Kierran stood at the entrance of the cave, waiting for us. Was he bipolar or something? This was what being interested in someone felt like? Was it always like this? They getting mad at you for whatever reason? I didn't think so.

He turned then and caught me looking at him. He sighed and walked towards me. "Ready?"

"What? You are talking to me again?"

Kierran took my backpack from my arm and slung it over his shoulder "I have my reasons"

I raised an eyebrow daring him to share them, but he just shook his head wordlessly and returned to his previous spot.

"Are you ready, human?" Grimalkin appeared next to Kierran, startling him. I laughed and I could've sworn I had seen a smile on Kierran's lips.

Dad came beside me and put a hand on my shoulder. I was amazed by how much alike we were, anyone who saw us would think we were siblings. "Let's go"

What will they say when I tell them about the tree and me? They hadn't spared a glance at it. They had thought it was just one more tree dying along with the rest of the Nevernerver. Grim had been watching me, wanting to know what I'd say, but I hadn't said anything. I wasn't telling them anything until I decided it was time to do so.

Dad carried a torch in his hand in order to light our way inside the cave. Grim and Dad walked in front of us, with Kierran and me trailing behind. My stomach did some acrobatics when I took in my surroundings.

The rocky walls had moss growing on them, and I couldn't help feeling they were cornering us, that they would start moving and turn us into faery dust.

Kierran noticed my unease and took my hand in his giving it a squeeze. Again, was he bipolar or something? Mental note: Ask that douche if he had ever gone for professional treatment. I raised my gaze to him, he was looking straight ahead, trying to avoid my scrutiny. He might be a bipolar douche, but he always found a way to make things happen in my heart, and the good ones.

After walking what felt like hours, we came to a stop when the cave divided into two paths. Great, Just what we need right now. Who designed this?

Grim sniffed both openings and chose the right one. Stupid know-it-all obnoxious cat.

I could sense Kierran was growing more anxious with every step, but he managed to keep it hidden behind a perfect taciturn expression. This time I gave his hand a light squeeze. He raised my hand and lifted it to his mouth, dropping a soft kiss on it. I stared at him open-mouthed by his gesture. He stiffened when he realized what he had done but I was feeling bold, tired of his hot'n cold attitude, so I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek, earning an intense stare from him.

Dad cleared his throat "Ahem, lovebirds but we've gotta get going." Grim just rolled his eyes and continued walking.

I shook my head at him and dragged Kierran after the cat. I didn't have any idea of where were going, or what we expected to find where we got there. Perhaps a talking phoenix who would cry for us and give us a tear?

Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted my thoughts. The walls shook and before I knew what was happening, I was tackled to the ground.

Dust filled my sight, and I had to blink and rub my eyes severaal times to be able to see. Kierran was right next to me, waving the dust away with his hand.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. "At least this time I didn't put myself in harm's way"

He let out a heavy sigh and helped me stand up. "Yeah, but somehow, it seems it always ends up finding you"

I couldn't argue with that.

A cold fear ran through my veins when I saw the pile of rocks that had fallen and now separated us from Dad and Grim.

"Dad! Can you hear me?!"

From the other side came his muffled answer. "Just for the record, I hate caves!"

Kierran was inmediately trying to remove the heavy rocks, and I guessed Dad was doing the same. I watched as he struggled to lift a medium-size rock. He was sweating in spite of the cold, his well-defined muscled visible due to the strenght he was using. His arms fell flat at his sides when he realized he couldn't move it.

"Something's happening! I can't use my Summer glamour!" Kierran yelled, frustrated.

Dad huffed "Tell me something I don't know, kid"

"What do we do now?" If we couldn't use our glamour then what? "Grim can't you vanish and..."

"I would, but I can't. This place was designed to block those kind of things" He paused "I will return with Goodfellow and choose the other tunnel, you and the Iron prince continue, we don't have time to lose"

"But..."

"It's the only option Summer" said Dad "Don't worry, we'll see each other quicker than you can say burrito"

"Now, I want a burrito"

He laughed. "I'll buy you one when everything is over, okay?"

"Great"

I stayed with my back leaned on the wall until I could no longer hear their steps. Kierran took my hand again, and we continued walking.

My mouth kept shut all day, I wasn't in the mood for talking, and I appreciated Kierran saw that. My fear diminished a little knowing at least I had him with me, what reminded me...

"Thanks"

He widened his eyes and was about to say something but I interrupted him. "I know, I know, but... if you hadn't pushed me away I would've died..."

Kierran nodded and a small smile appeared on his face "We're even now, then."

After a while, my body felt like a bus had rolled over me, I tried to keep up with the pace but failed when I couldn't resist the urge to stop and slumped in the ground.

"Just a second, we'll continue then"

Kierran shook his head. "No, you're too tired." He hooked an arm under my knees and lifted me off the ground.

"What are you doing?" My arms wrapped themselves around his neck almost involuntarily.

"Gaining some time before we rest for the night"

"But I thought we would be walking all day, we don't have much time less and -"

He snuggled me closer. "You'll die before we reach our destination if you keep on like this"

I didn't say anything, because it did feel comfortable. I knew he couldn't carry me forever but for a few minutes would be okay.

I noticed that there were starting to appear a lot of divisions in the cave, not just two tunnels in front; now they were at our sides and twice we had to come back because we had encountered a dead end.

That's when it hit me.

"This is a fraking maze!"