A Forest of Stars (Court of Starlight and Darkness #1)(7)

Twin beds sat against the walls on either side of the window, with a small table next to each. Two dressers and chairs filled the rest of the space, with a colorful rug on the floor. It was simply decorated, but everything was made of such beautiful wood that it was the nicest place I’d ever stayed.

Rustling fabric sounded from the left bed, and I realized that there was a small lump beneath them.

“Be quiet, or I’ll gut you like a fish.” The sleepy voice was half growl, and I winced.

Okay, dream roommate was a bitch.

“Sure thing,” I whispered, heading toward the bed.

All I needed to do was go to sleep, and this would all be over. I’d had plenty of nights in foster care where I’d ended up in a bedroom with another kid I didn’t know. I could handle this.





3





Sia



* * *



When the soft morning glow hit my eyelids, I pulled the covers over my head. I didn’t know what time it, was but it was definitely way too early to wake up.

Blessed darkness fell as the blanket covered my head, and I sighed. That was better.

“Get up, it’s time to go.” A voice broke through my happy slumber, then something heavy landed on my stomach.

“Oof.” The air rushed out of me, and I sat up, clutching at whatever had hit me.

My boots.

The blanket fell away from my head, and I saw the back of a blond woman disappear through the door. It slammed shut behind her, and I blinked.

Holy hell, I wasn’t in my own bed. Not even in my own house.

No, no, no.

Last night hadn’t been a dream. There’s no way this was real. No way.

Frantic, I scrambled out of bed and went to the window. The large pane of glass overlooked the sparkling ocean. Cold washed over me.

I’d really been abducted. Even crazier, I’d traveled through space—or something—to get here.

I needed answers.

Right now, the only one who might have them was the mean roommate who’d threatened to gut me and then thrown my boots on me.

But she was better than the king or that guard from last night.

I hoped.

Fortunately, I’d worn my clothes to bed, so all I had to do was yank on my boots. Dressed, I ran from the cottage. The cool morning air was slightly foggy, lending the forest of huge trees an even more romantic feel. I sprinted down the path away from my cottage, passing other little buildings that were identical in shape if not in color.

I had no idea where I was going, but panic drove me forward. I had to find the girl who’d been in my cottage. She was a bitch, but I usually liked bitches. We had something in common.

Anyway, we were in the same situation, which meant she’d have valuable info.

Finally, I spotted her. The long golden braid was the only thing I recognized, but it was so shiny and beautiful that only one person could have hair like that. She wore a dark blue leather vest and a pale blue shirt with billowy soft sleeves. Navy leather pants completed the look, along with tall boots that reached her knees. I was pretty sure that there was a dagger strapped to her calf.

Holy shit, this girl was loaded for bear.

I ignored the weapon and matched her pace as I reached her. “Hey, slow down.”

She shot me a sidelong glance. “I’m not going to be late just because you are.”

“I’m not late.” Maybe. Actually, I didn’t care. I just wanted info. “What the hell is going on here?”

That made her slow. She looked at me, her round face pretty and her dark eyes bright. “What do you mean, what is going on?”

“Like, what’s going on? Where are we? Why are you dressed like a sexy fairytale hunter, and why are your ears pointed?”

“Um…” She looked left and right. “Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

“No, actually. I don’t want to be here at all, but a giant man in a black cape yanked me out of a bar and shoved me in the cottage with you.”

“So you didn’t come willingly.”

“No, did you?”

“Yeah. ‘Course.”

My heart began to race. This was all too real. There was no way this was a dream. Any lingering hope that I’d had disappeared, and my breath began to heave. I gasped, trying to get enough breath into my lungs.

“Holy hell, holy hell, holy hell.” Soon, I was too breathless to repeat the mantra. In fact, I was pretty sure I was about to run out of air entirely.

“Whoa there, champ.” The girl gripped my bicep and pulled me toward a large boulder, maneuvering me until I was sitting. “Stick your head between your knees and breathe slowly.”

I did as she commanded, my breathing finally returning to normal. The lights that had started dancing in front of my eyes faded, and I could see again.

I straightened and looked at her, feeling like I’d been hit by a bus. “What the hell is going on?”

She sighed and dropped her head back. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this.”

“This?”

She looked down at me. “You. I can’t believe you. We’ve both got the chance of a lifetime—one that could kill us, I might add—and you have no idea what’s going on.”

“So tell me.”

“I will, but only because you’re so pathetic.” She looked me up and down. “And also because I like your outfit. You look like a stripper, and I respect it. You clearly do what you want.”