CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Two teams,” Asterin declared the next morning, refreshed and ready to avenge her kingdom. “We’ll split up into two teams to hunt down the demon. That way everyone on duty will be as well-rested and alert as possible.”

Orion’s eyes followed the princess as she paced back and forth along the length of the living room. Except for Eadric, the rest of them, including Harry, lounged about on the sofa and the floor. The captain had chosen to lean against the wall beside the fireplace, gaze flicking to Harry every time the hunter so much as moved a muscle.

“Even though it might have relocated after attacking Corinthe,” Asterin went on, “chances are that it is still living somewhere nearby. So unless we receive reports indicating otherwise, we’ll search every inch of this damned forest if we have to.” She punctuated her statement by slamming her fist into her palm.

Orion picked at a loose thread on the hem of his shirt, gave up, and let his head fall back against the sofa. “So … what? Are we going to pick names out of a hat?”

Asterin shot him a withering glare. “I was thinking more by skill set. Quinlan will lead the first team, and you’ll lead the second.”

“What?” Orion blurted. “Me?”

Rose nodded her approval, tapping her fingernails on the coffee table. “And ideally, each team would have a strong healer, correct? As in, you and me?”

“Exactly,” Asterin said.

Rose went silent for a few seconds. And then she smiled innocently. “I’ll be on Orion’s team.”

Luna stood from her perch on the sofa arm at Orion’s left. “Asterin, I want to be on your team,” she said. “I mean, Quinlan’s team. And you. Eadric can be on Orion’s team.”

“Hold on,” said Eadric, pushing off the mantel. “That makes no sense.”

Asterin’s brow raised while Luna sat back down. “What do you mean?”

“Well …” Eadric trailed off. “Orion and I are supposed to guard you.”

“No, you’re supposed to help me slay the demon,” Asterin replied. “I’ll be perfectly fine on my own.”

With Quinlan, Orion couldn’t help but think. He looked up to find the Eradorian staring at him expectantly, jaw taut with tension, as if he could read Orion’s bitter thoughts.

You … you still don’t trust me. At all.

Since Aldville, Orion hadn’t been able to shake off those words. And the truth was that he still didn’t trust Quinlan completely—but he did know, without a doubt, that Quinlan would do anything to protect Asterin. And that between the two of them … the Eradorian could protect Asterin better. Orion died a little on the inside at the self-admission, but Aldville had proved that. Not everything is about you, Orion, Rose’s voice reminded him. And she was right—because in the end, it was always Asterin that mattered most, not his pride.

So when Eadric opened his mouth to argue, Orion cut him off while keeping his eyes firmly on Quinlan. “All right, then. I guess you’re with me, Captain Covington.”

Surprise flickered across Quinlan’s features, along with a little bit of suspicion, but Orion couldn’t blame him for that.

Eadric whipped toward him. “Orion, what are you—”

“It’s like our princess said,” Orion interrupted. “She’ll be perfectly fine on her own.” He exhaled and turned to Quinlan with the most threatening glare he could muster. “Hey, fireface. As team captains, it’s our responsibility to protect our charges. If anything happens to either Asterin or Luna, I’ll rip out your innards and string them up on Harry’s porch for decoration.”

The corner of Quinlan’s mouth twitched. “I could say the same to you about my cousin.”

Harry raised a tentative hand. Even the small movement caused his shirt to strain against that broad chest. “Excuse me, but I’d rather not have any bodily organs hanging from my porch.”

“No offense, Harry, but it really isn’t your decision,” Orion said. “You do get to decide between my team and Quinlan’s team, however.”

“That is,” Asterin cut in, “if Harry would like to be a part of this at all, which he may absolutely opt against.”

“Nonsense,” Harry said. Orion couldn’t help but admire the confident puff of his chest. “I know these woods better than anyone.”

Orion bit his lip, failing to restrain a grin. “Well, that’s convenient. I have no sense of direction.”

“I can be of use to you, then,” Harry said a little too quickly. His face flushed a delectable shade of pink.

Orion’s grin widened to a mile. “Oh, yes. I’m sure your knowledge of the woods will be very useful.”

“Immortals have mercy,” Eadric mumbled. Rose stifled a snort of laughter.

“Then we’re done here,” Asterin concluded, oblivious, and clapped her hands. “Our team goes out first. We’ll rotate every day so the other team can rest as well as keep an eye on the immediate vicinity. Notify the other team if you find a lead, but ultimately assess the situation and make your own decisions. The moment one of us sets eyes on it, there is no chance in hell we let that demon escape.” Orion shivered at the ice that crept into her tone. “We either slay it or die trying. Is that understood?”

Collective nods around the room.

Asterin smiled, but the light in her eyes had gone dark. “Excellent. Luna, Quinlan, come along. We’ve got a demon to hunt down.”

Rain had fallen overnight, soaking the grass and setting the trees aglisten. Asterin tramped outside, Amoux strapped to her side, her eyes roving the trees hungrily. Luna came next, followed by Quinlan.

