panic that crossed her mobile face. “I guess so.” She sounded miserable.
Ruben studied her, stunned anew by the overwhelming urge to comfort her. “It might not be so bad, you know. It could be a great experience, getting to know your people. Despite how you’ve been raised, half of your heritage is here with them.”
“What do you two keep whispering about up there?” Tatiana asked, the edge of her irritation making her voice whiny.
“They’re probably talking about you,” Eric sneered. Then he kicked his horse and rode ahead of her, leaving Chad at her side. Grimacing, Chad glared at his brother before shooting Tatiana a look daring her to speak. He made no secret about being unhappy about this situation.
“Come on,” the guard captain ordered, nudging his horse into a jog. Reluctantly, they all followed suit. The farther they went into the valley, the heavier the fog grew.
Ruben’s skin pricked with unease. Soon, the mist was so thick he could scarcely see five feet in front of him. If not for the group of guards behind them, if they let the leaders get too far ahead, they’d lose sight of them and it’d be a simple matter of vanishing into the mist. Even if they’d been able to do this, Ruben doubted it would work. He knew from experience that life was anything but simple.
It seemed the Land of the Shadows truly was...in the shadows. And mist. Damp, dreary, chilly mist. He would much rather have ridden in the rain.
Before too long, they were all soaked. The horses were spooked, ears twitching and eyes wide, ready to spook at the slightest provocation. He glanced at Willow, who nodded, letting him know her mount had told her in no uncertain terms that she did not like this place. The horse and all her companion animals longed for wide-open meadows, fresh-cut hay and the warm sunlight of home.
Ruben could definitely relate to that. The sense of uneasiness wasn’t confined only to the horses. Everyone seemed jumpy, jittery. Ruben took deep breaths, calming himself. Beside him, he noticed Willow doing the same.
As they proceeded cautiously forward, gradually faint sounds drifted toward them in the mist.
As they inched along, Ruben listened carefully. Music and snatches of laughter. He reached over and touched Willow’s arm. “Do you hear that?”
She nodded. “What is it?”
“Sounds like we’re getting close to a town.”
“You know what? Though I know this is going to sound ridiculous, that floors me. For some reason I hadn’t expected the people of the Shadows to live regular, normal lives similar to the Brights.”
“What had you expected? Them to live in caves and underground, only emerging in starlight to cast their wicked spells?”
Expression sheepish, she looked down. “Put that way, it sounds even sillier.”
“So do you think it’s possible that they are, as Tatiana thought, exactly like the Brights, with gilded palaces and thrones draped in precious metals?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “To be honest, when I thought of them, I’d always pictured them as savages, content to live in dark squalor, full of evil intent and with below-average intelligence.”
“Why?” he asked, stunned.
“Because that’s what we’re taught as children. The Shadows are our Boogeymen.” She swallowed hard, her pained expression revealing she’d faced a bitter truth. “I’m stunned that I, who’d always prided myself on my open mind, could be so bigoted and so close-minded.”
“Especially about your own people,” Tatiana put in nastily, letting them know she’d been eavesdropping. “I mean really, Willow. If the rumors are true, you’re half Shadow. You’re not like that, so why should they be?”
“Point taken, Tatiana,” Willow said quietly. “Clearly, I was wrong.”
Her sister found that funny, which made Ruben want to lash out at her. But watching Willow wallow in her own misery made him bite his tongue.
When she realized Ruben studied her intently, Willow blushed. He nudged his horse so close to hers that his leg brushed against hers. “Don’t worry so much about the small stuff,” he murmured. “We all learn lessons as we go along. You’re no different.”
At first, she only nodded, still lost in her thoughts. He stayed by her side, keeping her in his sights and marveling at her quiet beauty. Finally, she glanced at him, appearing a bit surprised to find him staring.
“What?” she asked, smiling slightly and making him wish he could kiss her.
“Something just occurred to me, thanks to your sister,” he said. “Since everyone seems to think you’re part Shadow, do you want to try and find your father