Anything she gives me—her heart, her body, her soul—must be freely given. A sweet surrender. I will accept nothing less, and I vow that I will strive to remain patient.
Faint skittering noises outside the cave catch my attention, and I tilt my ear toward the disturbance in the night. After a moment passes, Isabel inhales sharply, and her eyes widen just a little. She hears it too.
Slowly, I bring a finger to my mouth, urging her to keep quiet, and she gives a slight nod. I release her and stand, stepping off the fur-covered bed. After walking to the other side of the fire, I hold out my hands, summoning winter magic as I erect a protective ward around Isabel.
She stares at me with questions brimming in her eyes, but she doesn’t speak. I’ll tell her about the protective ward later.Or perhaps she’ll guess what I’m doing. Though the ward itself is invisible, a line of frost spreads across the floor of the cave directly in front of me. If she tries to step over the line, she’ll encounter what feels like a solid wall of ice, and she won’t be able to escape the cave. But most importantly, whatever is responsible for the skittering noises outside won’t be able to reach her.
I make a sweeping gesture with my hand, indicating that she should stay put. She doesn’t nod this time, but I know she understands my meaning.
I turn and head for the mouth of the cave. Then I summon my wings in a flash of light that briefly illuminates the mountainside. Peering down, I glimpse the vile creatures responsible for the skittering noises. A swarm of manggas. Fucking fires. After drawing in a long breath, I release a thunderous growl that echoes through the darkness.
CHAPTER 7
ISABEL
Fear clutches me.After Gideon emits a terrifying growl that shakes the walls of the cave, he swoops out into the night, and I quickly lose sight of him. Strange skittering and hissing sounds reach me, and I can’t suppress a shudder. I don’t want to know what kind of fae creatures were almost upon us.
What if we’d fallen asleep in the cave? Would the creatures have killed us? Gideon is a highborn fae, and his people typically live for thousands of years, but they aren’t immortal. Death eventually comes for them. Another shudder passes through me, and I finally force myself to my feet.
Eyeing the line of frost on the floor of the cave, I reach my hands out as I try to walk forward. When I reach the line of frost, my palms press against what feels like a solid wall of ice. I push against it and attempt to step through it and even around it, but no matter what, I’m unable to break beyond the invisible barrier. A barrier Gideon somehow created simply by holding up his hands for a few moments. How extraordinary.
And how terrifying.
Once again, I’m reminded of the power imbalance between us. I’m his mate, yet I’m also his captive. I’m grateful that he promised not to hurt my father, but that doesn’t mean I want to mate with him. It doesn’t mean I want to spend the rest of my life with him.
He’s a highborn fae male, and he’s a commander in the Winter Court army. During the attack on Braemar, I felt the darkness of his bloodlust, the violence that’s a part of him. How can I be mated to such a man? I can’t fathom it.
Escape. Not for the first time, I experience the powerful urge to run away from him. I glance around the torch-illuminated cave. But where will I go?
I walk the perimeter of the cave, within the bounds of the invisible barrier, searching for an escape, a hidden passage just large enough for me to slip through.
As I search for a way out, I think of my father and my steps falter. What am I doing? Gideon promised to help warn my father about the direwolves. He promised to take me to the inn in Hollins come morning. If I escape now, I might not get the chance to warn my father. I would have to make it all the way back to Hollins before morning on my own, a daunting prospect.
The hisses outside the cave grow louder, and Gideon’s fierce fae growls continue piercing the night. A bright blue glow appears outside the cave, only to disappear a moment later.
The forest is a dangerous place; there’s no doubt about it. Knowing that I might have to contend with direwolves and whatever awful creatures are behind the skittering and hissing sounds is enough to make me second-guess an imminent escape.
Though I finally spot a few darkened areas in the back of the cave that I think might be narrow passageways, I hesitate to approach them. I glance at the pile of weapons again. Dare I take one? There are swords, axes, and knives aplenty. I could armmyself and try to make an escape, then hurry back to Hollins and warn my father.
Why do my feet feel so heavy? Why am I hesitating? Shame heats my face. Gods, I wish I were braver. I feel like a coward for my indecisiveness.
But I can’t stop thinking about the dark forest and all the frightening creatures I might encounter during my return to Hollins. I’m also not entirely certain in which direction Hollins lies. I kept my eyes closed during much of the journey to this cave.
I must think logically. I mustn’t let fear get the best of me. After a few deep breaths, the answer comes to me.
I should remain with Gideon until we’re able to warn my father about the true danger of the forests. But after that, there will be nothing holding me back, and I’ll be free to escape Gideon. At some point, surely the opportunity to run will arise. And when it finally does, I won’t hesitate.
I’ll run. I’ll run to the very ends of the realm if I must.
Keeping one eye on the entrance of the cave, I approach the weapons and pilfer two knives. With quiet movements, I place them inside my rucksack, wrapping my clothing around them to keep them better hidden.
There. I have a plan. Sort of.
I only hope I can avoid consummating the mating bond with Gideon before I’m able to escape. I don’t know much about the fae, but I’ve heard that their mating bonds become more intense once a couple finally sleeps together. I have no intention of allowing Gideon to claim me, even though there’s a part of me that burns for him.
But then a dark thought enters my mind.
Will he force me? Will he glamour me into obedience?
