The dirt gives way to a wide bridge of planks and rope that stretches across a black void. The weathered boards bow in the center, as if on the verge of snapping under any bit of weight.

My slipper grazes the stones clinging to the ledge, knocking one free. It tumbles into the abyss, vanishing completely. I listen for the sound of it hitting the bottom, but only silence answers.

“You’ve seen it. We should go back now,” Trevor calls from the cobbles. Ivee and her followers wait next to him, their hands folded as if in prayer.

Ronan snorts. “Why? Are you afraid of the big, bad Unseelie fae?”

“Of course not.”

“Prove it.” Ronan tilts his head toward the bridge. “Cross The Divide.”

“That is madness,” Trevor shoots back. “No one crosses the bridge.”

“Really? I seem to recall the Unseelie crossing every Wednesday.”

“You know what he means,” Nolan mutters.

Trevor’s spine snaps straight. “Being afraid isn’t the same as being weak.”

“No? You sure about that?” Ronan nudges Nolan aside and steps onto the first plank. The wood groans and creaks, warning him to stop there.

Ivee whimpers from behind her hands. “Don’t do this, Ronan. I beg you.” Florence and Aurelia join in her pleading, their faces drained of color.

Perhaps it is my ignorance, but I don’t believe the Unseelie could possibly be as awful as everyone seems to believe.

If they were that lawless, they wouldn’t abide by a mere rule that keeps them from crossing the bridge any other day. If they were that murderous, there wouldn’t be a bridge in the first place.

Ronan takes another backward step. “Come on, Trevor. I’ll go with you. I’ll even hold your hand if you want.”

Trevor twists on his heel and stalks back toward the glow of town.

Nolan’s fists bunch at his sides. “You’ve proven your point, Ronan. You can come back now.”

Ronan keeps stepping back and back, throwing me a wink before turning around and continuing until he’s nothing more than a silhouette, swallowed by darkness

Raking both hands through his hair, Nolan steps onto the bridge. “Ronan!”

There is no answer.

“Ronan! This isn’t fucking funny,” Nolan roars.

Is it just me or…is the bridge beginning to sway in the still air?

Nia’s grip on me tightens. “Look at the bridge.”

A distant howl pierces the silence, lifting the hairs at the nape of my neck.

“The wolves!” Ivee screeches. “They’re back! They’re going to kill my prince, and it’s all your fault, Kerris Dawn!”

She’s right…it is my fault. If I hadn’t asked to see The Divide, none of this would’ve happened⁠—

A shadow slices through the blackness.

Ronan sprints toward us, his face as pale as his shirt, his arms pumping up and down. “Run!”