Braxton’s words had me looking closer at the greenery around us. I knew this place felt strange, like old magic, but until I really looked I hadn’t noticed how odd the plants were. First, the colors were off. Not only were the leaves a bright, fake green, the trunks and branches were too. Plus the trees were massive, trunks as wide as a building and towering into the air. This forest was ancient. I also noticed that on top of the poison pink flowers, there were other strange blooms, yellow, looking like mini suns with petals like beams of light, and … they were warm. I could feel heat emitting from them.

This sort of weirdness continued as we pushed further through. Braxton stayed in front of me, making sure to clear the path the best he could. The terrain was rugged and I knew without him I’d still be back in the original clearing. I had no idea what the dragon man was using as a guide, but he seemed to be following a line only he could see.

We didn’t talk a lot, attempting to stay below the radar as much as possible. I was mainly trying to figure out where the hell we were. I studied our surroundings, searching for just one defining characteristic. I’d never been out of Stratford before, but I’d paid attention to at least seventy percent of school, and I knew of lots of places in the world. Especially if they were connected to supernaturals.

There was nothing recognizable here. I tilted my head back as far as my neck would reach, scanning hard for a sliver of sky or cloud. I could only see green. Which made no sense, the canopy was thick, but not so thick that I shouldn’t be able to spot blue patches.

It took Braxton a few moments to realize I’d stopped following him. In a flash he was back at my side. “What did you see?”

He followed my line of sight into the canopy.

I rubbed a hand over my eyes; they felt tired and gritty. “Why can I not see sky?” I worked hard to keep my voice low. “It’s not dark, there are gaps in the trees, but all I see is green.”

I looked up again, just in case I’d missed something.

Braxton cleared his throat, a sound I was familiar with. My chin dropped so fast I swear I jarred my neck. “What? … Brax, what do you know?”

While his expression didn’t reflect any unease, I could tell he was worried. “I’m pretty sure you are seeing sky.”

I shook my head, trying to understand what the underlying meaning to those words were. I slowly raised my face again. “Are you telling me the sky is green? That’s why I keep thinking it’s the canopy?”