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Deanna caaround invisibly since our last chat Regardless, she didn’tKiyo continue to believe ere in a ti it couldn’t hurt to have his protection while traveling to the ghost cutoff point The two spirits didn’t interact as we traveled, no surprise seeing as they had little in co because of unfinished business and love for others Volusian’s soul was damned for eternity, forced to wander for his crimes - unless I ever sent him to the Underworld

Deanna hadn’t been able to give us a ti it would take to reach the crown’s lair (as I was beginning to refer to it) The Otherworld’s twisted terrain always e, plus spirits could , but the unknown variables made me ride horseback Kiyo did the sah he could have tirelessly coveredI really knew for sure was that this wouldn’t be a day trip

Kiyo and I were as silent as the ghosts, though once we crossed out of the lands adjacent to mine, he would occasionally tell me where ere I’d never ventured this far into the Otherworld, and itere clear of the Rowan Land was a relief Even Kiyo, neutral as he claimed, had tensed in Katrice’s territory

"This is the Honeysuckle Land," he said, when the road led us to a hot, riotously colored landscape Flowers grew everywhere, and even the trees were covered in blossobirds, but here, they swarht," I ine this placeup a military This seemed , beating druentry, free love would have been a given

"Dorian would know," said Kiyo stiffly, eyes focused straight ahead "I’m surprised he let you come with me"

"Dorian doesn’t say what I can or can’t do," I snapped "If you’re going to just keep doing this the whole time, I’ll - "

"You’ll what?" asked Kiyo with amusement, when I didn’t continue "Sendsituations alone?"

"I would gladly escort you back, if that is what you choose," Volusian told Kiyo

I sighed "Please Just don’t get on Dorian the whole tiet your help He’s worried, believe ravely, "I can believe I don’t trust hihtforward as it seems But I do believe he cares about you" The landscape suddenly shifted around us, beco desert of white sand It stretched out under a blazing sun, reflecting back at us in a way that was hard on the eyes

"Ugh," I said, focusing down on the road "What’s this?"

"The Myrrh Land," said Kiyo Even with ured you’d like this place You should go hters"

"Big difference between this and the Sonora Desert," I said

Although harsh and scalding, the desert I’d grown up as full of life This place was desolate and dead Mercifully, we soon passed out of it into sweeping moors, covered in snow I tookwe h lands that were in winter It still wasn’t otten one ofentry-style, probably a cloak Look human, Jasmine had said Mostly I looked cold Kiyo identified this place as the Birch Land

We crossed into the Honeysuckle Land again, which was typical of the Otherworld Other places repeated as well When the road took us through a landscape that re to say

"What’s this?" I asked

"I don’t know," he admitted

"The Pecan Land," said Volusian

"Sounds delicious," I teased We’d had few stops and ht now"

Kiyo didn’t respond He see darker as we passed through more and more terrain he didn’t know He seeh, and didn’t like the us to the Unclaimed Lands," he said to Deanna It was near the end of our day, the sky burning red

"I don’t know," she said si where I was shown"

"Volusian?" I asked

"Of course we’re going to the Unclai mildly annoyed by my stupidity "We’re nearly upon them Where else would you expect a coveted object to be hidden?"

I glanced at Kiyo "I’dodoht word," he said "No one lives here"

"Why not?" I asked

The scenery changed again The texture of the ground was like recently dried mud, covered in a pattern of cracks that resaw puzzles Odd holes were scattered here and there This eerie landscape stretched far, far ahead, no end in sight Not far fro the sides of the cracked road, forh, rocky cliffs that curled in at their tops like jaws Erratic gusts of wind blew through the tunnel they for blood-red

"Guess," said Kiyo "Because we’re here"

I peered around, studying the depressing landscape Its superficial appearancecontrol of it could shape the land to his or her will, instantly beautifying it Then, a strange feeling settled in me I couldn’t quite define it It didn’t ht I squinted at the cliffs, taking in their striation Through the red haze, I could see e Oxidized metal

"Iron," I realized "We’re surrounded in iron We’re not even in the crown’s lair yet We can’t get to the lair without passing through iron"

"Can you feel it?" asked Kiyo

"Yes " That was the odd feeling in the pit of entry in you Even with your human blood, you can’t help but be affected There’s a lot of iron here"

"I don’t feel weak," I said, astonished the iron would affect entry screaic within h I didn’t actively use it "I don’t think it’s hurting ic either"

"Good," said Kiyo "You’re strong, so I’m not surprised You ht about this for a moment and came to another realization "You’re not affected at all, are you?"

He shook his head "Nope"

I always thought of Kiyo andalike, children born of both worlds That part was true, as was our half-huentry Only gentry were affected by iron, and kitsunes had no fairy connection As with the demon bear and the fetch, a kitsune’s bane would be silver At least, a full-blooded kitsune’s would be I’d seen Kiyo handle silver objects; his human blood protected him as mine did me The bottom line was that he was a more useful companion here than I’d realized I wondered if Dorian had h no other lands until you turn back, mistress," said Volusian

"So this is the world’s end The Otherworld’s end, at least" I turned to Deanna, hovering alongside us "Will we reach the entrance before night?"

She thought about it, and I braced ue response "No If you don’t stop, you’ll reach it in the ed looks, both of us thinking the sa Get to the crown sooner or camp and be rested?

I looked over at Volusian "You said there are no other lands But will the terrain in this one change?"

"No"

"What do you think?" I asked Kiyo "I don’t want to be tired e face whatever’s guarding the crown, but this isn’t great careed His eyes scanned around us, able to see ht He pointed "There There’s a sh to keep a fire going I hope"

I couldn’t see the spot but trusted hi it is"

When we reached it, I saw the site was indeed sheltered I tethered the horses while Kiyo built up a fire We watched it warily as the wind abruptly came and went The fire flickered and waved but appeared capable of lasting the night

"I could hold off the wind a little," I said

"Don’t bother," said Kiyo, settling down beside the blaze "Save your ic This’ll hold"

I wondered if he really was concerned about ic altogether He’d never liked it I didn’t question hih, and sat down as well, et tolittle Our dinner consisted of ranola, and some bread that would probably be stale tomorrow

"I don’t suppose you can use your wilderness skills to go hunt us so fresh?" I asked

He se shadows on his face, now that night had fully co alive out here It’s just us" He eyed"Don’t you oaret a down coat in Tucson?" I deoods store For the skiers Lara could order you one if you can’t be troubled"