Veylar raced down the path after the first glimmer of light danced over the horizon. Lioran shifted in the saddle behind, his thigh pressed firmly against mine.
The shrill screech amplified. Lioran held one hand tight on the stallion’s reins, and another firm at my waist. I would have pulled away, but Fyn’s joyful demeanor shifted. He pulled his fist back and Lioran pressed Veylar harder.
He leaned into me in the saddle. “Whatever happens, holdyour ground,” Lioran hissed in my ear. “By any means necessary.”
A bitter taste settled on my tongue.
Hooves pounded the land in the distance. A stallion and a rider gaining speed on us—and then another. Veylar sped down the winding path.
Brush scraped over my legs, over Veylar, but still he continued onward. Lioran tightened his grip on me. His breath quickened against my skin. I counted the riders—four, five, and then the sixth came into view. The dagger bounced at my riding belt. It called to me.
The unsteady terrain jolted my hand as I attempted to free it.
“I’ve got you. Go. Now!” Fyn yelled as he fell back behind us.
They were closing in on us. In moments, they would be beside us.
Finally, I wrangled the dagger free. The chill met my palm. My stomach lurched.
“We’ve come for the princess.” The rider gripped the hilt of his sword as he raced beside us. “Give her to us and we’ll let you leave.”
They knew who I was.
Lioran didn’t stop Veylar, but I heard his breathing quicken.
A hand clamped around my leg. Without thought, I lifted the dagger and drove it into the attacker’s hand. He released me as the dagger struck—his low, guttural growl left me quaking. The dagger tumbled from my grasp as the terrain shifted. An impassable, dense thicket of trees lay ahead of us. Veylar reared back. Lioran braced me as my body slammed into his.
With a final thud of his hooves, Veylar spun. We were surrounded. Each breath was heavier than the last.
“Who has come to claim her?” Lioran jumped down from the saddle. As he lifted me off the saddle, his eyes locked on mine. His biceps tightened under my grip.
Fyn ran to our side. He snarled at them as he firmly held his blade.
“She will be returned to where she belongs,” another rider spoke. Beneath the hoods, their eyes glowed in the sun. These riders promised to return me, but they couldn’t be working for the human realm—they were fae. I waited for Lioran’s instruction. His warmth greeted me as he gripped my waist with one hand. The other hovered at the hilt of his sword.
The hum of the blade sang as he pulled it from the hilt and swung it around in front of us. It didn’t stop at our attackers. He stopped it in front of my chest. I pushed back at him but couldn’t free myself from his hold without the blade scraping my skin.
He held it still. There was barely even room to breathe.
“Enough! Let’s settle this now.” Lioran’s tone fell flat.
“Please. Don’t do this.” My throat constricted until my words were barely comprehendible.
I was a hunted fool—one who trusted a prince who held his sword to my chest.
He could kill me. He could hand me off to them.
There was nothing I could do about it.
The men stood with swords drawn, glimmers of glowing eyes assessed him. Lioran’s breath was hot on my cheek. I winced as the blade moved with each breath I took.
“What do you want for her?” the rider asked.
“What is she worth?” Lioran growled.
He had saved me. He took care of me. I believed him.
I looked to Fyn, desperate for him to intervene, but his stoic gaze was set on the riders.
