When she turned to leave, the dressmaker placed a hand on her arm. “Be careful out there now, miss. You have a ride home?” she asked, concern evident on her face.
Elizabeth swallowed the dread bubbling in her stomach. “And what is it that I need to be careful of?”
“There have been disappearances lately. Young women like yourself have gone missing,” the dressmaker said quietly. “The last girl ... she looked just like you. Tall, pale, light eyes.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “They found her in the woods with her throat torn out.”
Elizabeth felt sick.
“But what kind of animal would do that?” she asked faintly.
“We don’t know. Could be a large beast, could be … now I don’t mean to spook you, but you look new here. In Arboras, we have legends of monsters that lurk in the dark.”
“What kind of monsters?” she asked breathlessly.
“Horrible creatures that are said to feast on human flesh and drink blood. They are thought to be demons walking among us, creatures born of evil that prey on women, especially.”
She felt her jaw slacken.
“I don’t mean to alarm you, but I would put you on your guard.” The dressmaker hesitated, as if worried she had said too much. The woman pulled a leather necklace with a pea-sized black stone to show her, then slipped it back under her apron and dress. “Many of us carry these trinkets. Don’t know if they actually work, but they are said to ward off evil spirits.”
“Is it just here in Volantia?”
Please, gods, let it not be her demon.
“Everywhere. My friends in Silas and Oakwood say the same. I’m just mentioning it because you seem new in these parts. Woman to woman, you know? We must take care of ourselves, eh? Best make sure you travel with a friend, yes?” The older woman smiled and nodded encouragingly.
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be careful.”
“Then get! And bring me that blue dress you mentioned next time you visit. I’m not saying I’ll for surebuyit, mind you, but I wouldn’t mind having a look.” The woman waved her off with a cheery grin.
Elizabeth stepped into the street and drew her hood up. Her steps were hurried, restless. Her eyes burned, and she blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.
She jutted out her chin stubbornly and refused to give one inch to the sick feeling coiling in her stomach. Clenching her jaw, she forced herself to grow angry instead.
They were monsters. All of them.
She felt a deep sense of self-loathing for growing to care for someone who was a terror to the kingdom. He had hurt people. For no good reason except to feed his hunger, he had hurt people. And she had kissed him and done …ugh.
She cringed, a pit of dread coiling in her stomach. She found Draugr and left the city, her thoughts on the women who had gone missing.
Once she was out of the city limits, she swung her leg over her horse and softly whispered to Draugr to go faster.
Draugr seemed to sense her urgency and took off, cantering down the dirt road. They slowed as the path sloped down, and as the forest road flattened out again, he galloped until they were both drenched in sweat.
After a time, Draugr slowed, and her thoughts began to drift.
Towardshim.
Against her will, desire curled in her abdomen when she thought of his hands, his chest, and how his lips had felt against hers.
She closed her eyes, hating herself for thinking of him at all.
As much as she wanted to believe it was only a coincidence, the evidence was not on his side. She wondered what she would find if she explored the forbidden rooms in the castle.
More dead bodies? Killed like animals?
Something even worse?
Her mouth tightened.
