“Dude,” I said in awe. “I love you so hard right now, you don’t even know. You douchebag.”
“Gross,” Justin muttered. “It doesn’t matter where we are. We could be standing on top of dead bodies or in the middle of the woods surrounded by naked men, and they still manage to find time to flirt.”
“Put down the sword,” Dimitri barked. “Don’t you see what he’s done? He’s been marked.”
Well shit. Justin was wrong. I should have planned more. This was all his fault. “Uh, no, I wasn’t,” I said, struggling to pull my tunic back on. It was wet and tangled, however, and wasn’t quite cooperating.
“Wizards,” Dimitri spat. “It always comes back to wizards. You do not see the creatures of the forest engaging in warfare. That’s because they understand and respect their magic. From the smallest of beings to the biggest, the magic is one with the earth.” He shook his head angrily. “And then you have men. Men, who seek nothing but more power. It’s never enough. There’s always a need for more.”
“That’s not true,” I snapped. “Not all of us are like that. We’re not Darks.”
“Really?” he said, fluttering toward me, ignoring the way Ryan snarled at him. “Why are you here? The truth, Sam.”
“I’m here for the Great White.”
“For more power, then. Just like all other men.”
“What? No! That’s not—” I stopped myself. Because he was speaking the truth, wasn’t he? There was a reason I was gathering the dragons of Verania, aside from a prophecy. I felt stronger after I had them at my side. I felt… powerful. “Okay, look. It’s not like—”
“And he has risen,” Dimitri ranted. “And now you have been marked for consumption. You’re lucky to have survived once, Sam of Wilds. How you did, I will never know. But do not mistake that for anything more than it is. You were lucky. When the shadows begin to spread, apprentice, it becomes evident that gods have little time for mortal men.”
And a memory burst through the chaos of my mind, rising and—
The Great White. I’ve heard the stories. Tell me. When did you last see him?
He is not your concern. Gods have little time for mortal men.
But he’s not a god. His clock ticks just like yours and mine. It may tick slower and longer, but it still ticks.
The Dark Woods are deep. I can see far.
How far?
Your human mind could never understand.
Specifics.
I am specific. You’re just choosing not to listen.
You never do anything without a price, Dimitri.
That is true. A bit of advice. Stay out of the Dark Woods. There are things far worse than myself.
I’m not afraid. Of you or anything else. I have proven time and time again that I am more than capable of handling myself.
Chaos always rises from complacency. I like you, Sam. You are not like the others. I’ve always been able to see that. There is something inside of you that burns differently than anyone who has come before. I thought to harness it for myself, but I won’t be the one to force it. But remember. The Dark Woods are known to you now. And you are known to them.
—the words from that long-ago day in the forest echoed in stunning clarity.
“You knew,” I breathed.
The fairies fell silent.
Dimitri cocked his head at me.
I held my tunic in my hands as I took a step toward him. “That day. In the Dark Woods. When we were going to rescue the Prince. We discussed the Great White. And you warned me. You told me that chaos rises. You knew.”
“I am of the Dark Woods,” he said stiffly. “I know many things. Like when magic burns part of the forest away in a burst of life. Tell me, Sam. How did you do it?”
“Is it alive?”
“The bird you brought back to life?” he mocked. “Really, Sam. How could I possibly know that?”
How did he know about— “The Great White.”
“Should it matter to you?”
“You owe me.”
He laughed. “And how do you figure that, apprentice? You have done nothing but make a mockery of me and my court. You do not respect the ways of the—”
“You were supposed to guard the seal to the shadow realm that held Myrin.”
“Oh snap,” Tiggy said.
“How do you know that?” Dimitri snarled, and I had to remind myself that even though the fairies were small, this was still their forest. The trees answered to them and no one else. I didn’t want to fight, because there was a chance we would lose.
“Something Randall said,” I told him. “In Meridian City. He said that the seal was supposed to have been safeguarded. He never said by who and I didn’t think to ask, given that Feng attempted to assassinate us shortly after.”
“I knew it was him,” Dimitri hissed as the fairies buzzed angrily. “The traitorous fool. How dare he come into my woods and betray us all. Does he still breathe?”
I shook my head slowly. “Burned. By his own bombs.”
Dimitri sighed, shoulders slumping. “We were the guardians. But we became… distracted. At our own revelry. Fairies are not that different from dragons in that we are consumed by thoughts of treasure. And the Dark Woods are full of treasure. My lust for gold and gems blinded me from my oath.”
“You were trying to warn me,” I said quietly as Ryan leaned against me, letting me know he was there. “In your own way, you were trying to warn me about what was hidden. You knew about the prophecy.”
Dimitri’s wings drooped. “The gods are… fickle, Sam of Wilds. They always have been. I had hoped it would be the same concerning you. I know that Randall and Morgan of Shadows wished for the same thing. That you would never have to know the weight of shadow.” He eyed my scars closely.
“It’s a small price to pay.”
“Being marked? Or being consumed?”
I shook my head. “He won’t. It won’t get that far.”
“Can you predict the future now too?”
“No. But I know what I’m capable of. And I’ve done what’s been asked of me so far. I have four dragons at my side. I just need the fifth. And I need you to show me the way.”
The fairies behind him began to fly up and surround Ryan and me, spinning in a slow, lazy circle. I felt the flutter of wings against my ear and cheek, my neck and shoulder. They didn’t speak, but I could feel the energy flowing within them, like a swarm of bees just underneath my skin.
Dimitri floated in front of me. “Men,” he whispered, shaking his head. “They bring nothing but death and destruction. Are you afraid, Sam of Wilds?”
Ryan put his hand in mine, squeezing tightly.
“I am,” I said. “But not of you. Not of the Great White. Not even of Myrin.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
“That I won’t be able to do the right thing when the time comes.”
He flew forward and pressed his hand against my forehead. I tried to ignore the fact that his blue dick was swinging right in front of my eyes. Honestly. I knew the worst people. “You are right to be afraid,” he said as his people swirled around us. “I told you once that the Dark Woods were known to you and you to them. I can see it in your head that you’ve stood before a god. But he was made of nothing but stardust. How would you feel standing in front of a god made of flesh and bone?”