“Should we get saddled up?” Luna asked.

“We won’t be taking the horses,” Quinlan answered as he shut the front door behind him, a half-eaten scone in his hand. “The trees are too dense. They’ll only slow us down.” He popped the last of the scone into his mouth. “Let’s get going. I’d like to be back before evening falls.”

Asterin snorted. “You mean you’d like to be back in time for dinner.” Still, he was right—it was too dangerous to search for the demon after dark. They hadn’t the faintest idea as to the demon’s whereabouts, how powerful it was, or even its size. All they knew was that it had managed to destroy Corinthe and all of its people in a matter of hours … so even now, in broad daylight, they would need to be constantly on their guard.

The three of them set off east, using Garringsford’s map to mark their path. While Asterin knew that the chances of finding the demon were slim, especially on their first day, she still clung to the hope. She imagined it all in her mind—the hard-fought battle, the final strike. Bringing the body back to her mother with their heads held high. The queen would praise her for an excellent job, would be happy and proud—

She’s never been proud of you, a voice in her head reminded her. But perhaps, once you slay the demon … all of that will change. Wouldn’t it?

Asterin shook the thought from her head. They would kill the demon—not because she wanted to please her mother, but because her people deserved vengeance and a future ruler who was worth more than a smile and a pretty tiara.

Before she knew it, the sun was slipping inch by inch from its peak. Hours had passed, but they hadn’t glimpsed so much as a hint of the demon’s whereabouts—no abnormal prints, no territorial markings. Not even a rabbit carcass. They had found absolutely nothing. Still, she forged on until the sky wept streaks of crimson across the horizon.

Finally, when Luna kept clearing her throat and looking at the darkening sky, Asterin slumped against a tree in defeat.

Quinlan squeezed her shoulder. “We should head back,” he said. “Harry said he was baking a cake. If it’ll cheer you up, I promise to give you my slice.”

Despite herself, Asterin smiled. “Deal.”

When they arrived back at the cottage, everyone was too busy with various chores to bother asking how the search had gone. Rose and Eadric were out back in the garden gathering fresh herbs. Harry and Orion stood side by side at the kitchen counter, chopping potatoes and carrots for a soup. It was obvious whose pile of vegetables belonged to whom.

“I’ll go and check on Eadric,” Luna said and hurried out the back entrance, leaving Asterin and Quinlan to loiter awkwardly in the kitchen. Neatly written recipes had been taped to the walls in a collage of yellowing parchment and cursive too far away for Asterin to make out clearly.

Orion shot them a grin by way of greeting and waved his knife in the air. “Look at me! I could be a chef!”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Sure you could. A bad one, maybe.” Orion pouted. “Oh, Asterin, could you boil a pot of water?” Grateful to be helping with something, she hurried over. Harry jerked his chin at the row of cupboards lining the wall. “The pots are in there—no, the one to the left, yes, that one, second shelf.”

She grabbed the gigantic stock pot Harry pointed out and filled it in the sink before lugging it onto the stove. She glanced at the empty oven, wondering if Quinlan had been joking about the cake.

Harry caught her looking and smacked his forehead with his knife-hand, much to Orion’s terror. “Oh, the cake! I completely forgot. Orion, come with me to the cellar, I need to find the ingredients. Asterin, keep an eye on the stove, will you?” With that, their host snatched Orion by the wrist and dragged him into the foyer, whereupon he opened a door that Asterin had assumed was a closet but appeared to lead into the gloom of a basement. “Be back in a minute!”

The door slammed shut behind them.

Asterin shrugged and rolled up her sleeves to wash her hands. She sifted through the drawers for a long wooden spoon and then held the handle between her teeth so she could attempt to tie an apron around her waist.

Soft footfalls on the ceramic tiles approached from behind. Warmth washed over her as Quinlan’s hands slid teasingly down her bare forearms and captured her fumbling fingers, halting her struggle. “Let me help you with that,” he said into her ear, voice rough. His breath ghosted the nape of her neck, and it took every ounce of her utmost effort to repress a shudder.

With a deep, slow inhale, she forced her fingers to relax and closed her eyes, letting him take over. His lips crested the shell of her ear and her entire body stiffened, heat pooling low in her gut. A mortified blush rose to her cheeks at the involuntary sound that escaped her, jaws clenching on the spoon handle still clamped in her mouth. He chuckled softly, knuckles brushing the small of her back as he worked. She didn’t know what to do with her hands, so she braced them on the edge of the counter and forced herself to exhale—albeit shakily.

After a moment, she felt the telltale tug of the finished knot, but then Quinlan made a vague noise of dissatisfaction. “It’s not my best work. I’ll try again.”

He’s playing with you, said that nasty little voice in her head. You’re just another Pippa. Another distraction.

