Money meant freedom. Independence. The chance to finally follow his dreams, instead of living on the edges of other people’s hopes.
Exhilaration sang through his blood.
“Hurry it up.” He beckoned to the sprite, who was sauntering over the soft mosses.
Puck gave him a saucy wink, then bounded into the faerie ring. The chill wind rose, tugging at Aran’s hair and pushing at his shoulders. He huddled against it, waiting for it to end.
When it did, he blinked at their surroundings, then rounded on Puck.
“Where are we? I thought the plan was to get me back to the tent! This looks nothing like the clearing I came from.”
Instead of the dark trees and endless night, the sky overhead shone pearly gray. The clearing they stood in was large, and on one side stood a falling-down hut.
“Wait,” Puck said, holding up one long-fingered hand.
“No. Take me back, right—”
Aran broke off as a figure emerged from the building, one arm cradled close to her body. Her magenta hair was unmistakable.
“Spark?” he whispered.
What the hell was Spark doing here, in the fantastical areas of Feyland?
“She is injured,” Puck said, springing forward.#p#分页标题#e#
Aran didn’t hesitate. He sprinted past Puck and met Spark in front of the hut. She stood there, holding on to one of the crooked posts supporting the porch, and stared at him.
“Oh my God. Aran.” Her face, which had been pale before, lost all color.
“Are you okay?” he asked, reaching for her arm.
She flinched back. “I think I broke my wrist—but that’s not important. I came to rescue you. We have to get you out of here.”
“Me? What about you?”
She shook her head, her bright hair swinging across the pointed features of her avatar.
“Puck,” she said, turning to address the sprite. “I heard I might run into you. Thanks for the help.”
“A pleasure, milady.” Puck swept her an elaborate bow.
“How did you get here?” Aran asked her. “I thought humans couldn’t enter the realm.”
“I could ask you the same thing.” She narrowed her eyes. “As soon as we get back to the mortal world, you and I are having a serious talk. Dammit—I knew something happened when you played the Feyland demo.”
“You did?” Aran thought back. All her questions started to make sense. “Wait—is that why you kept inviting me to things? So you could pump me for information?”
He’d been an idiot. Spark wasn’t interested in him romantically, she had just wanted to know what he’d seen in-game.
“That’s not the only reason,” she said.
“Yeah, right. How did you know I was in Feyland?”
“It’s complicated. Once we’re in our world I’ll explain. Come on.” She started across the clearing, toward the ring of mushrooms sprouting on the far side. “Puck, can you send us through?”
“I will do my best,” he said. “Though my magic is small compared to the queen’s, you hold the Elder Fey’s favor. It will be enough to take you home.”
“Whoa.” Aran halted, lifting his hands. “I’m not going back.”
“What?” Spark whirled on him, her expression fierce. “Of course you are. Do you have any idea how much danger you’re in? I’m just glad I found you before you got to the Dark Court.”
“Um.” Aran shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve already been there.”
“How did you escape?” Still holding her right arm against her chest, she grabbed him with her other hand. “Never mind. Let’s just go.”
As if to underscore her words, a long, mournful howl wavered through the air. Aran shivered at the sound.
“The hunt,” Puck said. “Quickly, mortals, to the ring!”
Aran pulled out of Spark’s grasp.
“Look—it’s nice that you came to get me and all, but I’m staying here.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“There’s nothing back in our world for me,” he said. “Nothing.”
Her eyes widened, and she took a step closer to him. “If you were to see the Dark Queen, you’d understand how dangerous—”
“I’ve seen her. In fact, I’m working for her.”
Spark stared at him, a look of disbelief on her face. The air curdled with another eerie howl, punctuated with the rumble of hoof beats.
“Now!” Puck cried, dancing about them furiously. “There is no more time to waste.”
“You’d better go.” Aran crossed his arms. “Get that wrist taken care of.”
“I can’t believe this.” She took hold of his arm again, but he yanked free.