* * *
One day after school, an entire month and a half since I’d last seen Cade, I decided to decline Thomas’s offer for a ride home and I took the back way through the swamp. I wasn’t worried about getting ambushed by Adam Peders or Michaela West; they hadn’t bothered me since Cade had threatened Adam. A twinge of regret coursed through me, but I shook it off. He may never come back again Meg. Time to get over this infatuation. Of course, walking through the very woods where I had first met him wasn’t the brightest idea. Oh well.
I should’ve been worried about running into faelah in the woods, but the truth of the matter was, I didn’t care. I was tired of being afraid; tired of waiting for someone to give me answers. Huffing a deep breath, I hiked my backpack further up onto my shoulders and began the gentle climb up the equestrian trail. I kept my head down, allowing a stray curl to obscure my vision. It wasn’t until I reached the old oak tree that I noticed the wolfhound. In fact, he had to yip at me before I passed him up. That only startled me into a small scream.
“Fergus!” I hissed, willing my heartbeat to slow.
The great white hound whined and gestured towards the tree. I had told myself I didn’t care if Cade ever showed himself again. That was a lie. I could tell by the way my stomach fluttered and my knees grew wobbly. And all this at the prospect of getting a note from him.
I dropped my backpack and reached up into the tree, my fingers fumbling around for the knothole. My fingertips brushed parchment and I grabbed it, yanking a note free of its hiding place.
Quickly, I dropped back to the ground and broke the seal, not caring if I ruined it this time. My eyes darted across the page, and my heart felt like it was melting.
Meghan,
I beg your forgiveness for staying away so long, but things have been unstable here in the Otherworld. I will be arriving in your world soon. I wish to discuss something of an important matter with you. I hope you have been well, and I hope to see you again soon.
C.M.
I read the date and time he indicated on the note. Friday afternoon. Tomorrow. My heart leapt into my throat. I blinked up at Fergus, but he merely panted, his rusty colored ears perked backwards. How on earth was I going to get any sleep tonight?
Faelorehn - Book One of the Otherworld Trilogy Page 13