Asterin suddenly shoved herself away from him, shattering the moment, tearing free from the desire threatening to drag her under. She grabbed the spoon from her mouth and threw it onto the counter with a harsh clatter. “Water’s boiling,” she gritted out, even though only tiny bubbles lined the inside of the pot when she lifted the lid. She scooped up a handful of potatoes and flung them inside, hissing when water splashed across her skin. Not boiling yet, but still bloody hot.

Quinlan was silent. And then, quietly, he asked, “Am I doing something wrong?”

Before she could respond, Rose barged in through the back entrance clutching a bundle of herbs, Eadric and Luna on her tail. Eadric had a wicker basket swinging from his wrist. Rose took one glance into the kitchen and sighed. “Are you two flirting again?”

Quinlan spun around to face her. Asterin couldn’t see his expression, but the image of his balled fists gnawed at her. “How about you stay out of this?” he snapped in a tone that had Eadric and Luna immediately retreating into the living room.

Rose tilted her chin, assessing. “Someone’s being a little sensitive.”

Quinlan scoffed. “You can’t be serious. When you were with Kane, if I so much as said a word—”

Asterin felt the air crackle with tension as Rose froze, her knuckles bone-white around a sprig of rosemary.

Quinlan bit his lip. “I should not have said that.”

“Get out,” Rose said, voice clipped.

He held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry.” With Rose’s murderous gaze pinned on his back, he fled into the foyer and through the living room door.

The Queen of Eradore released a long-suffering sigh.

Luna popped her head back into the kitchen. Eadric was nowhere to be seen. “Can I come in?”

Rose pasted on a strained smile and began plucking herbs from the captain’s basket. “Yes, of course.”

Luna joined Asterin by the stove and the three of them lapsed into a companionable silence, maneuvering around one another in harmony through the kitchen, the calming scent of sage and robust oregano pervading the air.

“Can I throw these into the pot?” Rose asked, waving a handful of herbs at Asterin.

She shrugged. “Beats me. Harry and Orion haven’t come out of the cellar yet.”

Luna frowned. “Cellar? I thought it was a closet.” She yelped when the pot hissed. “Immortals, I hate cooking.”

Asterin laughed. “Come on, Luna, it’s fun.”

“Cooking is hardly fun.” Luna sniffed. “All you do is chop little things into bits and pieces. And then you make them hot.”

“Would you rather eat everything raw, then?” Rose asked.

“No, I’d rather have someone else do it for me.”

“You’d rather have someone else eat raw food for you?”

Luna whacked Rose’s arm with a wooden spoon.

Rose picked up a rolling pin from inside one of the drawers. “I don’t want to fight you,” the queen warned, more serious than Asterin had ever seen her. “But I have a rolling pin and I’m not afraid to use it.”

“A rolling pin against a measly spoon? That’s hardly fair!”

Rose grinned. “Never said I would play fair.”

The cellar door opened and Orion came staggering out, a jar of dark cocoa powder in his hands and his face flushed, Harry at his heels with a sack of flour swinging from over his shoulder.

Asterin frowned. “Orion? Are you all right? You’re awfully red.” The last thing they needed was for him to come down with a fever.

Her Guardian fanned himself. “Never been better.”

Harry cocked his head at Rose and Luna, who were circling each other and throwing taunts, right on the brink of a vicious battle. He opened his mouth as if to inquire but ultimately decided against it. Instead, he hefted the flour into Orion’s arms, nearly knocking the jar of cocoa onto the ceramic floor. “Could you get started on the cake? I need to go and check the traps before it gets too dark. The recipe is taped to the wall.”

“No problem.” Orion bustled over to the wall, squinting up at the recipes and tracing his finger down the parchment. He hesitated. “Wait, when it says ‘cup,’ do I use an actual mug or what?”

Asterin sighed. “I’ll help him.”

Harry shot her a grateful smile and shrugged on his coat before hoisting his monstrous crossbow off a hook in the foyer. “Thank you.”

Asterin waved as he maneuvered himself and the crossbow out the door. Orion had dipped his finger into the cocoa jar. She smacked his hand away. “Stop that!” She scanned the recipe. “Where are we supposed to find eggs? Did you see any in the cellar?”

Orion shook his head.

Asterin cursed and dashed for the bay windows in the living room that overlooked the clearing and the path leading into the forest beyond. Her eyes snagged on Harry halfway down the path, and she was just about to run out the door to call him back when something made her pause.

The light from the torches in the clearing gleamed off the pine boughs, astir with night wind, but she could have sworn that the swaying grass and primrose stalks stilled when Harry walked past. Her eyes narrowed at his retreating figure, a sudden unease settling into the pit of her stomach. The torches flickered, the flames bending away from the hunter as if to escape from their wicks. It was something about the way the shadows seemed to follow him, to cling to him like fog.

Then he ducked out of the clearing beneath the branched archway, and only when the hunter had vanished into the forest did Asterin realize that she had forgotten to ask about the eggs.