“What now?” she asked, pulling in her feet and crisscrossing her legs to sit comfortably. Absolutelyfilthy. “I suppose, since you have what you need, you’ll turn into the perfect gentleman and drop me off at home and leave me alone forever?”
He didn’t so much as grin at her antics when he turned to her. Instead, his expression was hard and sober. “I will caution you about this once and once only, little dove. I may have had a lapse in control in the past, but that will not happen again. It cannot. I am not chivalrous. I am not what the humans think of as a gentleman. I am fae, and our rules are brutal. They are vicious. To let down one’s guard—to lose control—results in death or worse. My…whatever this feeling is for you will be shoved so far down that I won’t feel it.Can’tfeel it. Come tomorrow, the game will truly and fully commence. Starting tomorrow, you will be fighting for your life, and I will be thrusting you into the fire. Purposely. Repeatedly. Soon, I’ll be using you for a subtle and cutthroat battle in the faerie courts, taunting them with your aroma of power and your status as my pet. You’d best get ready, or you’ll be broken before your game has barely begun.”
15
The next morning, she lay on her back, staring at the wagon’s cover. The soft dawn light crept in, announcing the first day of her new life. Her new captive status, at any rate.
Tarian had unintentionally woken her about a half-hour ago when carefully removing himself from her side and climbing out of the wagon. It was the first she’d known that he’d slept in her vicinity. Given he had magically dosed her at bedtime last night, she had slept incredibly soundly.
She supposed she ought to thank him for that. Otherwise she wouldn’t have gotten a wink of sleep. She might’ve tried to escape, as well, disappearing into the darkness and the cold, likely getting lost in an unfamiliar place until morning, when he’d randomly show up and reclaim her. Or maybe just follow her around and taunt her. Who knew with that fae.
His movements in the camp were soft. He was likely making ready to depart. A horse huffed and stamped its hoof.
Her thoughts whirled. She hadn’t said much to him after his assertion that she’d go to the faerie courts. What was there to say, really? He’d take her where he wanted, and she’d need to go along with it until she had an exit plan. Besides, it had been gratifying to ignore him when he repeatedly tried to get a conversation going. She didn’t have much as a captive, but she did have the infuriating ability to act like a child and annoy him. It had been the only weapon in her possession worth swinging.
After another few moments of patiently staring, he appeared at the back of the wagon wearing a crisp button-down shirt with green ribbing and deep blue jeans. He probably had really cute shoes, too. He’d obviously spared some time to shop in the human realm because, judging by the Celestial attire, he hadn’t gotten those clothes from Faerie. He was as vain in his fashion as she was, and good at putting an outfit together. Which galled her for reasons she couldn’t explain.
His expression was hard, a battle commander going to the front line.
“Rise and blossom, little flower. It’s time to go.”
She didn’t move for a moment, wondering if he would hasten her or drag her out. Instead, he waited patiently.
With a sigh she knew he heard, she pushed to sitting and hit him with a glower. A little smile peeked out from under his hard mask. Fantastic. How nice that he was getting a kick out of her bad mood.
When she crawled in his direction, he stood back and let her climb from the wagon. He didn’t reach to tie her wrists or turn to shield the dagger that sat in a belt at his side. He wasn’t scared of her.
Her mood darkened still. Of course he wasn’t, but…it would’ve been nice if he at least didn’t trust her.
I definitely do not trust you,he said softly in her mind.Why do you think I haven’t given you your weapon back?
“What weapon?” she asked.
“Your gift. The one you stored outside your room where my mind couldn’t reach you. You made it very easy for me to retrieve. Thanks for that.”
She frowned at him. “When did you get that?”
“Shortly after the sluagh had acquired you. I was in no rush. I knew you’d be taken to this area. It is the best place to enter the fringe, after all—something the Sapphire Throne has learned from my travels. They have greatly trodden on my patience. Worse than that, however, is they have a leaky court, more so than the Obsidian Court. They have many spies that go unchecked. They believe that housing their court in the Sea of Stars will somehow shield them from outsiders, when their own court is anxious to win favor with other kingdoms. They are the ones who sell themost information. Their queen is shortsighted and her court badly run. The Celestials…”
His lips pressed together, cutting off the information. Everything he’d said soaked into her mind. She’d collect every scrap of knowledge he let slip from here on out. Even seemingly useless information could have a purpose if used correctly.
Then it was she who pressed her lips together, even though it was her thoughts that were the problem. She’d need to get used to a meditative state around him, keeping her thoughts from acting like words.
A very good trick to learn,he told her, the sun highlighting his beautiful face.I have instruments to help with that as soon as we get to my chambers.
A rush of heat flared through her, but she squashed it just as quickly. She’d be damned if this strange feeling between them made a fool of her. If he wanted anything from her, it would have to be forced. And if he came that close, it would result in his demise.
“Noted,” he said teasingly, leading her toward the pile of ash replacing last night’s fire. The rest of the camp was completely squared away. All the items had been cleared, magical and mundane alike, the crystal chalice with them. Sliced fruit waited for her on a slate board, along with nuts, cheese, and a butt of bread. The air this morning was crisp and fresh, and she watched the beautiful colors of dawn wash across the sky.
Last night, after he took care of the horses, he’dbrought his own horse out of the darkness. A donkey with pack saddles had followed. That would’ve been the ideal time to ask where they were and why they didn’t use cars. Why everything seemed like her lands but different at the same time.
That, however, would’ve led to a host of other questions, like a general “What the fuck?” And “Why me, when I don’t even have magic?” And “Have you always been the absolute worst?” Those wouldn’t have helped, though, and fatigue had made her punchy, so she’d bottled up her words and emotions and been thankful when he put her under.
Now, though, it was a new day. Time to get to work.
“It seems like we’re still in the human lands. Where are we, exactly?” she asked when she’d finished her breakfast.
He cleared away her empty containers and any trash before handing her a scuffed metal water bottle. Once she’d taken it, he finished preparing to leave. All his movements were fast and efficient but not hurried. He’d done this countless times, and it showed.
