Exhaling, I turned to head inside. They were really going to ride those giant horses through the forest? It looked thick in there, the trees big and heavy, although I couldn’t see far in thanks to the shadows that sucked up all the light.
I stopped dead in the centre of the living room, a sudden realisation making my breath catch.
If the Carlin was in the forest… would the hold she had keeping me on this land be broken? What if it bound me toher, not unseelie land, which meant I could go where she went?
I walked unsteadily back outside and to the rear of the cottage, staring into the forest. I could still remember the blinding pain of being thrown back past the treeline, but that wasn’t what made me hesitate.
Lonan’s face flashed in my mind. What if this worked and I could leave? Would I? Could I leave him? Walk off into the forest while I had my chance and never see him again?
My gut clenched miserably at the thought. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. But I knew I had to try. I knew I’d always wonder if I didn’t. I’d hate myself for ignoring this potential opportunity to escape, just because I was growing infatuated with the unseelie assassin prince.
Taking a deep breath, I walked to the treeline and into the forest, everything becoming muffled to my ears. Tingles started spreading over my skin, and for a split second I thought it had worked. Then the pain exploded over every inch of my body, and I was flung back onto the grass.
I didn’t know quite what to make of my emotions as I stood up with a groan on shaky legs and limped back to the cottage.