The party began to cross, and I was mesmerized by the four Phaetyn. They didn’t walk; they glided. Dressed in shining aketons with braided leather belts hanging low on their hips, two carried bows, and another a spear. Kamoi’s hands were empty, and where the other Phaetyn glided, he appeared to be floating. Dyter lumbered toward us with thudding steps that made me smile.

“You found us,” I said, stating the obvious as I threw my arms around him.

Dyter patted me on the back and said gruffly, “We expected you a day ago. We were waiting farther east, but the scouts here rode to Kamoi when they saw two Drae plummeting from the sky.”

“That was us,” I said with a nod.

He rolled his eyes. “I gathered. We rode through the night to reach you here. What happened?”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I redirected the conversation. “Thank the moons you got here so fast. We wouldn’t have been able to move until Tyrrik healed.” I glanced at the Drae. “Oh, he’s lost consciousness again.” My heart flipped. Again. I was diseased; that had to be the reason.

I turned to check him, but Prince Kamoi caught my hand and pulled me back. “What happened?”

His skin was warm on mine, and a pleasant current passed between us. I flashed him a small smile, which faded as I came back to my senses. I withdrew my hand and gave the group a quick recount, noticing the other Phaetyn’s deference to Kamoi.

Kamoi spotted my divided attention and swept an arm toward the other Phaetyn. As I looked closer, I could distinguish there were two females and a male. All three were beautiful, but the men were masculine and muscular with broad shoulders, and the female had definite feminine curves. “Tamah, Makoa, and Akani are part of the guard on the southern side of the forest.” He faced the other Phaetyn, drawing me forward. “This is Ryn,” he announced. “She is one of us.”

The violet eyes of the tallest female Phaetyn widened. “Where have you been? How is such a thing possible?”

Kamoi looked down at me, his eyes searching my face, shaking his head slightly. “I plan to discuss this with our elders, but her existence is surely a miracle.”

A weary groan sounded behind us, and I extracted myself from the prince’s intense attention and crouched by Tyrrik’s side. “He needs rest and food. He’s been in and out of it this morning.”

Kamoi frowned and walked to the pointed rock tip with the Drae’s black blood still staining the rocks around us. “He landed on this?”

Mistress Moons. That rock tip was ghastly. The last several hours flashed through my mind, and my stomach turned. I rested my hand on Tyrrik’s chest, assuring myself he was alive. “Yes. It took everything I had to heal him.”

Kamoi froze, and the other Phaetyn turned toward me with their mouths agape. After a beat of silence, Kamoi asked, “You healed the Drae of a Phaetyn wound?” When I nodded, he asked, “How?”

I cleared my throat, tucking my silver hair behind my ear. I wasn’t admitting I’d kiss the Drae. “Oh, bit of this, bit of that.”

Dyter quirked his brow, and I knew he’d try to pry the information from me later. Too bad, old man. I took one of Tyrrik’s arms and bent my knees before pulling him up so he was draped over my shoulders. I grinned at the look on my old mentor’s face. “I’m stronger now.”

“Clearly,” he said after a pause. “I can’t wait until we can catch up.”

I wasn’t sure if he was saying he had something to tell me or he just wanted me to tell him, so I shrugged, adjusting Tyrrik’s weight.

Kamoi neared, his handsome face marred by an apologetic frown. “I’m afraid the Drae will not be able to enter the forest. Zivost is protected against our natural enemy.”

Dyter’s face turned stony, and he said, “You never made mention of that before.”

“The Drae knew it,” the prince replied with a shrug. “There is nothing of light within him, so he’ll not be able to pass through the barrier. You and Ryn will only be able to cross because you possess something of life within you. Though I’d still like to test Ryn before she enters the forest. I don’t know what problems her Drae nature may create.”

Tyrrik groaned again, his head dangling over my left shoulder, and I just stood dumbstruck. He’d known Drae couldn’t enter the forest? That he’d have to stay outside when we got here? Why did he bring me?

“We can’t leave him while he’s injured,” Dyter said, interrupting my thoughts. “We’ll have to stay out here until he’s able to protect himself.”

“I won’t leave him out here,” I said. “The emperor has been patrolling the skies.”

Kamoi’s brow wrinkled. “I see. Then I propose this. Dyter, if you and two of my guards wish to remain here with Tyrrik, Akani and I can escort Ryn into the heart of Zivost. Your party can join us in a few days.”

