Page 76 of Facade

Aniah approached me, wrapping her delicate hands around mine.

“All will be revealed. Just be patient. And whatever you do, do not trust the captain,” she breathed. Another warning against him.

“Why? Please, tell me why?”

“He’s not who he pretends to be.”

“We need to go, now,” Ryker barked from the entrance, his hand outstretched toward mine.

“Wait! Aniah—if I’m not human, what am I?”

“It’s better to let your memories remind you. The mind is delicate and can only handle so much.”

A frustrated cry left my lips. “This is ridiculous! I don’t even know if you are who you say you are. Or if this is all one big joke!”

“Give me your hand. Quickly,” Aniah demanded. I reluctantly reached out. “I promise I am telling you the truth. That the potion I gave you will reveal your memories and that we will come back for you. If we don’t get you before you reach Castle Lawryn, this spell tying us together will lead you straight to us. It will lead the captain to us, too, should you choose to damn us. Do you agree?” Her red eyes searched mine, and I nodded, gaping at the sudden zap of magic that shot up my arm, threading around it like an invisible string linking me to her.

She sighed as she released me. “It is done. We’ll see you soon, Evanee. I promise.”

Ryker said nothing as I came out of the cave, shaking my arm from the residual shock. He hauled me up effortlessly in the saddle, with a blanket on there, for my bare legs and other bare bits. He was a thoughtful brute, I’d give him that.

The frigid air made me shiver, but then a heavy warmth enveloped me, his scent wrapping around me again as his heavy leather jacket settled over my shoulders.

“I need to blindfold you. We can’t risk you leading them here if you decide to betray our trust.”

I glowered as he placed black fabric over the top half of my face. The bastard was large enough that I didn’t even have to lean over for him to reach my head.

“Seems the trust game is lopsided. I’ve already drunk that potion and haven’t tried to scream or anything. Now there’s this magical bargain thing saying I can lead the captain to you anyway. Yet I’m being sent back because I might tattle?”

“One, we’re the ones taking all of the risks.” He threw another blanket over my legs, making me jump. “Two, magical bargains are very specific. You can only find us if we don’t retrieve you before you reach Castle Lawryn.” He hauled himself up behind me, his huge form settling in around me. Shielding me. Much bigger than Aiden. I fought a shudder as my other senses were on high alert; every plane of his hard muscles against my back made my stomach flip. Traitorous body.

“And three,” his breath tickled my ear. “Are you saying we should trust the female who almost slept with our enemy on a cold, wet beach?” His voice was even, but something darker edged beneath the calm.

Acid burned in my stomach.

“How—I mean, what—”

“Doesn’t matter,” he gruffed. “The point is, this is how it has to be.”

Our ride was quiet after that. Awkward. Though I shouldn’t care what he thinks. He was just a hired sword after all. A mercenary. Pfft. Still, a pit lodged in my stomach.

We came to a stop. He slid down, his warmth instantly gone. He gripped my waist and startled me as he pulled me down, then removed my blindfold. I stumbled—

The wind whipped around me as I stood atop a familiar mountain, looking down at a beautiful city just starting its night, with beings bustling far below. They smiled and greeted one another as they traded goods in the square. Children laughed as they fought one another with wooden swords in the street. Several females sat together at a pond not too far off, singing the sweetest melody as they washed clothing. Everyone was safe and at peace.

Beyond the city, sat a castle built out of white marble that glowed in the moonlight. My smile faltered. It’ll be my home soon. The freedom of my youth would become a part of my past as I prepared for my new betrothal. An arranged marriage. An archaic practice.

Most families let matches happen naturally, but in rare cases, like this, a match was forced.

I growled, the sound more like a roar, as I picked up a rock the size of my hand and hurled it over the edge into the never-ending drop below, listening to it clink against the cliff face as it fell. I sighed, falling to my knees. My mother had said it was the highest honor to be chosen by the Queen herself. If that were true, why did I feel I’d be starting a prison sentence tomorrow when I’m to be presented to the Prince?

Laughter in the distance drew my attention. Two figures chased and played with one another in the sky. A new match that had taken place this very night.

His emerald green wings flared, banking right just out of her reach, as her newly colored green, clawed hand was outstretched toward him. Her strawberry-blonde hair had little pink flowers woven through that were falling out one by one as she chased the dark-haired male. His eyes flashed the lightest brown, like teak wood, as she gave him a seductive grin, flying backward, away from him. His fangs showed as he grinned widely, his tail whipping side to side as he took off after her. She squealed giddily, flying higher into the clouds, the couple hidden from view.

My heart ached. Would I fly like that with the prince? Would we look at each other like that one day? I raised my arm, my coloring still gray—unmatched. How would I ever get used to the dark blue I’d be forced to change to?

I took a gasping breath as my vision cleared and I snapped back to reality.