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Finishing the water, I catch her eye again. “I really need to get home. Can you help me?”
She looks like someone's grandmother, like she takes in all the neighborhood children and feeds them sweets and loves on them. I can’t believe I stumbled upon her. I can't believe I got this lucky.
Her eyes soften. “Of course I can. A sweet thing like you shouldn’t be out here. It’s dangerous. I’ll go notify our lord. He’ll no doubt send his guards to take you back to the Summer Court. I’m sure you’re missed dearly.”
I nod. “And I have people there. People who will be glad to pay for my safe return and your help,” I rush out.
She seems unfazed by my offer, like she only plans to help me to do the right thing, and turns to leave. “Of course. Stay here, and I’ll be right back.”
When she leaves, I relax into the chair, feeling renewed by the bread and the water, even if my skin is noticeably itchy. Or maybe I’m feeling more relaxed because I’ve reached someplace safe, and I can actually think about how uncomfortable my body is, I don’t know. Ugh, I might have been poor, but I always cleaned myself in some way each night. I’m not used to being filthy.
I think of home and let myself relax into my thoughts. No doubt my father and grandmother have been worried about me… and the princes. I can’t wait to be back with them, no matter how complicated things have become. There, at least, I’m safe.
My eyes are drawn to her shop. There’s a small wood-burning stove in the center. Surprisingly, it doesn't look like it’s big enough to make more than one loaf of bread at a time. And there’s nothing in it right now. A time where she should have a loaf baking and several more done for the villagers to buy.
Which is weird.
“What kind of bakery is this?”I ask myself, standing now even though my feet are dying.
I open drawers and cabinets, starting off respectful and then getting more bold as I go. There are no baked goods. Not a single bag of flour or pinch of sugar. But thereisa cache of weapons in the next room. They’re hanging on the wall like a display.
Exploring more, I notice that there’s iron plating around the windows. There’s a whole wall of iron in a small room in the very back of the shop. This is not a bakery, but I don’t know what the hell it is. Iron is forbidden in all the courts because it hurts the fae.Why would the baker have so much of it?
My stomach threatens to bring up the bread I just ate. This doesn’t feel right. She’s not a baker at all. What she clearly is is someone who doesn’t like the fae.
My frantic heartbeat returns.Why does this sweet-looking old lady have so many weapons? Why does she have a house full of forbidden iron?
I decide not to stay and find out. There’s a door in the back, and I rush to slip out of it, closing the door silently behind me. Before my sigh of relief leaves my body, I turn around and slam into a hard chest. My gaze slides to a tattooed man, one whose tattoos match one of the men from the crew from yesterday. There’s no mask on his face anymore, but I know it’s him.
Shit.
I turn to run, and he slams me back against the door. My exhausted body crumbles like a leaf, and I stare up at him with wide eyes as I struggle to get back on my feet.This isn’t possible. How the hell is he here?
“Grif, she’s not there,” the not-baker says as she comes racing around the corner, followed by, “Oh, you’ve already found her.” Her sweet smile has a sinister look to it now.
Bitch.
I grab a handful of dirt and leap to my feet, throwing it into his eyes and diving to the side, to freedom, but he slams me back against the door again. A little gentler this time. Not at all disturbed by my dirt.
“Get the fuck away from me!” I scream at the top of my lungs. Loud enough that he flinches. Loud enough to wake the occupants of the houses around me and draw their curious gazes.
Another possible route to freedom.
Without hesitation, he shoots forward. Now, his arms are wrapped around me, hoisting me into the air. I swing my legs kicking at any and everything I possibly can, hoping to land somewhere that incapacitates him, while at the same time jerking my body around trying to get away. But he has a strong hold on me and won't let go.
The next best thing to do is to bite his ass, so I chomped down on his arm, and he yells. He loosens his arms just enough for me to slip out, and I take off again. Not even chancing a look back. Knowing my energy is waning, so I need to use this chance while I can.
Then, I scream and scream as loud and hard as I can. Hoping to wake the entire village. Hoping to find my savior amongst these townsfolk. But, he’s gaining on me. My legs–they're so tired, and they're in so much pain. I know damn well I’m not going to get away from him, I just need to buy myself enough time for people to start looking.
So, I keep screaming. I scream until my voice is raw. I scream until I’m choking on the sound, but still, I’m continuing to try. Unfortunately, I don’t see a single person. Or see a single movement.
Where the hell is everyone?
Turning, hoping to see someone emerging from the buildings, instead I spot my captor, so close behind me he could spit on me. He catches up to me and reaches out to grab me again. I swing my leg back and kick him in his crotch, bringing him to his knees, even though the movement leaves my entire body shaking from exhaustion. Darkness edges my vision, but I turn and keep going.
Picking a turn at random, I realize that I’ve made the wrong choice. The end of the alley is all that stands in front of me. I'm a fucking cornered animal. I whirl around, hoping to switch directions, except the man appears at the mouth of the alley.
Fuck.
