Page 29 of Blood of the Fairest

What of mine?

I nearly ask this. All my life, I have wondered why I am what I am, when I was not born of witchfolk.

But I came here to heal the physical pain I inflicted on Verena. The White Mask may demand all my coin in repayment for healing her, leaving me with nothing to offer for my condition.

So be it.

Besides, my curse may be of use to her.

"Payment," I prompt the White Mask. "What do you ask of me for healing her?"

He takes another half-step away, his mask tilted toward Verena again.

"Only this: protect her."

With that, the White Mask turns and disappears into the dark mists, his cane clacking across the cobbled streets of Hamelnmark.

8

Verena

Ever had that feeling of waking up from a very intricate nightmare and being so glad none of it was real and it was all just the product of your stressed-out, sleepy little brain?

Waking up in Queen Rhinestone's bed is the exact opposite feeling. Whatever dreamless bliss I was just existing in before waking up in this world all over again, I want it back.

"Fuck me," I groan into the silky sheets as I roll over.

"Allow me to atone first, and I will do as you wish," a sexy voice replies.

For the second time in Queen Rhinestone's room, I scream and cover my tits.

I'm not naked this time. It's just instinctive.

Scrambling to the back of the bed that could have its own zip code, I yank the dark sheets all the way up to my neck and stare wide-eyed at…

The Huntsman.

As he towers nearby, it all comes back to me. Being taken, terrorized, and tortured. The drowning, the tears, the broken bones…

Strangely, my fingers feel perfectly fine now. The cut on my right hand is gone, too. I don't know why I woke up feeling so much better than I did yesterday, but⁠—

Wait. Was he trying to be funny just now? He seems serious, but just seeing this guy again makes me break out in a cold sweat. My throat burns like I desperately need water.

"Get out," I try to demand, but it comes out all pathetic and breathy from fear.

I can't help it. Even if he's not trying to kill me right now, the Huntsman is officially the third most terrifying person I've ever met. Second is the faerie he dragged me to yesterday.

The first…is best left in the past.

The Huntsman's ice-blue eyes take in my obvious terror. Instead of turning and leaving, he promptly gets on his knees.

"For the cruelty I inflicted upon a precious and innocent woman such as you, I forfeit my life."

His life?

As terrified as I still am of him, a hint of irritation creeps through. I get that he's from this brutal fairy tale world full of beheadings and evil faeries and shit, but I'm not. I want nothing to do with this eye candy ever again, but that doesn't mean I want him dead.

"First of all, I'm not that innocent," I manage, still clinging to the sheets. "Second of all, I'm not going to kill you."