The Wishing Tree - Book Two [Completed]

To the Rescue - Part 19

Mason crouches down in the rusty dirt and puts his finger in the blood. He licks it thoughtfully and then stands back up. I'm not sure if I should be disgusted or impressed that licking blood is going to give him a clue.

"They're amateurs." He picks up Clara's things, throws the completed pants at me that Clara weaved earlier in the night and comes towards me with a knife.

I back up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?"

His look is tinged with annoyance. "That damn dress is a liability. Clara was right about that at least. Put those pants on and I'll cut the dress to a more reasonable length. It didn't matter when you were unconscious, but now that we might need to start fighting our way out of this realm, I need you to be able to defend yourself." He lifts up my dress and starts cutting it off just above the knees.

"At least Ryan got to see me in it first." I mumble as he hacks away.

I can almost feel his eyes rolling in his verbal response. "This dress is far from your best look, Queenie. You know you're pretty; don't be such a girl about it." He gives one last saw and the bottom of my dress sinks down around my feet.

"You think I'm pretty?" I can't help my delighted grin.

"How is it possible you missed my point there?" He sweeps the remnants of the dress into the hot coals and we both watch as it catches fire.

I pull the pants up under what's left of my dress, marveling at their comfort. He looks over at me and nods in approval.

"Better," he says.

He stands at the fire for a moment, arms crossed, watching the flames. I wonder why we aren't moving but decide to remain quiet for once.

Finally, he speaks again, "This is most likely a trap; I just don't know how good the trap will be."

"I thought you said they were amateurs."

He gives me a wolfish smile and for a moment, I understand why others might be a little afraid of him. There's definitely something predatory under the surface, a leashed wildness. "They are. If they were any good they'd know that you always use the blood of one of your victims; the more, the better."

I'm taken aback at his bluntness. "Why? Why would you want them to think you might have killed one of them?"

His smile is wistful. "It's the panic, Queenie. Panic makes people do dumb things – very few people can harness their emotions when faced with the death of a loved one. It's easier to ambush a panicked, emotional mess than a cold, calculating adversary." He raises his eyebrows at me; I must look appalled. "I've been around the block a few times on this realm. Ruthless is almost always my philosophy. Ryan gave me explicit instructions not to corrupt you, so I've been trying to be better: less magic, less muscle, less fun." He shakes his head. "It's annoying to take the high road."

I laugh and shove his shoulder. "Thank you." I look up, seeing his green eyes dancing in the firelight. "Thank you."

His gaze holds mine for a beat too long and I feel my laughter fade. The fire pops and ashes fly around us like exploding fireworks. He reaches over and brushes them off the top of my head with a gentle caress.

"We should get going," he whispers, almost as though he's speaking to himself. He shifts onto his back foot, putting some space between us, jostles Clara's bow and arrow on his back, which look too tiny for him and walks away from the fire.

Reluctantly, I follow.

####

Lightness is just starting to seep through the grayness of the sky. I can't exactly call it sunlight, but it's what passes for it on this realm. No one ever needed to worry about getting a sunburn here. Mason and I are perched high up in a tree that is on the outskirts of what we think is the kidnappers' basecamp. Mason tracked them with ease, but he still isn't sure if this is strategy or carelessness on their part. People are beginning to stir below and Mason holds up his hand to me to keep quiet. Sometimes, I'm sure he thinks I'm dumb. I glare at him and he just grins.