“I was using my magic today in the woods behind the house. Now there are strange men outside. I don’t know how they tracked me, or if they’re even here for me, but they are here. I don’t want to take the chance that it’s me they’re searching for. Maybe it’s a good idea for you guys to stay at the inn. Just for a few days.”Mum opens her mouth to protest.
“Please, Mum. I need you to listen to me. If anything happened to any of you, it would kill me.”
She clenches her jaw, but nods in agreement.
Wyatt whispers, “Alright, folks, you heard the royal decree.”
I fling a cushion at him, narrowing my eyes.
Mum and Elana pack a bag to leave—with a lot of persuasion. Myles stands by the window, pushing the curtain to one side, inspecting the men outside. He beckons Wyatt over, whisperingto him. I crawl to the window and glance outside. The two men hang around outside the cottage, examining the area, continually checking the glowing object.
Under the cover of darkness, Wyatt sneaks through the back of the house and slips around the side, darting behind trees and bushes before leaping over the wall and off into the night.
Whispering to Myles, I ask, “Where’s he going?”
“To create a diversion.” My eyebrows raise.Misneach, did Myles just give Wyatt free rein on this? “He’ll give us a signal when we’re clear.”
I peer out through the window, watching the men as they scour the woods entrance. My eyes dart between the men and Wyatt, as his head pokes up beyond the wall, watching them.
While they face away from him, he speeds over the bridge into Vendyl. Whatever he is doing seems to be working, so far anyway. My heart races, worrying about him.
“What is Wyatt doing?” Mum asks as she walks back into the room, thumping her bag on the floor.
“Quiet,” I snap at her. Even in the dark, I can feel that glare on me. “Please,” I add. “Wyatt went out to… redirect the men so we can leave.”
I watch with bated breath, as Wyatt stumbles and weaves back down to the bridge.
“He looks drunk.” Myles’ smile widens. “Oh, that's the plan, is it? Yours or his? Never mind, I already know the answer.”
Everything about this plan screams Wyatt.
I laugh under my breath, rolling my eyes as Wyatt trips over his own two feet, spilling whatever is in his bottle over himself. At least he’ll smell the part.
The men spin around, disturbed by Wyatt singing very loudly and very badly down the road. I gesture to Mum and Elana, telling them to get ready. Once Wyatt signals to us, we can slip out the cottage.
Wyatt stumbles over to the two disgusted-looking men, swaying close to their faces. They try to pull away, but Wyatt keeps a grip on their shoulders. The men mouth something at Wyatt, waving their arms at him, shooing him away. One pushes Wyatt onto the ground. He lies there, throwing his hands in the air as he shouts something back, tossing liquid everywhere.
They retreat into the woods, and Wyatt follows them, shouting and waving around his bottle. Once they get far enough away, he stops and turns his head to the cottage, chugging the bottle and strutting towards the window, giving a deep bow.
My shoulders relax, and my hand flies to my head in astonishment, laughing at the absolute fool.
Mum comes out of the cottage reluctantly, with Elana stumbling after her, groggy and grumpy from a long night. Mum nods to Myles, then to me. I give a half smile in return.This raw wound prevents me from forgiving her, but I don’t want to stay angry.
Myles takes Mum’s bag, and we head towards the town.Elana hangs on my arm, resting her head on my shoulder while Wyatt takes her other arm, bearing most of her weight.
“You are stinking,” I say under my breath. Wyatt laughs, hearing me.
I’m pretty sure Elana is sleeping as she walks beside us, dragging her feet along the streets—and they say I’m the princess. Myles and Mum walk a little behind us, engaged in conversation, not that I can make out words, but I am curious about the interest Mum has taken in him.
Shaking Elana awake as we near the inn, Mum takes her by the arm and walks through the door. Myles and I follow them in, making sure they have a room for tonight at least.
The inn in Vendyl is not elegant to say the least, the tables and chairs are old and rickety, the floorboards sticky with a variety of drinks, squeak with each step, but at least they will be safe here.Wyatt helps Elana upstairs as the innkeeper hands over a key. Mum turns, realising I am not following her.
Answering her unspoken question, I say, “I’m going to stay with Myles.” Mum narrows her eyes at me but nods her head and heads up the stairs behind Elana.
Myles comes up beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He whispers in my ear, “Let’s go home.”
Home, that has a nice ring to it.