Clearly, someone witnessed my father and me escape the walls of Braemar just before Tribute Day. Someone who knew our names and reported our escape to the Winter Court fae. But who? Who would betray us like that?
Gideon’s presence continues to invade my senses as the night goes on. After my bath, a servant girl delivers a lavish meal, but I find my appetite has fled. I’m too worried about the future and whether I will manage to outrun Gideon.
What will the highborn fae male do if he catches us?
Will he kill my father and then force me to become his mate? Tears prick my eyes at the thought. Guilt also presses down from all sides. I should’ve never allowed Papa to come with me. Though Gideon is searching for both of us, I suspect it’s only me he’s really after. Because he senses I’m his mate.
Little moth, where are you?
There it is again. His voice.
A second later, a winter-cold breeze drifts over me, and the back of my neck prickles.
Little moth, I will find you.
I jump off the bed, realizing I can’t stay here. Not tonight. Not when Gideon’s voice is so close and I can feel the caress of his breath on my neck.
My guilt and worry increase when I come to another realization… I must leave Papa behind. He’ll be safer without me. If I’m unfortunate enough to encounter Gideon, at least Papa won’t be with me when we meet.
I dress in my warmest clothes, don my hooded cloak, and pack my bag. Then I write a hasty note to Papa, praying he’ll understand, praying he won’t come looking for me.
Dearest Papa,
Gideon is close.I can sense him, and he knows our names. I must continue the journey south on my own. Please don’t try to follow me. Please remain in Hollins where it’s safe. Perhaps you can return to Braemar after the bulk of the Winter Court army departs and the city is no longer locked down.
Please forgive me for leaving without a proper goodbye. Thank you for protecting me, but now it’s my turn to protect you.
With all my love,
Isabel
I sniffleand blink back tears. Then I carefully fold the note and tuck it into my pocket. I move to the window that provides a clear view of the torch-illuminated street. It’s well after midnight, and I’m surprised to see that the town is kept so brightly illuminated at this hour. But then I consider the spread of ussha and the fae beasts that are said to come with it. Well, I suppose it’s smart to keep the streets well-lit no matter the hour.
Still, as I prepare to depart my room and slink into the night, I can’t help but wish for darkness. The last thing I want is for Papa to glance out the window and witness me running away. And if Gideon is really here, I don’t want him spotting me either.
After a steadying breath, I slip into the hallway, careful to keep my footfalls light. I pause in front of Papa’s door. To my relief, the sound of his snoring reaches me. He’s definitely asleep. Thank the gods for small mercies. I retrieve the letter from my pocket, crouch down, and slip it beneath his door.
He’ll be heartbroken and worried when he discovers what I’ve done, but I pray he won’t come looking for me. I pray he’ll see the sense of remaining in Hollins and eventually returning to Braemar once our home city is no longer locked down.
Downstairs, I find a back door near a storage room, and I step into a narrow alleyway. Thankfully, this narrow street between rows of businesses and houses isn’t well-lit, and I’m able to slink through the darkness unnoticed. Avoiding the more illuminated streets, I make my way out of town, finally reaching the forest.
Perhaps it’s only my imagination, but the glimmer of ussha appears brighter tonight than it usually does.Gods, please keep me safe. And please keep Papa safe. Don’t let him follow me.
I find the path that continues through the forest, one that I’m certain Papa claimed leads to one of the more popular port cities. Then I break into a quick jog, determined to put as much space between myself and Hollins as I can before sunrise. Just in case Papa tries to follow.
About an hour passes without incident, and I start to feel safer in the forest. Maybe the stories about fae beasts roaming the forests in human and orc lands aren’t really true. The vegetation possesses an otherworldly glow, but I haven’t yet encountered any strange animals, dangerous or otherwise.Occasionally, eyes blink at me in the darkness, but nothing ever comes of it. No danger. No attack. Probably just some deer.
My breathing ragged, my sides aching, I finally pause for a rest. I take a small sip of water from my canteen, then return it to my rucksack. As my breath slows and the ache in my sides gradually fades, I set off again at a fast walk, promising myself that I’ll start jogging again soon.
As I contemplate booking passage on a ship headed across the Clarrsian Sea, I’m grateful for Papa’s insistence that I keep a large moneybag in my rucksack. He has a large moneybag of his own that should see him through several more weeks of travel if necessary, though I sincerely hope he remains in Hollins for the time being. Business at the bakery was always booming, though I never realized just how much money my father had managed to save over the years until the Winter Court army arrived and we desperately needed it.
Just as I’m about to break into a jog, a massive, hairy creature steps into my path. It looks like a mix between a bear and a wolf, and its large yellow eyes are fixed on me. I’ve never seen anything like it. With growing fear, I realize it’s one of the fae beasts I’ve heard stories about. Stories that are apparently true.
A chill skitters through me, and my guts turn watery.
Oh, Gods. This is it.
I’m doomed.