Dyter began to nod, but I interrupted. “Nope. I’ll be staying with Tyrrik until he’s healed. He needs another Drae here to help make this nectar stuff.” I shook my head at their inquiring glances. “I can’t leave him. Either Dyter, Tyrrik, and I all come in, or we all stay out.”

There was no way I’d enter that forest without Dyter and Tyrrik around. As much as Kamoi was hotness incarnate, Mum would’ve skinned me alive to hear I’d gone off with some boy alone.

After a few more attempts to convince me, the prince sighed. “I’m warning you, an attempt to take him in will likely hurt him further, but if you insist.”

We crossed through the thick rocky barrier that had nearly killed Tyrrik, and I wondered how easily the rock pikes could slide back up through the soil to impale us. I was fairly certain I wouldn’t be hurt, but I’d already witnessed the damage the pikes could do to Tyrrik. I never wanted to see anything like that ever again.

Once we crossed the barrier and neared the forest, Dyter helped me lower Tyrrik to the ground.

Kamoi pointed to the closest tree. “Rest your hand here.”

“Will it hurt?” I asked. I’d become well enough acquainted with pain to want to know if more was coming.

He deliberated. “You’ll know as soon as you touch it.”

Awesome. I edged to the tree and steadied myself. I could do this. If it hurt, I’d just break contact. I was in control. I’d be fine-a-roo. Swallowing my fear, I slapped a hand on the tree.

Nothing happened to begin with, but after a moment, a delicious cooling sensation swept up my arm to the crown of my head and down to where my booted feet were planted on the ground. I shivered, eyeing the Phaetyn’s bare feet. No wonder they didn’t wear shoes when the forest felt like this, like the trees were alive. A welcoming joy radiated through me, and I grinned at Dyter as I dropped my hand to my side.

Dyter gave me a one-sided grimace, the odd look that meant someone was short a few acorns.

I wrinkled my nose in response and tipped my head toward the tree. Obviously, he didn’t feel the emotion. The happiness of the forest tickled my skin, whispering secrets into my ear. Just from one touch. I wanted to sit down and hug the tree and let it share its wisdom with me.

Dyter cleared his throat, tilting his head at Tyrrik.

“Al’right, now for Tyrrik,” I said, still in a bit of a daze.

Dyter helped me maneuver the Drae, not that I wasn’t strong enough, but bodies were awkward to carry. Even with his missing arm, Dyter helped pull Tyrrik so his body was flopped over my shoulder.

Kamoi gestured to the tree in invitation, teeth gleaming in a smile that reminded me the Phaetyn and Drae were not friends.

Dyter followed as I lugged the Drae to the edge of the forest. With a deep breath but no other ceremony, I took him inside the tree line.

Nothing happened, and gasps rose behind us.

“It works?” I asked with a smile as I grasped our triumph. I wondered if the trees would help him feel better too. “Let’s try the tree.”

I turned and then let Tyrrik slide to the ground. As soon as I stepped away, he contorted violently, frothing at the mouth as he seized.

I fell to my knees and made to roll him out of the trees, but as soon as my hands touched Tyrrik, his agonized movements halted. What the hay?

“Your touch is enough to grant him entry,” Kamoi said in awe.

When I looked up at the Phaetyn, I could see in the furrow on his brow . . . he wasn’t happy about that revelation. Seeing as Drae were Phaetyn’s natural enemies, I couldn’t blame him.

I stared at my hand on Tyrrik’s chest. “How does that work?”

The prince stared down at my hand, too, eyes flickering. “I imagine it has something to do with your Phaetyn lineage.”

Had Kamoi suspected I could do this? Confusion tangled my mind and thoughts. Was there more he wasn’t telling me, or had my time in the prison made me suspect everyone of deceit?

Dyter crouched, the ropey scar on his cheek pulling as he squinted at Tyrrik. “He can enter the forest, Rynnie, but it’s not practical for you to have your hand on him the entire time. We might be here for several weeks.”

“Several weeks, at least,” Kamoi quickly agreed. His violet gaze settled on me and then drifted to my mouth.

I couldn’t make sense of the Phaetyn prince, so I turned to the only person I knew I could trust. “I can’t leave him out here, Dyter. He saved my life; I can’t leave him until I know he’s better.”

