Under Moss and Maple (Heart of the Forest Book 1) by Grace Seydel

Author:Grace Seydel [Seydel, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Seydel
Published: 2024-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Iona woke in the late afternoon, still in her human body, limbs leaden with exhaustion. She did not often sleep as humans did, and the memories flooded back in disjointed pieces. The others must have brought her back to the hideaway. They’d lain her on the old sofa, wrapping her in thick wool blankets. Iona moved to sit up, stifling a groan as her muscles protested. Nearby, Vall noticed her stirring, and perched on the edge of the sofa.

“You’re alright?” they asked, eyebrows knit with concern.

Iona nodded with great effort. She’d never felt so terribly human, before.

“Eli isn’t happy with you. But we’re all glad you’re okay.”

“Did it work?” she asked.

Vall broke into a smile and offered her a hand. “Would you like to see for yourself?”

Iona let Vall pull her up, swaying on her feet. Then, with a nod, Vall stepped through the forest, bringing them into the clearing where the machines sat empty and broken. They lingered, hidden on the edge of the clearcut, obscured by thinning bushes.

Their work was easier to appreciate in the morning light—the machines had been thoroughly destroyed. Roots as thick as limbs snaked upwards into the hollow shells, pinching the heavy metal in odd ways.

Andrew was pacing near his battered truck. His face was contorted with anger as he shouted out into the clearing. The other men were hacking at the roots with pruning blades, struggling to cut through their tough outer layer. It would take days to sort them all out by hand and many more to repair the damage left behind.

“Tell me how this could have happened, Jimmy. It’s a freak of fucking nature, is what it is!” Andrew was bellowing. “I need more hands out here cleaning this shit out. This’ll set us back a week at least, and we got the Bailor contract to deliver on this week too.”

Iona smiled to herself. It had worked. Their little stand of trees was now more trouble than it was worth for Andrew and his crew.

Jimmy looked out into the forest near where she stood.

Iona shrunk back on instinct, though she was well hidden by trees. His eyes bore into the surrounding forest, fear and anger raging in them. She reminded herself they’d have no reason to suspect it was anything other than a fluke of nature. Finally, Jimmy dropped his gaze back to the roots they battled, his clippers glinting menacing in the harsh light.

Iona stepped closer. What Andrew had said about their other contract obligations had piqued her interest. As Liam had said, knowing about Andrew and his business could be useful in stopping them.

“Where are you going?” Vall whispered, grabbing her arm.

“I want to see if I can find out anything useful.”

“Well, don’t go like that,” Vall said with a pointed lift of their brow.

Iona looked down at herself, and her face burned. It had nearly slipped her mind that she could drop her human shape and approach without being seen. She’d spent so long in this form the past few days it had begun to feel alarmingly normal.

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