As he flies closer, I glimpse the splotches of red covering the sharp tips of his curved wings. Blood.
Oh, gods. Did he just kill someone?
Am I next?
What if he bought me just so he could torment me? Maybe he flies from village to village, searching for his next victim.
Then his voice echoes in my head again.
Please don’t be frightened. I won’t hurt you.
The deep, strangely gentle tone reverberates through me as though he has just spoken aloud. Fresh tears burn in my eyes. I so badly want to believe that he won’t hurt me.
But he’s a highborn fae male. He’s an enemy of my people.
I cannot trust him.
He lands before me, his unblinking gaze still holding me captive. No matter how hard I try, I cannot look away. I stare up at him, my heart racing faster as he steps closer. The auction platform groans under his weight.
He looms over me, his wings flaring wide, as though to shield me from the crowd. Even if it weren’t for the snow and biting wind, the chill that radiates from him would easily reveal what court he belongs to.
The Winter Court.
His people conquered mine.
They killed thousands of humans in Braemar.
Is he a soldier? I can’t help but wonder. And if he is, why is he here, in this remote mountain town, so far from the Winter Court army?
Without looking away from me, he reaches into his pocket, withdraws a money bag, and tosses it toward the auctioneer.
“Her cloak!” he calls, holding out a hand behind him.
The cloak the auctioneer ripped off me earlier goes flying through the air, and the fae male catches it easily.
He takes another step closer.
Before I can back away, he reaches around me and touches my bound wrists. Somehow, the ropes vanish. There’s a rush of tingling cold, and then my wrists are suddenly free.
I lower my aching arms to my sides, allowing the sleeves of my threadbare dress to conceal my festering wounds. I can’t bear to look at the damage yet.
He drapes the cloak over me, his movements rushed and impatient, as though he cannot wait to get away from this place, yet he still takes the time to draw the hood over my head.
A moment later, the large fae male sweeps me into his arms, cradling me close to his chest. His winter scent immediately washes over me. Smoky wood, peppermint, spices, and freshly fallen snow.
Oh, gods. He’s touching me.
He’s holding me as though I weigh nothing.
A sob catches in my throat, and warm tears soon spill down my face. I can’t help crying. I’m so overwhelmed. So scared.
But I don’t struggle in his hold. Even if I possessed the strength to fight back, I’m not certain I would. Though he’s promised not to hurt me, I don’t know if he’s telling the truth, and I have no desire to provoke his anger.
I once heard a traveling merchant say that the fae could lie as easily as humans, but they spread rumors claiming otherwise so they could gain an advantage in their dealings with humans.
And so, I remain pliant in his arms, hoping that if I’m obedient, he won’t hurt me too badly.
“I’m going to fly you away from here now,” he says, speaking just loud enough for me to hear over the crowd. “Close your eyes, my dearest.”
