At the sight of me, the thugs raised their weapons. They moved slowly, unwilling to leave the shelters of their garments and expose their skin to the sun for my sake. Their postures remained relaxed. They clearly didn’t expect much resistance from me, probably hoping that the mere sight of their spears and swords would be enough to keep me at bay.
“Let her go!” I ordered.
Rage boiled in my throat, pushing my voice into a roar. Desperation propelled me forward, but I wasn’t fast enough. This fucking chair wasn’t fast enough. They would take my Elaine away from me before I could even reach them. Before I could stop them.
Anguish ripped through my chest. Rage exploded, tearing through my cloak, my skin, and my muscles underneath.
Never in my life had I wished so fervently for my legs to work.
I had to run to her.
But instead…I flew.
Fourteen
Elaine
They came when I was asleep.
The crashing noise yanked me out of a dream. Sunlight burst through the breach in the wall. Jolted awake, I rolled off the mattress and grabbed the first thing that was within my reach—the piece of driftwood I used to scrape the salt from the trays.
Shadows solidified around me. Once they knew exactly what dwelling I was in, the shack was old enough for them to seep in through the cracks. But to take me out, they needed to open the door. Timur always secured the door with the magic of his bracer. It made it impossible to open. So they broke through the wall.
Someone grabbed for me, and I whacked their arm with my wood scraper.
“Still the same nasty little shit, aren’t you?” the fae hissed, and I recognized Piara’s snappy voice.
“And you’re still the same conniving, cruel bitch,” I bit out, slamming my weapon against her temple.
The piece of weathered wood cracked and exploded into splinters. Piara sneered, baring her fangs, then grabbed my hair with her right hand and punched my ribs with her left fist, before settling me under her arm and dragging me out.
Pain and helplessness rolled through me with a wave of nausea. I screamed, kicking my feet.
“Elaine!” Timur’s voice sparked hope in me, but it didn’t last.
I saw the blob of his cloaked figure move against the backdrop of the black Wall of Ashgate, but he was too far. He’d never reach me in time.
It was probably better that way. Whatever Piara intended to do with me, she wouldn’t kill me. I was an expensive commodity worth my weight in gold, literally. She’d sell me or trade my joy. I’d no doubt be forced, abused, and exploited. But they wouldn’t kill me.
Timur, on the other hand…
To my abductors, Timur was just an obstacle. Judging by their lazy response to his sudden appearance on the beach, they didn’t even deem him a serious obstacle, just someone who could be easily swept out of their way and quickly forgotten.
I didn’t call him for help. I wished he never saw what was happening.
“Go away, Timur. Just get out of here while you still can, please…”I begged in my mind.
But I knew he wouldn’t leave me. He’d die to protect me, and that scared me more than whatever fate awaited me at Piara’s hand.
Piara glanced his way.
“Take care of that,” she sicced her goons at him.
They drew their weapons, raising their spears, knives, and curved swords. Most of the weapons were plain, their handles worn, but their blades shined brightly, sharp and well-used.
Piara didn’t bother to lift her spear, just tossed it impatiently in her hand while she adjusted her grip on me. She trusted her underlings to do the job for her.
“Let her go!” Timur boomed.
