How dare he act like he can make those choices for me?!
He walks over to me, grabbing my face in his hand as he looks down at me, his molten amber eyes cutting into me. “You’re pretty brave for someone who’s bound and at my mercy…” he murmurs. He oozes danger. My heart thumps as I stare defiantly back at him. “You will listen.”
He leaves the threat open, fear twisting in the pit of my stomach. I have no doubt he’s capable of following up on his threats, and I am not about to test him, not when I’m bound and have nowhere to go.
“And what if they find me and try to kill me?”
He smirks coldly, one perfect brow arching. “So, you’re on the run for your life? That was something you left out.”
Oh fuck…
He brushes his thumb over my lip before pushing me back onto the bed. Reaching behind me, he unties the rope and walks to his wardrobe, takes out some clothes and tosses them to me.
“Wear these for now; we’ll grab some that fit you better on the way. Move.”
I obey. Grabbing the clothes, I hurry to the bathroom. I won’t have time to shift now, but I should be ok for another day or so. As long as I can get away from him before then, he’ll never learn my truth. He can’t.
An hour later, we’ve setout, and I notice the damage to his car, caused by him protecting me from that other car last night. It gives me a little comfort knowing that at least he has some humanity in him.
I don’t know where he’s taking me, or how he plans to get us back into Varindor, but with each passing moment, the fear in the pit of my stomach is growing.
“So, what’s your name?” I ask, trying to distract myself.
He looks at me, and I can’t help but admire the angle of his jaw. I have to admit I have never seen a man more gorgeous than he is, and I have seen many men.
“Kai.”
I nod, that’s not much to go on… “How’d you get the scar on your face?” I ask, sounding far braver than I feel right now.
He glances at me as if looking straight into my soul. “In one of many battles.” He doesn’t explain further, and I fall silent too. “So, want to tell me exactly why you’re on the run?”
I frown slightly. “My sisters accused me of having an affair with a married man. A lie. My father has a temper, and he always believed them over me, and he said he’ll arrange my hand in marriage to the first person who asks, so… I ran away,” I scoff bitterly.
When he doesn’t respond, I glance over at him, seeing the frown on his face. Did I piss him off again?
“I didn’t have an affair, but I’m also not letting him choose my future,” I add.
“Why would your sisters lie?”
“We have different mothers, and my mother didn’t fit the standards of his family.” Or kingdom… “And they’ve always hated me for it, even though their mothers came after mine.”
An ache settles in my heart, and I rest my head back against the leather seat.
“What are you?” he asks, making my stomach coil with fear.
“Will you kill me if I tell you?” I ask. He doesn’t answer, and I look down. I can’t tell him. I have to lie. “I’m a water fae.”
“I see.” I glance at him; he seems ok with those answers. “That explains the nobility. The water fae are extremely close to the sea sirens. I think you’ll definitely be able to help me.”
Oh fuck, I had only chosen water because it’s the element I do actually possess, but it’s fine, I don’t plan to stay that long anyway.
“They’ll kill me if they see me with you. You’re a sky siren; you’re hated in Varindor.”
“That really doesn’t bother me, but I promise you, help me, and I will guarantee your safety and freedom from whatever you are running from.”
Sure, until you realise what I am and try to behead me yourself… but if I can’t get away, I’ll need a Plan B. I could work my sea siren magic on him, little by little. A risk I will have to take. Then there’s the problem of me needing to shift… Worry begins to grow inside of me.
Plan A – escape as soon as possible. If it fails, then I’ll think of Plan B.
