Isla tried to tear herself away from the wall, but she was stuck to it, the spines curved into her skin like hooks. Keeping her. Every push away sent them farther within. Blood ran hot down her back; tears shot down her face. A choking sound escaped her lips.
Then there were warm hands steadying her.
“Stop moving. You’re making it worse,” a voice yelled.
She wanted to spit at his feet for chastising her at a time like this. She wanted to warn him to get away from the evil plant. But she could barely even see. The pain had eaten all her senses.
The king cursed, and she imagined he was inspecting her back. “I’m going to have to break them to free you,” he said.
Isla nodded and, a moment later, screamed at the top of her lungs as Oro tore the first barb in two with his Starling energy. No matter how steady or gentle his power was, she felt the spine in her back, twisting closer to her bones. The plant didn’t like Oro’s handling of it. It dug its other barbs deeper inside. It did not strike the king, however. As if it only had an appetite for her.
“There are ... several.”
She couldn’t take another one. The first—
She cried out again. Saw flashes of hues behind her eyes, the pain so deep she swore it had its own color.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Isla couldn’t control herself. The next time he broke one of the spines, and the plant retaliated by digging farther inside, she retched all down the front of her clothes.
If it got on him, he didn’t say a word. He just held her steady as he broke the spikes in two.
Again. Again. Again.
Isla insisted on being the one to pull them out.
She was on the ground now, away from the wall, Oro kneeling in front of her. The rest of the forest had gone still. Watching her.
“How did this happen?” he asked.
Right. Of course he was confused. Plants wouldn’t dare attack their ruler. Even if she was supposed to be keeping her abilities cloaked.
“I ... tripped,” she said, wincing. He kept studying her, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Go, look for whatever the wall is guarding,” she spat. “I’m fine. I can take them out myself.”
Even when she was injured, even soaked in blood, the king had the nerve to glare at her. “You’re covered in your own vomit,” he said flatly. He reached toward her back to help her, but she reared back, then groaned.
“I said I’ll do it myself,” she growled.
Oro bared his teeth at her. “Are you truly this stubborn?”
“Are you truly thisoverbearing?” she demanded. “I said no. Now leave.”
The king stayed put for a moment.
Then he got up and walked back toward the thicket, cursing beneath his breath.
Good.
When he was far enough away, Isla folded over and gripped the ground with all her strength, arms shaking in a sob. The pain—
It was like nothing else she had experienced.Evil, wretched plants.
And it wasn’t over.
