A Forest of Stars (Court of Starlight and Darkness #1)(11)

“The competition will begin in an hour,” Vusario said. “You may see the king while you are in Estonia, but you are not to approach. He is merely observing the competition.”

Vusario took his seat, and my gaze moved to the king, but he wasn’t looking at me.

Good.

I didn’t want to be observed by him anyway. With a bit of luck, I’d be able to make my escape in Estonia. Not that I had a way home once I was there, but if they had Ben & Jerry’s and Netflix, maybe I could set up a new life.

“Get your head in the game,” Meria hissed.

I winced. “You could tell I was daydreaming?”

“You were a thousand miles away, and our asses are about to be transported to Estonia.”

I’d always wanted to travel more, but not like this. “Right, right. I’m paying attention.”

“Good, because if you slip up, the Külmking could get you, and that’s the last thing I want.”

“What the hell is a Külmking anyway?” I whispered, not wanting Evelyn to overhear me.

Meria blew out a breath. “Well, they’re forest protectors, to start.”

“And we’re going to kill one?” I frowned. “Sounds like bad business to me.”

“Yeah, you’d think that. Obviously, protecting the forest is a good thing. We’re fae, after all. And not assholes. But the Külmking is definitely an asshole. Their idea of protecting the forest means killing and eating any travelers who cross their paths, including children.”

I winced.

“Yep.” She nodded. “Most people believe they are the spirits of the dead, but only people who were once evil. No one’s sweet old Nanna turns into a Külmking.”

“Okay, I get it. They’re bad.”

“Exactly. And for fun, they spirit walk through people, controlling their actions. They delight in turning good friends against each other, sowing discord within families, that kind of thing.” Her gaze moved to Evelyn, who was watching us with interest. I could almost see her ears perked forward to catch our conversation.

“Get anything good?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “Just curious what you know about the Külmking.”

“Nothing you’re unfamiliar with.” Meria smiled sweetly, but there was steel behind her words.

“Of course.” Evelyn flicked her hair over her shoulder and turned to her friends.

Meria looked back at me. “I definitely know stuff she doesn’t. No one is better prepared than me.”

For the eighteenth time today, I thanked my lucky stars that she was on my side. Before I could repeat it to her, Vusario stood and spoke, his voice booming out over the crowd. “The competitions are set to begin.”

The next hour passed in a blur. As we were led away from the clearing, my heart began to race. It didn’t slow as we made our way through the forest toward the beach.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“To the portal. It’ll take us to Estonia.”

Freaking Estonia. Yesterday, the most exciting place I’d been was Portland. And now I was going to Estonia to hunt some horrific Northern European fairytale monster that definitely shouldn’t exist, but apparently did.

My life had gone off the rails.

“Do some deep breathing,” Meria murmured.

“Huh?”

“Your lungs are heaving like a dying wildebeest’s.”

“Right.” I was panicking, and I had barely even noticed. It had become my default state.

I did as she commanded and sucked in some deep breaths. It worked, and eventually, my heartbeat stopped pounding inside my ears.

Soon, I could hear the sound of creatures chittering and chirping in the forest. Then I heard the sea before I saw it. We crested the hill, and I spotted the waves below; their gray ferocity felt like an appropriate sendoff.

We climbed down the cliffs in single file. The king hadn’t accompanied us, but plenty of other people had. Hundreds of villagers watched us from the surrounding cliffs. Oddly enough, I noticed Vusario looking at me—at least twice—and no one else.

What was his deal?

Maybe he was just a weirdo.

We gathered on the pebble beach, just feet from the water that crashed against the shore. Most of the spectators stayed on the rocks above us. Looking down and whispering, they seemed particularly interested in Evelyn and Meria. Were they the favorites for the throne?

“Is this how marriages are usually done amongst you fae?” I whispered.

“No. Not even amongst royalty.” She shrugged. “I’m fine with it though. I’d never have a chance to be queen otherwise.”

Vusario cleared his throat and raised his arms to draw our attention. “You will have six hours to complete your task.”

Before I could so much as blink, an invisible force sucked me in and spun me through space. My stomach pitched and a cold sweat broke out over my skin. By the time the magic spat me out onto solid ground, I felt like I was going to puke.

Meria caught me as I stumbled. “Whoa, kid, you okay?”

“Yeah.” I gasped, pressing my hand to my chest to try to calm my racing heart. “Just wasn’t expecting that.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“Really?” I looked up at her, hopeful.