Allie POV
A familiar smell tickled my nose, and I jerked to attention. Smoke. Fire. I stood and followed my nose. The smell was coming from further up the mountain, and I could just spot the top of a chimney. Someone lived here!
With a burst of adrenaline surging through me, I ushered Josh into a standing position and forged on. I burst into tears as a small hut appeared, hidden deep within the trees. Without the fire, it would have almost blended into the scenery.
I left Josh sitting against a large boulder and eyed the bear that had followed us the entire way. It hung back, not daring to come near us, and I just hoped it would stay that way.
I ran and knocked several times on the door, praying to the Moon Goddess that someone friendly was home. I breathed a s
Allie POV Josh remained unconscious all night and most of the following day. He roused periodically without fully waking, moaning and drenched in sweat. Samson made him a broth with a few ingredients he said would help get the poison out of his body quicker, but getting it into Josh had been difficult when he barely woke. We’d ended up slowly dribbling it into his mouth and hoping that he wouldn’t choke. During the night, Samson had let me rest and kept watch over Josh. I was utterly exhausted. The physical trek, combined with the emotional energy I’d spent, plus my own brush with the boggart’s poison, was a lot to handle. In the morning, I had discussed the Ivory Queen's request with Samson, but he wanted nothing to do with it. He was being more than hos
Josh POV The wind and rain had calmed a little, but the downpour was just enough to keep the access paths flooded. Samson was still acting like he wasn’t happy we were there, but in truth, I think he was grateful for the company. Allie bugged him with a million questions about elves and the forest and the other fae, but despite his grumbling, I could tell he enjoyed answering her. She’d surprised me when she said she wanted to train. I guess our conversation the other day had set some thoughts in motion. She was already awake and had eaten breakfast with Samson before I rolled out of bed. The sheets didn’t smell like her, so she must have spent another night on the bench seat near the window. Samson was kind
Josh POV “It’s a good thing that you and Josh found each other,” said Samson, stroking his white beard. “You have a friend now. Two, actually, if you’d like to include me. And between him and I, you now know about werewolf and fae politics, and you’ve learnt to fight. When you get home, my dear, you will not be the same person you were when you left. I think it’s time you made your own choices.” I nodded my head in full agreement with Samson. She needed to take her life back and start actually living it. Allie’s eyes looked glassy and she swallowed audibly. I held out my hand and gave hers a squeeze as she tried to control her emotions. “Thank you,” she whispered, glancing at Samson and then me. “I’m happy to count you both as friends.” “You have Olive too,” I added,
Allie POV The walls of the hut shook as I slammed the door, and all I could hope for was that Josh wouldn’t follow. I needed space. My hands were trembling, but I wasn’t sure if it was because of the anger at being used as a toy, the embarrassment of him knowing what my body was doing, or the shock that I’d actually enjoyed his touch. He knew exactly what he was doing when he touched me, and he still did it anyway. I didn’t know why I had even thought for a second that he cared about me. He was just my guard, and he was only here because he felt obligated. He probably figured he may as well have some fun seeing as he was stuck with me. Was he even saving himself for his mate, or was that just another card to play so he didn’t sound like such a jerk? I’d felt him pressed up against me, he was just as turned on as
Allie POV The ground was soggy and a little slippery in places, but going down was a whole lot easier than going up had been. My body felt different. My training with Josh had me feeling fitter and stronger, and even though I still had a long way to go before I was at a level I should be, I marvelled at how noticeable the difference already was. I felt lighter on my feet, and I wasn’t tiring as quickly. It surprised me to find that I was actually enjoying the hike and getting to move my body so freely. Things remained quiet with Josh. He tried several times to initiate conversation and apologise, but I shut him down each time. I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted to walk and enjoy the scenery, and hope that we made it back before nightfall.
Allie POV The sound of birds chirping at an obnoxiously loud level woke me from one of the deepest sleeps I’d had since entering the forest. My bladder was screaming at me and I realised there was a heavy weight across my abdomen. By the looks of it, I must have cried myself to sleep in Josh’s arms. Just add it to the tally of my embarrassment. He had rolled onto his stomach and was facing the opposite way, but one arm still draped across me, holding me tightly against his side. I didn’t want to move him, but peeing my pants while lying next to him would propel me from embarrassed to utterly mortified. I lifted his arm and wriggled out, then let out a groan when I remembered we were up in Aspen’s tree. I was going to have to call out to Aspen and wake Josh up anyway.
Allie POV We walked with a renewed spring in our step and optimism shining, but after several hours, the usual Josh and Allie arguments surfaced again. “But we can follow this path and see where it goes. We don’t need to leave and enter the thick woods if we don’t have to,” argued Josh. “The path veers west. How long do you want to follow it? We could get lost even more. No, we take the most direct route south to the border, even if it means going over rougher terrain.” “Allie, the Ivory Court said they’d spotted the Obsidian King heading south. I know that was over a week ago, but I think we should stop and reassess this plan a bit more. You’re always accusing me of jumping into things. I thought your plan was good to begin with, but now I’ve thought about it more,
Allie POV Up ahead was a ring of large stones in a tiny clearing. I walked over and took a seat on one of the lower rocks while I caught my breath. Moss covered most of the stones, and a gap in the tree canopy overhead cast rays of green sunlight into the centre of the circle. It was stunning, but I made sure to avoid touching the standing stones. The entire scene looked like something from a movie; knowing my luck, I’d end up time travelling or something if I dared touch them. My lungs were on fire, my left arm throbbed, my right shoulder was even more painful, my head was pounding, and my heart just… ached. Josh. Annoying, impulsive, chaotic, wonderful Josh. I’d never thought he would deliberately hur