“Zerch, why don’t you leave her alone?” the tavern keeper said, moving closer. “You’re disturbing my customer.”
I glanced at him and took in the wariness in his large round eyes.
Zerch turned slightly. “You need to mind your business, tavern keeper. You don’t want trouble with me.”
Blessed Mother. The tavern keeper stiffened and nodded, and when he backed away, I knew I needed to get out of here as quickly as possible.
I finished the last of my broth faster now, swallowing it down even though my hands had started to shake.
I set the bowl aside and began packing my things.
"Leaving so soon?" Zerch asked, his smile widening. "We just got here."
A few of his friends peeled away from the door and drifted closer, forming a loose semicircle around the bar.
My pulse spiked, but I tried to remain calm.
I stood, slinging my bag over my shoulder, and I headed for the door without a word.
Exhaustion still clouded my mind, but there was no way I was staying in there. A woman traveling on her own was a prime target in any realm.
I walked through the door quickly, stepping back onto the cobble-stoned path.
Through the market stalls I went and reared onto a side street, giving myself distance. I also wanted a clear path where I could phase.
Hurried footsteps echoed behind me.
I made the mistake of glancing over my shoulder.
Shit.The males from the tavern had followed me, their faces twisted with sickening grins.
Oh no. This was not happening.
The one who'd approached me at the bar—Zerch—led the pack.
"Come on, sweetheart!" he shouted, playfully. "We just want to talk! Or fuck. We can get straight to the fucking. Never had a Ravenwood mage before."
Laughter erupted from the others.
Forget calm. I broke into a run.
And they chased.
I ran faster. The road narrowed into a dirt path, and the trees loomed ahead like dark sentinels waiting to swallow me whole. In my panic, I started chanting and opened a gateway into the Void. I leapt inside hoping to escape those bastards.
But Zerch and the group followed me.
I instantly realized my stupidity.
Of course, they could follow me here—and with no effort at all. They were Fae who were used to phasingallthe time. And phasing was little more than walking from one place to another. Just lightning-fast. Had I been able to portal and leap across great distances, I would have stood a better chance of escape.
And… no, no, no.
Energy drained from me, and a wave of weakness washed over my body, sending me falling out of the Void.
I plunged into the woods on a gust of air.
My hands shot out, catching myself against a tree trunk before I could hit the ground, then, despite the spinning in my head, I continued running.
