Page 37 of When Roses Burn

I’d never been to the kingdom before, but I knew we’d entered Wildwood. Only the land of the shifters could be this riotous and massive.

Which meant I’d entered a kingdom full of more shifters who probably hated me as much as these four. My exhaustion vanished as the horses plodded onward.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Briar

I didn’t know what time it was when we finally stopped next to a small river and Seth dismounted. While I wasn’t sure I could trust my legs to hold me, he moved with easy grace as he removed the horse’s bridle and pet its neck before shifting his attention to me.

I was terrified I’d fall on my face if I tried dismounting on my own, but I didn’t think he’d help me, and I didn’t want him to. All four of them already saw me as less than them; if I couldn’t get off this horse of my own, they’d really consider me weak and pathetic. Shifters despised those two traits.

They were traits that all eternals hated, but the shifters, especially, prided themselves on their strength and resilience. I’d trusted Seth more than anyone, but he saw me as the enemy, and I couldn’t be weak in front of the enemy, even if I wasn’t as powerful as they were.

If I possessed my full power, I could put up a bit of a fight, but as it was, there wasn’t a whole lot I could do to them unless I intended to turn their hair pink, web their toes, or make them leap like a frog instead of run. And I could probably only cast that last spell on one of them, which meant I’d be left with three irate shifters who were at least twice as strong and fast as I was.

Gripping the pommel, I swung my leg over the horse’s back and tried not to whimper as every muscle in my ass, thighs, and back protested the movement. It had been years since I last sat on a horse, and I felt every one of those years everywhere.

I lowered myself to the ground with an air of confidence I didn’t feel. While I’d managed to get on my own two feet, I didn’t think I could walk. Four sets of eyes burned into me as they waited to see what I’d do.

Determined not to give them the joy of watching me fall, I kept my head high as I strode a few feet away from the horse. When my knees started knocking, I stopped next to a tree with at least a ten-foot-wide diameter.

When I rested my hand against its bark, a small thrill ran through me as the tree’s energy pulsed beneath my palm. I closed my eyes and smiled while I absorbed some of it.

If I bonded myself to the moon or sun god, I’d gain most of my power from their energy. Since I wasn’t bound to either, I absorbed my strength from all of nature, much like the elves. The only difference was that the elves gained far more power from it than I did. However, it helped nurture me, and I needed that.

Once I felt a little better, I stepped away from the tree and turned to face the others as they unsaddled their horses. Lyra, Pierce, and Dromon weren’t paying any attention to me, but Seth watched me like I was a poisonous creature waiting to strike while he settled on a log.

“We’ll camp here for the night,” he stated.

We couldn’t be that far from civilization and a bed, but I didn’t protest. I’d spent a year locked in a tower and under constant supervision for the nine that followed. Any time I got to spend outside, I welcomed it. Plus, I was more than happy to avoid facing more shifters tonight.

Turning away from them, I slipped into the woods as my bladder threatened to let go. I stopped when Seth called after me. “I wouldn’t go too far; shifters aren’t the only things that hunt these woods.”

As if on cue, something howled in the distance. It was probably a wolf shifter, but I’d prefer not to encounter it.

I didn’t acknowledge his words as I slipped further into the trees and found a space secluded enough to go to the bathroom. When I finished, I used some leaves to dry myself, and then I rose as something rustled in the trees near me.

I braced myself as I prepared to use what little defensive magic I had against whatever appeared. I could knock it back with a small burst of energy and then run.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Briar

I was preparing to release some energy and flee when a tiny head popped out from the underbrush. Big, soulful, nearly black eyes blinked at me from the shadows. Long black lashes and fluffy, light gray fur surrounded its large eyes. Tufts of gray hair stuck up from the tips of its rounded ears, and I almost went aww at its undeniable cuteness, but I was afraid my voice might scare it away.

As we stared at each other, its two small paws with their little pink pads pulled down the leaves covering the bottom half of its face and body. Standing on its hind feet, the creature exposed a small snout and a black, button nose that twitched as it scented me.

The size of a squirrel, white fur covered its belly, while the rest of it retained the grayish hue of its face. The creature was one of the most adorable things I’d ever seen and, because of that, I was a little scared it was going to kill me.

Adorable and Wildwood were two words I’d never heard associated with each other. Despite my certainty it was about to latch onto my face and claw out my eyeballs, I bent, rubbed my fingers together, and called to the tiny creature.

No one had ever accused me of being smart when it came to animals, and I probably deserved to be eaten, but I wanted something to brighten this day. I’d long ago accepted that some creature I wanted to pet would kill me.

It eyed me for a few seconds before lowering to all fours and inching closer. When I searched the ground, I discovered a small, hard, red fruit and held it out to the animal. It studied me, the fruit, and then me again as it rose onto its hind legs once more.

Now that it was closer, I could tell it was a boy. He put his front paws against his chest and released a little squeak that made me smile.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”