One of the Phaetyn coughed, and I looked up in time to catch Kamoi making a sharp gesture in her direction.

“What is it?” I asked, gaze narrowing as my frustration mounted.

The female Phaetyn bowed her head to Kamoi and made no answer.

I was done. The last two days had exhausted my quota of turd shoveling. I didn’t care how much we needed the Phaetyn later; right now Tyrrik needed me. And, though the Drae was a twat, like full on turd-twat, I wasn’t abandoning him. I was sick of repeating myself, sick of deciphering hidden meanings, and sick of trying to guess who I could trust.

I scooped under Tyrrik’s arms and pulled him out of the woods. Once he was safe, I stood and, with my hands on my hips, squared off with the Phaetyn. “Is there something I should know, Kamoi? Because even my Phaetyn side is sick of games.”

His violet eyes flared, and his jaw clenched before he broke off the contact. “If you can get the Drae to our city, Kanahele o keola, he’ll be okay.”

“Wh—?” I stumbled over the Phaetyn city name before dismissing it in favor of Phaetynville. But I needed to understand what this power was, and how it was affecting Tyrrik. I wasn’t getting him in there just to have him froth up again. “Why will he be okay in . . . your city? What’s so special there?”

Kamoi’s expression closed down, his lips pursed, and his nostrils flared.

Dyter touched my elbow, saying in a low voice that everyone could still hear, “I don’t believe Prince Kamoi wishes the workings of Zivost Forest to be known to an outsider.”

Dyter pointed at himself and tilted his head to Tyrrik. Dyter pushed to his feet, his single hand on his knee. He crossed over to the Phaetyn and said, “Prince Kamoi, I believe Lord Tyrrik will prove a great ally in the months to come.”

Dyter was being way more diplomatic than I would be, but his words reminded me of the other reason for our visit here. Alliances were important, immensely so, if my friends were going to be successful against Emperor Draedyn. I took a deep breath and waited for Kamoi to say something.

“If he causes any trouble, no matter how minor, he will be escorted out of the forest and left.” Kamoi frowned first at Dyter and then at me, though the prince didn’t meet my eyes. “We’ll leave him, no matter how strong he is.”

The silence that fell between us was rife with tension. My heart pounded, and my instinct was to give the Phaetyn another piece of my mind. But I watched Dyter nod and followed suit.

The prince entered the forest before us while Dyter and I trailed after with Tyrrik in tow.

The trunks of the trees in Zivost Forest were thick, brown, and spaced several paces apart, with smaller trees between them. There were a few species I recognized—ash, elm, and cedar—and others I’d never seen before. Some with white bark and others more grayish-green. Sunlight streamed through the luscious canopy in glittering beams, creating a spattering of spots over the rooted, leaf-littered ground.

Less than fifty meters into the vibrant trees was a small clearing, and four pristine white horses stood, pawing at the ground. Kamoi approached them and spoke in a hushed voice.

“Is he al’right?” Dyter asked me, pointing at Tyrrik.

I glanced at the Drae and grimaced. “I’m not sure. Lay him down; let’s give him more nectar before we head off.”

I woke up Tyrrik, relieved to see his eyes flutter open. I kept my hands on his chest as Dyter trickled more sweet fluid into the Drae’s mouth.

“What’s happening?” Tyrrik slurred.

“We’re safe,” I replied, watching him swallow the nectar and feeling the steady thump of his heart under my hand. “We’re in the forest now.” His heartbeat calmed my nerves, and I matched my breathing to the rise and fall of his chest.

Tyrrik managed to drag his eyelids open once to look at me before he lost the battle again.

“His strength is depleted,” Kamoi said as he approached. “This occasionally happens to my people, too. He will require much rest.” He touched my shoulder and offered a small smile. “But he’ll be okay.”

My shoulders relaxed, but I wasn’t quite ready to forgive the prince. Still, my mum raised me right, so I gave the Phaetyn a tight smile. “Thank you.”

The Phaetyn stood over me silently until Dyter corked the water skin.

Kamoi said, “I’m sorry I snapped at you, Ryn. I lost my temper, and it was wrong of me to take it out on you. The Phaetyn and Drae have bad blood between them. If you tell me Lord Tyrrik is trustworthy, I believe you. I didn’t mean to slight him.”

I looked up and met his direct gaze and the sincerity shining in his violet eyes.

“And definitely not you,” the prince added with a small smile.