Leah Cypess - Mistwood

Mistwood

Leah Cypess

To Tova,

my first reader

Aaron,

my last (but not least!) reader

and to Shoshana & Hadassah,

I hope you will read this someday,

and know why Mommy was

scribbling in those notebooks while

she followed you around the playground

Contents

She knew every inch of the forest, every narrow path

She woke in a satin-lined bed with green canopies hanging

When Isabel got to her room later that night, the

I should have told him. The two guards in the

Blood. On her hands, dripping to the floor, soaking the

When the attack came, it was completely unexpected.

Isabel caught up with Rokan halfway down the stairs, on

In her room, surrounded by green, Isabel went straight to

That same night Isabel stole a horse and rode back

The rain started two days later and didnt stop for

Isabel found Rokan in the stable yard preparing for a

The guests for Rokans coronation began arriving in ful force

He got away, Isabel said in disgust, striding into Rokans

It might have been easier if they had put Rokan

The throne was uncomfortable. It shouldnt have beenit should have

Blood everywhere.

Isabel was not particularly surprised when, the next morning, she

Two nights later Isabel found herself in Clarisses room, waiting

The Shifter would have been there. Helping Rokan put his

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Credits

Copyright

About the Publisher

She knew every inch of the forest, every narrow path that twisted and wound its way beneath the silver branches. They never should have found her. She should have been up and away long before the horses scent came to her, and very long before the sound of mens whispering drifted to her ears. Through the trees or in them, even above them, she could have fled in an instant, or hidden herself so wel that they could scour the forest for days and never find her.

Her ankle was hurt, or it never would have happened. So she told herself for days afterward. And even much later, when she knew much more, she stil thought it might be true. Whatever instinct made her wait for the prince to find her, it was given strength by the effort it would have cost her to move.

Her forest was an old one, the earth covered with layers of moss and dead leaves, the huge trees covering the sky with vast foliage and wrapping thick roots around mounds of earth. It wasnt a wood that was easy to ride throughthere were no straight lines or even meandering ones. No one would have dared blaze a trail here, and if they had they would have soon regretted it. And always there was the mist, rising through the ferns like tiny feathers, sometimes thinning to a layer of white on the ground and sometimes drifting in hazy clouds that tried to smother the trees.

Only a fool would ride herea fool with an urgent need. And somewhere, in a stirring in the back of her mind that wasnt even a thought, she knew what they needed. She stayed where she was until the prince rode into the smal clearing and reined in his nervous horse.

She knew he was a prince as soon as she saw him. Not because he was dressed like one; his black riding habit and green cape, while dramatic, could have belonged to any nobleman. His face was chiseled and sharp-jawed, but a bit too drawn to be regal. Nor was it his bearing. He was disheveled and tired, and right before he saw her he uttered a curse that would have fit the mouth of the coarsest peasant.

He reined in his horse, which was a beast fit for a king, and stared at her. Wil !

The boy who rode behind resembled him closely enough to be his twin, except he was several years younger, barely in his teens. He gaped. Is it her?

Who else could it be? The prince leaned over his horses neck, andlowering his voice as if trying not to frighten hersaid, Isabel?

Then she tried to run. She leaped to her feet and her ankle twisted beneath her, too weak to hold her weight. By the time she dragged herself off the ground, the prince was kneeling beside her.

Are you al right, my lady?

She struck at him, fingers curved into claws. The prince jumped back, but not fast enough. She left four diagonal slashes on his left cheek, and the bottom three had wel ed up with redness by the time he looked down at her. His eyes were so dark they appeared black, wide and wary beneath slashing eyebrows.

Dont do that, he said, not even reaching up to touch his cheek. It was somewhere between a command and a plea.

Isabel snarled and lunged at him again, ignoring the pain that shot through her ankle. This time he jumped away fast enough.

Rokan? The younger boys voice was high with fear. Whats wrong with her?

Hush, Wil . His eyes stil on hers, the prince stuck his hand into his belt pouch and drew out a thin bracelet shaped of tiny metal links, with a crystal embedded in each one. Most of the crystals were pure white, but every third one was deep red.

Isabel? the prince said, very quietly, and extended the bracelet to her.

Her hand went up without her conscious control, as if from long habit it knew what to do. Not up to attack, but in a fluid, graceful motion, her palm down and her fingers limp. She did not move when the prince brought both his hands toward hers, though her arm tensed and trembled. He laid the bracelet on her wrist, and she let out a sigh when it touched her skin.

The prince fastened the clasp with one smooth movement. Then he took her hand, and she let him draw her to her feet, keeping her weight off the weak ankle. She felt dazed.

Isabel, the prince said with a note of satisfaction in his voice. By the Shifters Seal on your wrist, do you swear to serve me and mine with al your abilities and powers, to defend us and protect us and keep us safe from al harm?

She looked up at him and said, What?

He grinned then, his dark eyes gleaming, and she lost any hope of turning and running before it was too late. It was already too late. Something about that wide, unrestrained smile

I suppose we dont have to go through al that, he said. The legends say we should, butwil you come to my castle with me?

He waited for an answer, and after a long moment she nodded.

Rokan, said Wil , who was stil mounted. Arent you forgetting something?

Oh, yes. The prince kept his eyes on her face, but there was an odd glint in them as he said, Im afraid youre going to have to wear clothes, my lady.