“No. I’m going alone. I just wanted to say goodbye in case …” Reaching out, he held a hand to her face and looked into her eyes. “Rowan,” was all he said, but there was such tenderness in the word, that even amidst all the pain and fear in her heart, something fluttered to life. And his hand warm on her cheek, he gazed into her eyes. “Rowan,” he said. “I want you to know … I never hated you. I … I think you’re wonderful.”
She looked up at him, and he stared down at her with a new sort of intensity, one with a soft edge that both confused and thrilled her.
Warmth rushed through her as he said the words, and all at once everything became very clear. “I’m going with you,” she said.
“No. Rowan, please stay here.”
“I’m coming,” she said firmly. “I’ll do whatever it takes to save Tom.”
“Because you love him?” he asked, his voice trembling.
Rowan looked into his eyes and realized that for him the weight of the world rested on her answer.
“No,” she said, excited and frightened all at once. “Because he’s my friend.”
Standing there in the snow with Jude, she felt deliciously free, and suddenly she knew what to do. Her mind flashed back to her dream—to the golden snake that cut into her mother’s flesh, and to the blade that freed her from it. Smiling at Jude, wildly giddy, she reached into her boot and retrieved her dagger.
He raised his eyebrows at her, confused. And then in one fluid movement, she slipped the blade between her flesh and the red twine, and she sliced.
Just like that, she was free.
Jude took a step away from her, shocked, staring at the severed twine that lay mangled in the snow. Rowan reached down to retrieve it, and smiling at Jude, feeling wonderfully alive, she hurled it as far out into the night as she possibly could.
And then he stepped toward her, and his deep brown eyes flashing, he reached for her, her body swaying to curve against his.
“Jude,” she whispered.
Pulling her to him, he kissed her, and a wave of emotion swept through her. She yielded to him, her body flush against his, her breath coming more quickly, her legs beginning to shake, and then she stepped away, overwhelmed.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a really long time,” he said, confusion in his eyes. “I’m sorry if I …”
Rowan shook her head, slowly returning to her senses. “Don’t be,” she said, and then taking his face in her hands, she kissed him deeply, a different kind of kiss, a hungry kiss, and he leaned into her, matching her passion, and it seemed to Rowan that the world spun wildly around her. And then he was lifting her up, her hungry fingers holding fast to his shoulders.
And then, dizzy, she leaned her head back, and he set her down. They stared at each other, stunned.
“Right,” Jude said, still shocked but grinning now. “Where does your father keep his weapons?”
18. THE TOWER
IN THE STUDY, Henry Rose handed them each a rifle and took a third for himself. Rowan tucked her dagger into her stocking and looked over at Merrilee, who sat huddled up in the window seat, knees to her chest.
“Don’t be frightened,” Rowan said, walking over to the little girl.
Merrilee wrapped her arms around her legs. “I don’t want you to die,” she said.
Rowan exhaled. “I’m not going to die. No one is going to die.”
“Can you promise me?” the girl asked, a tremor to her voice.
Rowan sighed. “That’s not really something you can promise. But I give you my word that I’ll do my best to make sure everyone returns safely.”
“Especially your father?” Merrilee asked, looking at Henry Rose with love.
The gesture stirred Rowan’s heart, and she was overcome with sympathy for the little orphan. “Especially my father,” she said. “Now listen to me. I want you to go up to your room and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone, do you understand?”
“Not even for the duke?” asked Merrilee, her voice quavering.
“Definitely not for the duke,” Rowan answered firmly.
Merrilee nodded, and after hopping down from the window seat, she shyly kissed Rowan on the cheek, then hurried out of the room and up the stairs.
Then, together, Rowan, her father, and Jude headed out into the woods. Night was already upon them, but a fat moon hung in the sky, illuminating their way. Rowan could feel the fear growing inside her as they passed through the village boundary and crossed into the woods. The forest was a different place at night. She knew that now. Devils stalked between the trees, and somewhere out there, a Greywitch walked among them.
As they approached Cairn Hill, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, followed. She looked to Jude, but his countenance gave nothing away.
As if sensing her trepidation, her father turned to her. “Steady now, Rowan. We’re nearly there.”
But the words did little to assuage her fear. The moon cast strange shadows, making monsters of the trees, and as they trudged through the snow and up the steep slope to Cairn Hill, Rowan had a feeling that something very bad was about to happen.
When they reached the top of the hill and entered the Mouth of the Goddess, Rowan’s eyes swept the burial ground for signs of movement, but there was only stillness.
They approached with their weapons raised, and Jude, spotting something, hurried to the ceremonial altar at the far end of the sacred place.
“They’ve left the cinnamon offering,” he called. “They’ve already come and gone.”
Rowan looked to her father, desperate for a plan.
“We’d better head back down,” he said. “Maybe we can still catch them.”
Rowan paused, a strange feeling upon her, and she looked out past the trees toward Lover’s Leap and Seelie Lake. “Let’s go that way.”
“But there’s nothing out there,” her father insisted. “Only the drop-off.”
“I think … I think I can feel her,” Rowan said, surprised by her own words. But it was true. She’d felt it every time she’d seen Fiona. There was that energy between them, a link.
Heeding Rowan’s instincts, the three traveled a short way through a sparse wood and out toward the edge of the cliff, toward Lover’s Leap. Rowan spotted Tom and Fiona before they saw her, and her heart flooded with relief.
They sat in the snow, his head in her lap. He looked unwell—pale, nearly green—but Fiona stroked his hair and gazed at him with such love—like a child admiring her favorite doll. The sight shook Rowan, but there was something else, something she couldn’t put her finger on. Something was making her feel especially uneasy.
“Raise your weapons,” her father said, and he stepped out into the clearing. Jude and Rowan followed.
Sensing them, Fiona looked up, but Tom didn’t notice. He continued staring up at her, while Fiona only gave them a pleasant smile.
“Not the farewell I’d hoped for,” she said, still smiling, but narrowing her eyes.
Tom, startled, scrambled to his feet and stepped in front of Fiona as if to shield her. “What are you doing?” he yelled, horrified. “Put your weapons away.”
“Tom, please listen to me,” Jude said. “You need to come home. You’re in danger.”
Tom glared at his brother. “Get out of here, Jude. Leave us alone.”
Rowan’s father cleared his throat. “Tom, you know we can’t do that. Your brother’s right. Your place is with your family.”
“You’re sick,” Jude said. “She’s made you sick.”
Tom flushed crimson. “She’s done no such thing. I’m fine.”