Much like the way time was frozen in the land of the Dark Courts—Vinmire as Ronan referred to it, the days that Ronan and I traveled through the twisted, humid forests, seemed to pass...strangely. Some days, especially after our incident with the sluagh, felt like they dragged on. Others, like today, felt like they passed by in a flash. I could feel strength returning to me, and Ronan held an easier stride. For the last week, we had been walking, letting Nea take it easy.

Ronan grunted, breaking our long silence. "We are nearing the Sand Sea." He inhaled deeply, a relieved smile on his face. "I cannot wait. I tire of this constant darkness."

I looked ahead, but there didn't appear to be any end in sight. I gazed back at the trees. Over the days, as my health had returned, so had the growing guilt inside me. The more used to Faerie I found myself getting, the further I felt my family and my former life drifting away from me.

Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like if I never went home.

I pushed the idea away. Ronan's easy smile and those unexpected gentle moments we shared lingered in my thoughts. But that didn't change that this was wrong.

I might be walking on my two feet, but I was still trapped.

"We are getting closer to your home," I stated. Every time I thought of it, my panic only grew. Reaching Firya felt like failing. Like if I made it all the way there, I might never leave Faerie.

Ronan smiled, glancing at me for a moment. Perhaps he noticed my stiffness on the topic. "Yes. You will like it there."

I wanted to scream at him. I had made it clear what I wanted, but he continued to ignore it. Maybe if I truly hated him, his disregard wouldn't have bothered me as much.

"I would like it if I was home. My real home."

Ronan didn't reply, and we lapsed back into silence.

The day stretched, the passing time only marked by when Ronan stopped us to rest. He had become more cautious with the amount of breaks we took. Only now, I felt myself needing them less. Any delay on our progress I accepted willingly. It gave me more time to...

What? Devise a plan to escape? I still had no idea how to get out of here.

Day after day I searched the trees, hoping that something might present itself. I didn't know what would possibly free me from Ronan, but I knew if I never tried, nothing would ever change.

Two days later, a chance finally presented itself.

We had been walking quietly through the dark forest, a hint of twilight starting to glimmer at the horizon. 

The silence was broken by a distant voice, then a collection of laughs. Ronan stopped us, a hand shooting in front of me, a barrier between me and whatever else was out there.

I had heard it too. A twig snapped, and the distinct sound of a voice talking in a language I didn't understand drifted towards us. Ronan pulled me, ushering me and Nea into a copse of trees. The wide branches and thick roots provided a natural barrier that hid us from view of the main path. He crouched, and even Nea blended into the shadows with his pitch-black coat.

I peered through the branches as a group of fae appeared. One of them stood out, radiating a sense of power. He had dark grey skin similar to Eaven's, only with long muscular legs that ended in tuffs of fur. He wore only a scrap of clothing, a long winding tail curling behind him. His eyes were reflective in the dark, like a panther's.

His companions were all similar. They all bore different shades of grey or black skin, which helped conceal them in the shadows. Some looked less animal, with only a light layer of fur over their skin. Others looked more feral, their hair gathered around them like thick mains. I was not entirely sure, but all of them appeared to be male. There was a lithe, feline nature to their movements.

Ronan said a low, sharp word in his native tongue, and I knew it had to be a curse.

"Phooka," he said. "And not the kind you want to come across. Pantheras."

I watched them carefully, a few wisps of wind returning to my fingers. They pulled at me, a gentle caress at my skin. I was starting to get accustomed to the sensation, and held out my hand, reveling in the touch of the wind.

I glanced at Ronan. "Can't you take them?" I said dryly.

He pressed his lips together, and his nostrils flared. "Of course I could." He glanced at me. His face twisted, and I could tell there was something else he wasn't saying. His gaze fixed on me. He tore his eyes away with a low growl.

"But if they find out I am here they may notify the rest of the pride. Though I do believe I could take them, it would be... difficult..."

I could tell the admission pained him.

I watched the phooka move through the trees. One of them paused some distance away, but then his eyes turned sharply in our direction.

Ronan cursed again.

"We need to run."

Already the phooka was moving toward us. I saw his body ripple under the moonlight, hunched down, closer to the ground. It hissed out a low sound, and all its other companions turned sharply towards us.

Ronan cursed again, no longer trying to hide us, he pulled me to my feet, and tried to push me towards Nea.

But then the leaves rustled. A quick jolt of alarm sparked through me just before a phooka burst from the trees next to us. Ronan's grip on my arm fell away. The snarling creature hissed at him, it's back to me. I watched as its long tail coiled from side to side.

"Fire Bastard," he growled out, his shoulders turning on themselves. He sat in a crouch, as if he would attack at any moment. I spun around in time to see several more dark shapes moving in around us, their eyes a light glowing green

Ronan snarled, his own features morphing. He put his hand behind him, gripping his sword. The phooka let out a low hiss.

Ronan glanced up at me. Ea was behind him. I was trapped between him and the phooka. I looked over to the side. All the panthera phooka's eyes were focused on Ronan.

They didn't give a shit about me.

I looked at Ronan. Two more phooka prowled up behind him, their faces warped as the gnashed their teeth.

My gaze turned back to the trees beside me. There was a gap between the phooka, leaving a empty space nearby. The wind snagged my hair, as if protesting.

As if it knew what I was going to do.

But this time I didn't hesitate.

I ran.