Her mind whirled.
First the explosion, Esper’s revelation, and now this?
Airess looked down to her hands, disappointed at her lack of golden translucence that was her dreamform. She wished this was some horrible dream she could wake up from. Though she didn’t know what nightmare would be worse—being taken by this male, or marrying Arzhel Lucien.
Definitely marrying Arzhel.
Despite herself, she smiled at the realization she had truly eluded him, as she thought about Arzhel for the first time since the carriage.
Gods, she had done it! She had actually escaped!
A laugh escaped her lips. She was unable to contain her joy. She forgot about her current circumstances, her fears about the future, even the male sitting behind her. It was pure ecstasy, she thought, as she realized she had finally got away from her abuser. She could imagine Arzhel’s rage as he realized she had left the castle, his pompous ego shattering as his precious child-bearer had escaped. She smiled.
“What could you possibly be laughing about?” The male’s deep vibrato rumbled from behind her, his voice vibrating against her back, sending shivers down her spine.
Her smile faded, her burst of happiness short lived as his voice yanked her to the present. Airess didn’t reply. Let him think she was crazy. She wouldn’t be divulging into her past with Arzhel, especially with the handsome criminal behind her.
Airess thought back to the ball, how she saw the Fae male standing out in the crowd like a sore thumb. He had worn nice clothing then, but looking down at the arms on either side of her holding the reins, he had since changed.
His entire ensemble was black, from the long-sleeved tunic, pants and leather boots. He had various weapons strapped onto his waist and thighs, but it was the double broadswords strapped to his back that caught her attention the most.
“Were you at the ball acting on orders to takeme?”
“Yes,my Lady.”
“Why?”
The male sighed behind her. “They want you for your power, that’s all I was told.”
But how could they have known that?
Airess decided to choose her words carefully, strategizing her next move. She blinked The Sight over her eyes, opening herself to the male’s energy. Immediately, she felt uneasiness radiating offof himlike fyrelight, mixed with a hint of regret—almost as if he feltresentfulof his task to transport her. There was also a softer energy, a kindness that spoke to her for him: He would not bring harm upon her.
This surprised her. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but certainly not the complicated feelings he was experiencing. Airess looked down at his hands. They were calloused. He had a few white scar lines on the tops of his hands, now healed skin.
Silver energy swirled around him with unrest, as if he was upset with himself. It was his finger that caught her attention. Black, murky energy radiated around a silver ring on his pointer finger. Airess frowned at it and blinked away her Sight.
It was a blessing and a curse, to understand and feel others so deeply, the ability always a teetering balance of self preservation, and open-minded empathy.
She forced herself out of her mind.
“What is your name?” she asked.
His grip tightened on the reins. “Taryn.”
Familiarity and unknowingness hit her at the sound of his name.Taryn. She had never heard that name before, but she liked it. It sounded like an answer to a question she hadn’t even asked yet, a melody she had yet to learn.
“How did you find me?”
The male had the audacity to scoff. “I’m Fae.”
Airess’ nostrils flared. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I scented you from miles away. Are you not aware that Fae people have much stronger senses than you Elves? Oh, wait, don’t answer that question.” He laughed bitterly, “Of course you wouldn’t know. What would a female of nobility like you be doing near Fae?”
She whipped around, the movement sharp enough to send her hair flying, and shot him a glare. “How dare you speak to me that way? You knownothingabout me.”
His gaze flicked over her briefly. “I don’t need to. Your frilly dress and pristine ball told me enough about you.”
