AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Fourteen
Rosalie
Maybe it was because fae were legendary creatures, but when Baine laughed it changedeverything. Not just his face, that would be too normal. It changed the world around him. The air smelled fresher, the storm not as terrifying, and even though the sun wasn’t visible, I could feel those warm rays against my chest.
When we stopped laughing, his expression shifted and he leaned over, almost close enough to feel his breath hit my face. Rain splashed on our faces, droplets running down his slender nose. Nothing could ever be more beautiful than the fae in front of me.
“When we arrive,” he yelled over the storm. “I’ll explain to Lord Demious what happened. He doesn’t need to know the crone tried to feed on you.”
Baine was going to lie for me?
“My offer still stands,” he continued. “If you wish, I will pay your debt and you’ll be free to go home to your farm. Enola may even know a way to help your firehawks.”
“Come with me!”
The words left my mouth before I could think. I don’t know why I said them, and based on his shocked expression, he didn’t know why either. Trying to fix the utter foolishness, I quickly thought of a reason.
“If it’s an investment, you should see what your coin is paying for.”
If he didn’t believe my excuse for saying something so ridiculous, he saved me the embarrassment by not calling me out. “My life is here.”
But it could be somewhere else.
Through the pouring rain, Baine watched me. Water danced across his cheekbones which were painfully beautiful at this distance. And those eyes. How did a fae end up with pink lavender eyes and eyelashes too pretty for a male?
I wanted him to say something,anything. Instead, I was met with thunder, rain, and the occasional bleat of a goat.
Why did Baine want to help me? I had to know.
But I wouldn’t get that chance, not today.
Enola turned into the estate, passing through the shimmering shield and massive black iron gates. My collar buzzed, heating my neck. I shoved my fingers in between my skin and the metal to ease the pain.
“Are you all right?” Baine shouted, even though he really didn’t need to at this distance. He held my arm, gaze panning my neck. “It should stop now that we’re past the barrier. Lord Demious had adjusted the spell on the barrier to let the prospects back in after we left yesterday.”
While the buzzing stopped, the slight burn of metal irritated my skin and I kept trying to shove a finger in to ease the pain. Baine’s brow furrowed as he watched me squirm with the uncomfortable sensation.
When we hit a large rock in the road, the cart bounced, and I went up and down hard on my bum.
“Oh, that’s going to hurt in the morning,” I cried.
Baine’s hand stayed on my arm, and that odd look of concern tormented his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He quickly removed his hand as if he just realized he’d been touching me this whole time. “Nothing. Are you sure you’re all right?”
This time I touched him.
Taking his hand in mine, I smiled. “I will be.”
Instead of returning my smile, Baine looked away from me. “Remember what we discussed.”
“Remember what I said.” Squeezing his hand within mine, I searched his face for some hint of emotion, anything to explain what I was feeling, whathewas feeling.
He gave me nothing.
The cart stopped outside the mansion and guards ran to meet us.
