Chapter 23. The Originals

“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” Germaine’s eyes were twin orbs of fear as she gazed at Daya.

“I said I will take you—”

“I know what you said, but why?”

Daya rubbed a spot on her nose and let out an exasperated breath. “That is the only way, child. You can never get in unless I take you there. You will not even know where to find them in the first place. You will only wander around in circles in the forest until you become frustrated and go back the way you came, or something much worse happens to you. And let me just say this—when I do take you there, it has got to be as a hostage because they do not like visitors.” She shrugged her shoulders.

Germaine’s shoulders tensed. “Are you saying that without this plan of yours, I will not get the Ork?”

“You finally understand what I have been trying to tell you.”

Fear laced the insides of Germaine. The way Daya had painted a picture of the original Dryads was not a good one. If they were as harsh and