“Fae trash!”
Stars clouded his vision. He felt his body being dragged inside the van. They shoved his shoulders down as they forced Taryn to sit on a bench adjacent to Airess. Her eyes were wide in fear as they shackled her ankle to Taryn’s, a six-foot chain connecting the two.
Well, shit.
Taryn peered across from him, his left eye already beginning to swell. Two guards sat on either side of Airess, and two more on either side of him. To have them escorted with such heavy security raised Taryn’s suspicions. Yes, Taryn was a notorious spy and assassin for the Mrkynian Guild, but the amount of soldiers they sent for hisandAiress’ retrieval was odd, to say the least.
What about us were they so afraid of?
The questions repeated in his mind. The caravan began to move forward, his weight shifting with the movement, only the sound of hooves beating the ground occupying his mind.
Finally, a guard broke the silence, directing his words towards Airess, “You’ve stirred up quite the commotion with your stunt back in the capitol. From future queen to traitorous noble, your social status has plummeted beyond reconciliation. You best prepare yourself for the trial of yourlife.”
Airess’ face tightened at the words, her eyes hardening as she looked at the guard. She lifted her chin. “What happened at the ball wasnotmy doing. I am innocent.”
The guard laughed. “A traitor and a liar, too. Tell me, girl, how did you end up working with the Mrkynian Guild?”
Taryn’s chest constricted at the implication. He realized if they didn’t find a way to escape, they both were heading straight towards their deaths. Perhaps they would both be beheaded at the guillotine together, the monarchy’s favorite method of public execution. He heard her heart beating rapidly in her chest, no doubt due to her rising fear.
“I am not working with anyone,” she said tersely, lowering her gaze to her hands.
“How dare you lie to an official guard?” the male sneered. “You don’t exactly have the social standing to deflect my questions,mutt.”
Taryn watched the words hit her like a physical blow, Airess flinching at the words. For the first time, he considered what it must have been like for her to live as a halfling in a noble society. Shame passed through him as he remembered accusing her of sharing those same beliefs.
He shook his head, admonishing himself internally.I am such an idiot.
Slowly, the corners of Airess’ mouth upturned in a subtle, sly grin. “Did Arzhel say that?” she asked hopefully. “Did he say I have lost my social standing?”
“He istheprinceto you, not one of your socialite friends!” the guard yelled.
Airess flashed her eyes to Taryn momentarily before turning to the guard, her facial expression now smug. “FuckThe prince.”
Shocked, Taryn couldn’t help but laugh. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Has this female lost her mind?
The guard drew his arm back and struck Airess’ cheek, marking her face with an angry slash of red. Her head whipped to the side, her chained hand touching her bruised cheek.
This time, an audible growl escaped Taryn’s lips, his face contorting with disgust with an emotion he couldn’t explain, not even to himself. Taryn didn’t think twice as he sank low in his seat. He wrapped his feet around the guard’s ankles, and twisted, dragging the guard down to the caravan floor. The Elven male hit his head hard, and fell on the ground unconscious. Taryn smirked as he was pinned against the caravan wall by his shirt, his head smacking against the wood.
“ThisFaeisn’t worth the trouble!” a guard sneered.
“Take him out,” another guard ordered, nodding in agreement.
The guard next to him drew a dagger, swinging it straight toward Taryn’s throat. Before he could register what was happening, the air charged with electricity, growing stagnant like a calm before a great storm, as if time itself slowed by a millisecond.
A golden hand grabbed the wrist of the guard, stopping his arm mid-swing. The caravan was illuminated with light, its source coming from none other than Airess. Taryn turned his attention towards her, mouth parting in shock as he beheld her.
Her white hair transformed into an iridescent gold, from the root to the tips of her hair, her stray locks beginning to float in the air as if she were underwater. She looked at Taryn, holding his stare, the whole of her eyes glowinggold. Even her brows were gilded, along with her skin. She looked ethereal, her skin glowing a warm hue, encasing her like an aura. Her hair resembled rays of sunlight floating around her.
Airess’s face contorted into an ancient rage, the space between her brows creasing as she took her gaze off Taryn. She slowly cocked her head to the male she had gripped by the arm. She squeezed and his gilded armormeltedfrom her touch. The Elven male screamed as molten metal dripped onto the floor.
The moment she looked away from him, it felt as if a thousand weights lifted from Taryn’s chest.
The guard dropped the knife and fell to the ground, grabbing his melted arm in agony.
“What is she doing!” a guard yelled, the two on either side of her grabbing the chains connected to her arms, pulling her arms apart.
Airess let out a low laugh, her voice layered with others: young, old, voices of other beings he had never heard before. They all blended into one and came out of her mouth. Shock and fear coursed through him as he watched her.
