Swallowing against the tightness in my throat, I double-check the lacings on my boots and begin walking again. My skirt swishes around my ankles. Perspiration dampens the skin between my breasts. Leaves graze my flowing hair. So much for trying to make a good impression.
The journey intothe Woodshas ruined my carefully crafted image.
I glare down at the grass stains along my hem and the few specks of mud marring the stitching. I’ll have to launder the dress before the discoloration sets in. If I make it back.
An owl hoots overhead, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
My racing heart lodges itself in my throat. Despite my commitment to saving my father, it does very little to mitigate the real danger I’ve found myself in. I cling to the fading tendrils of sunlight that weave between the overhanging branches.
Critters scurry through the tall grass bracketing the worn path. I feel eyes upon me, but I can’t make out anything too far into the gloom ofthe Woods. I would quicken my steps, but my last attempt resulted in a fall. I’m meant for the safety and comfort of my father’s bakery, not for traversing the unkempt forest floor.
A screech echoes from between the thick trunks and my father’s earlier warnings replay in my ears. It’s not justthe WoodsI should fear, but rather the male I’m setting off to meet.
He is no man, Bloom.
Indeed, he is not. The legend of the Minotaur Lord has been passed down between the residing families for generations. While no one save Pyke has met Lord Rhydian, many had dealings with his father. He ruled over our small provincial farming community for years until his son suddenly rose to power.
The stories state that they were once a noble family, cursed by some witch or demon into their monstrous form. Now, it was up to them to be the wardens of our land. Ruling over it for eternity with unquestionable authority.
The twisted half-human, half-bull monster was meant to be our guardian, but our protection came at a steep price. The tithe had been in effect for as long as anyone can remember.Increasing in cost and frequency every year since the current lord’s father passed.
Pyke serves as our shepherd to the new lord.
He is the one who informed Dew Hollow of the old lord’s passing and his son ruling in his stead. Given Pyke already had the displeasure of being acquainted with Lord Rhydian, he volunteered to deliver our tithes so we would be spared meeting with the monster.
Little is known about the new lord’s mother. Most of what we know about the Minotaur Lord is shrouded in mystery.
Which makes this journey all the more reckless.
I know what the lord does to those who are late on their tithe. I had scented the smoke and glimpsed the smoldering farm all those months ago. The Fosters were not the first family to be punished, and I’m certain they won’t be the last.
A cold breeze kicks up, making me shiver.
My wicker basket presses against my chest as I cup my upper arms. The light of the day drains away with each step. No matter what manner of male I’m about to face, I can’t deny this is a lonely existence.
I didn’t realize our supposed protector lived this far from Dew Hollow.
With only woodland creatures as neighbors, the typical sounds of life are absent. Our village is small, but it hums with life. Laughter and arguments trickle in from the open windows at all hours of the day. There are screaming children and barking dogs.
Inthe Woods, there is only the unknown. Eerie silence is broken up by the cawing of birds and the skittering of small animals through piles of dead leaves. The path seems to narrow the further I travel.
Once more, I question how Pyke makes this journey every month. He is never gone for this long, so either I’ve gotten lost or?—
Another cold wind slices to me the core. My steps pick up as if I can outrun the fate that’s awaiting me back in Dew Hollow. No doubt Pyke has already been to see my father to make his case again for us to wed tomorrow. When he finds me missing, I pray he doesn’t follow me out here.
I’d hate for our paths to cross on the barren road.
If Lord Rhydian is amicable, perhaps I can ask him to escort me back to the village. It’s already dark, and I’m certain I won’t be able to find the path with only the moon as my guide.
If I ever reach his home. The faster I eat up the ground, the more the terrain remains the same.
Panic begins to set in.
I’m lost. How is that possible? I stayed on the path.
A lone howl cuts through the air. I let out a whimper. Great, I’m going to die out here, and Pyke will find my eaten corpse. My father will drop dead from a broken heart, and this foolish decision was all for nothing.
I must turn back. I have?—
