Fuck’s sake?

The air ripples. I sense humor. Somebody’s messing with me.

“Right. That’s it,” I yell. “You can pack that in.” I haven’t got a clue who I’m speaking to, but I know someone—something—hears me.

The forest stills, seeming to shrink from my anger. Birdsong ceases. Even the leaves stop moving. I get the impression of a slapped puppy.

“Yeah, that’s right. I know what you’re up to.” I wag a finger at the trees.

Movement flits at the edge of my vision, a sparkle in the twilight, a fleeting splash of blue against the shadows. It disappears the moment I look. I speak in that direction.

“I need to get back to Blackriver. They’re in trouble. I’m going to run again, and I better not come back to that bloody log. All right?” Silence. Nothing moves. All I can hear is my breath. I nod and keep my finger wagging. “Right. I’m gonna take that as agreement.”

That’s it, Blakeley. You’ve finally cracked up, man.

I set off again. Leap over the log.

And my foot hits dark gravel instead of forest floor.

I slip across the change of ground and land with a thump onto my back, elbows burning as they scrape stone. When I raise my head to check out what’s going on, I’m lying on a long straight road stretching away in both directions. The gate I saw Flanagan run through stands open only yards from me.

Well, knock me down with a flippin’ fairy. That got me here a lot faster than I could have run it.

I jump to my feet and whack dust from my trousers. “Right. Yeah. That’s—that’s better,” I shout, thinking I ought to keep the strict teacher tone till I’m out of the gate.

The leaves rustle. The birds sing again. A puff of wind tussles my hair. This time I get the impression of a puppy wagging its tail, wanting to play. I see how a man could lose his mind in this place.

Were those fairies I just met? That can’t be the Fae? Alexei would look a lot different if those little colored lights were his relatives. What do the Fae even look like? I have no idea. I’ve got to admit I’m kinda curious, though.

I jog down the road to the gateway, eyeing the trees on either side with suspicion. I’m not confident of escape until I pass the towering gate stones carved into the likeness of ravens with human legs.