fingers. “Get me up in three hours. And put the fire out before too long.”
I saluted him. “Got it, Prince.”
I threw a bit of twig into the fire and watched the small spark. I’d hate to extinguish it because the light was as comforting as the warmth. The chilled night air blew against my back and I shivered.
Jay scooted over closer to me. “Here, you can wear this.” He began to unzip his hoodie.
I instinctively put my hand on his arm. “Careful.” I gestured at the zipper.
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Yeah, I hear zipper deaths are climbing the list of silent killers, right behind heart disease.”
“Sorry, zippers freak me out … my finger got stuck in one when I was five.”
I could tell he was trying not to laugh as he continued unzipping, but then a look of shock overcame his face and his hand shook. “Oh god, oh god.” His finger looked stuck.
I jumped to my feet. “What is it?”
He tore off the hoodie in one smooth motion and chuckled. “Just kidding. Here.”
I smacked him with my hand. “You’re mocking my fear. Jerk.”
Jay shrugged. “Excuse my language, but we’re in a totally fucked up place, and you’re worrying about death by zipper. Yes, I’m mocking you … but in a nice way.”
“Whatever.” I pushed the sweatshirt away. “Anyway, you only have a t-shirt on underneath. You’ll be cold.”
He smiled. “Well, we could share it.” He placed one arm of the sweatshirt around me and pulled me closer to him.
Our hands touched briefly as I reached to hold on to the soft material, and a warm, tingly feeling coursed through me. “Thanks.”
We sat in silence in front of the crackling flames. Though Ava and Evan lay about twenty feet away, Ava’s soft chattering floated toward us and I wondered how Evan would be able to get any sleep. It’s not like I was going to reprimand her, because I didn’t want to move an inch. Jay’s leg pressed against my own and I liked the feel of him against me.
I brushed a piece of stray hair from my face as I stared into the fire. “Thanks, by the way, for helping with Snow back there.”
“Sure, it’s what anyone would do. Well, anyone transported to an alternate reality populated by demented fairytale characters.”
I nudged my leg against his. “Glad you’ve finally come to terms with all this.”
He nudged back and an electric feeling went up my leg. “What I’ve come to terms with is the fact that I might be having a psychotic episode. I’m reserving further judgment until later.”
“Fair enough. So, let’s talk about non-psychotic stuff. How long have you wanted to go to Juilliard?”
He scratched his head. “Let’s see. Since I was about nine and discovered a school existed where you could consume music day and night. It seemed like heaven to me at the time. Still does. You?”
“I have a picture of me in my first tutu when I was six. I got it as a birthday present, and my mom thought I looked so cute in it that she signed me up for lessons. I’ve been hooked ever since.”
We talked more about our plans and career goals, but it was hard to sort out my thoughts with his body so close to mine. The warmth of him was unsettling, and I wanted to get closer, although it wasn’t possible to do that without getting in his lap. Plus, he already thought I liked Ty and Evan, and I didn’t want him to think I was serial boy stalker.
I stole a glance at him. The fire lit up his profile and he turned toward me before I could look away.
“Hey,” he said. His eyes held a warm glow from the flickering flames, as he stared into mine.
“Hey.” I couldn’t look away.
Jay moved his face closer to mine. His lips were inches away, and they looked soft and inviting. I wanted nothing more in that moment than for him to kiss me.
Ava’s squeal pierced the darkness.
I jumped up and pulled my sword in one quick movement.
Jay and I ran over as Evan leapt from the ground, waving his arms around. Ava ran in circles like she was doing some kind of weird rain dance.
“What the—?” Jay asked.
“Something crawled on me. It felt slimy and gross. What if it’s still on me
?” She shrieked again.
I sighed. “Please stop shrieking. You’ll give us away.”
Ave immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.
“It’s too dark to see over here. Come by the fire and I’ll check you.” Ava stopped turning in circles and we moved closer to the fire, which was now little more than glowing logs.
Evan bent over, hands on his knees. “She gave me a heart attack. I thought Muriel was here or something.”
Ava began to cry. “I’m so sorry. The scream was an involuntary response—I hate bugs with a passion.”
Jay and I inspected the back of her and turned her around. Ava flapped her shirt to make sure nothing was crawling underneath. I patted her shoulder. “I think whatever it was is gone now. You’re okay.”
Evan exhaled. “There are a fair amount of woodland critters but they’re harmless—I swear.” He peered into the trees. “And I don’t hear anything so I think the screams went undetected, which is good.” He gently touched Ava’s arm. “Come, you need some sleep. Maybe we can get back to … what’s that word you used.”
Ava let a small smile escape. “Oh, when I let you put your arm around me? That’s called cuddling.”
“Cuddling,” Evan repeated. “I’ve never done that before and it’s rather pleasant. May we cuddle some more?”
“We may.” Ava led him by the hand back to their sleeping area. She inspected the ground before laying down. “And I promise to do my best not to scream again.”
I shook my head. “Enjoy the cuddling, you two. Night.”
“Night, B,” said Ava.
I watched in the dark as Evan carefully laid his arm across Ava, like he was afraid he would break her. She placed her hand on his arm and snuggled against him.
I suppressed a smile, as Jay and I headed back to the fire.
“I know I’ve said this more than once today, but—unbelievable,” he whispered into my ear.
The fire had dwindled down to little more than embers, and Jay helped me kicked dirt onto the remnants.
We were thrust into inky blackness, as the thick forest blocked out most of the moonlight. I instinctively reached for Jay’s arm. Though I was used to fending for myself, it was nice to have someone by my side.
Killer Pointe Page 10