Grace gripped the rolled map hard in both hands, staring down at it. “You didn’t see how terrified Sable was. Shefeltherself disappearing. Sheknewshe’d never be human again.” When Grace looked up, tears shone in her eyes. “If I can give that back to her …”
Her shoulders started to shake. Dropping the map, she lifted her hands to her face, trying to stifle her sobs.
Emeline’s heart cracked open. Moving quickly to Grace’s side, she pulled her into a hug. She seemed so soft and small andlost.
“Grace,” Emeline whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Do you really think Sable will want to return if you aren’t waiting for her when she does?”
Grace stiffened, then pulled away. “I’ve already decided.” From the fierce set of her jaw, Emeline knew she would hear no more protests. “I’m going.”
Snatching up the map, Grace left the room, leaving the candle burning on the table.
Emeline couldn’t let her go out there alone. Not with every horrible thing in the woods on the prowl. So she went after her, certain Grace would realize the folly of this decision. And when she did, Emeline would be there to bring her home to Edgewood.
She may have lost the others, but she could still save Grace.
THEY RODE DEEP INTOthe woods. The farther they went, the colder it grew, reminding Emeline of the Song Mage’s house. Of that eerie, bone-chilling cold. It stung her skin and made her breath fog the air. Only Lament was warm beneath her.
Beside Emeline, Grace sat astride her own horse, with one of Sable’s swords sheathed at her back, scanning the night-dark woods. Around them, pallid trees breathed their rattled, rasping breaths. Beneath the moon, the forest was frost white—the color of corruption.
Sometimes Emeline thought she saw a shadow keeping pace with them, darting in and out of the white trees. But when she looked closer, there was nothing there.
Gripping the reins tighter, Emeline nudged Lament onwards.
Too soon, they found it: a wooden door set into the trunk of a massive oak. Its roots plunged into the earth, thick and thirsty. Its pale bark curled like ropes, reaching upwards to where leafless branches clawed at the cobalt sky.
Emeline dismounted.
“I’ll see if it’s locked,” she said, hoping it was, wondering if she could jam the door if it wasn’t. She’d expected Grace to have come to her senses by now. Now she was scrambling to think of another plan.
Grace kept watch as Emeline approached the door. Its copper hinges were rusted blue, and burned into the door’s wooden surface was the symbol of a seed.
Before Emeline could reach for the copper doorknob, Grace drew Sable’s sword.
At the sound, Emeline turned to find dozens of shadow skins stepping out of the trees, their black shapes stark against the silvery woods. As Grace backed towards Emeline, gripping her blade, Emeline felt the monsters prod at her mind, like dozens of fingers dipping into a still pool, about to plunge into its depths.
Lament reared up, screaming. The unnatural sound pierced Emeline’s ears like knives, making her flinch. The ember mare smashed her hooves against the earth, setting it ablaze with red fire.
The shadow skins crept closer.
When Lament reared again, Emeline moved to calm her, but an echoing scream in the distance made her pause. The sound was much louder. Like a roaring sea.
The earth began to tremble beneath their feet.
Emeline turned. In the distance, the orange glow of wildfire swept through the pale trees. Coming straight for them.
No. Not fire.
Horses.
The ember mares were running. Lament had called them.
Emeline grabbed Grace’s hand, pulling her towards the oak, hoping to use it as a shield against the flaming bodies barreling down on them from behind. They pressed their backs against the door until their shoulder blades hurt from the pressure.
The earth shuddered and quaked. Their bones shook and their teeth clattered.
Soon, the fire was upon them, hot and roaring.
The ember mares blasted past, parting around the giant oak that sheltered Emeline and Grace. Snorting fire and screaming fury, they formed a wall of flame around both girls as they surged over the shadow skins, pummeling them with their thunderous hooves, drowning them in wildfire, forcing them to retreat.
