AllFreeNovel
Share Us
* * *
What remainedof an ancient forest encircled the base of the city, spires of decaying pines towering over the wall, their branches bare. If I looked up, I could still see the palace, so I didn’t look up. The air swarmed with bugs, as if the insect world came alive in the pre-dawn humidity, and I wrapped the scarf tighter around my head, trying to keep them from biting up my face.
My feet ached from the rough cobblestones, but not like they had on the way here.
This must be the magic, healing my body, giving me extra strength. Without the collar, I sensed the power, poked at my slumbering magic, far less potent than what I’d experienced after crossing over into Caladrius.
I wondered if the Fae King had reclaimed enough of his precious “inherited” magic to leave me alone?
I guessed not.
Rich people always wanted every last speck of what they were owed, no matter how much they already had. Sharing was a foreign concept to them, as was mercy. Something else I’d change if I was ever in charge.
I kept up with Tavion, but I kept my mouth shut. Fury rolled off him in waves, every bit as heavy as his immense cloak, and I didn’t have the energy to deal with that right now.
Not when I could barely put one foot in front of the other.
We walked for hours, while I focused on not collapsing from thirst and began a mental countdown. I didn’t know where we were supposed to meet these allies with their horses, but we hadn’t found them yet, and soon enough, hordes of guards would search these woods.
I double checked my pocket.
Rubbed the thick paper between my fingers, not able to contain my curiosity.
What could Torin possibly have to tell me?
She and Tavion were allies, so why not give him the note? I picked up the pace, drawing even with Tavion, not caring he hated me.
He could hate me all he wanted; we had to find this rescue party.
I was already formulating how I’d ask them to help save Ember. I refused to leave her behind while I rode away to safety.
I shouldered dry, brittle branches out of my path then stepped straight into a small camp, so cleverly hidden, I hadn’t seen nor smelled a thing. Not the horses, nor the small fire, nor the three immense males springing to their feet, weapons ready to strike. A bow creaked, and I froze in place when the arrow point grazed my cheek.
I met the archer’s fierce gaze, his hazel eyes ringed in gold, face tight in concentration. He was the most beautiful male I’d ever seen, his golden skin glowing, the mottled sunlight picking up the threads of gold in his auburn hair. The string creaked as he drew it back, and I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the bolt of pain, the darkness that would follow once he sent the bolt spearing through my skull.
“Good to see you waited.”
Tavion stepped through but nobody lowered their weapons, nor did he seem in a big hurry to tell them to.
Instead, he crossed to the crackling, smokeless fire and warmed his hands, picked something off the spit and took a bite. He said nothing to the male with long dark hair squatting in front of the fire, his powerful body encased in leather armor. Nor did he acknowledge the brutal warrior guarding the edge of the camp, whose thick spiked collar glimmered dully in the sun.
“Gentlemen.” Tavion’s eyes raked over me with disgust. “This is our mark. We keep her alive five more days, and we all get what we want.” Everyone lowered their weapons and I pulled in a shaky breath as I studied my rescuers.
The three males were a study in opposites.
The one closest to the fire pushed to his feet, unadorned ears barely visible through his long black hair. He was tall, wide shoulders narrowing down to an elegant waist, but there was a hardness about him that spoke of barely restrained violence.
The handsome archer set his bow against a tree, while the brutal-looking male on the edge of the camp picked up a saddle and tossed it over the back of a horse. His half-shaved head revealed tattoos, black hair pulled into a tight tail, his huge body protected by matte gray armor.
He moved gracefully for someone so big, muscles flexing as he secured the saddle, not a single wasted movement.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off that collar.
“Please help me. I have to go back to the city.” I appealed to the one with the kindest face, the archer right next to me. “My friend…myonlyfriend is trapped there and the king will kill her if we leave without her.”
The male glanced down at me, pity igniting in his beautiful eyes. “Is that true?”
“I could only get one out.” Tavion jerked his head to me. “There she is. The one that’s worth money. We don’t get paid if we bring the Shadow King a slave girl from Varitus.”
