Page 37 of A Curse of Malice & Mercy

If I can escape, perhaps I can run to the village. It doesn’t appear to be that far away on foot.

Peering down at Rainer again, at the way he takes his time with each stem, as if he’s an artist creating a masterpiece, an idea forms.

I unlatch the window, slowly pushing it open just enough that I can reach out. Then, I scan the room.

“Shoot,” I say, when I realize I threw most of the stuff out the door already.

I bolt to the bathroom, grabbing as much of the beauty products as I can in my arms, and make my way back to the window.

If Rainer wants to keep me locked up here, I’ll make his life difficult. Ruining the flowers brings a pang to my chest—Char would be so disappointed. But this is a matter of survival, and the roses are simply a casualty of war.

I uncork the caps on the products and grab a bottle in each hand. I lean out the window, tilting the bottles and dumping the bright-colored, scented goop all over the bushes.

It lands in thick streams, painting the roses and landing on Rainer in the process.

His head jerks to the window, and even from this distance, I can see the fury on his face.

A thrill ignites my blood. Once the bottles are empty, I chuck them at his head. He jumps backward, barely missing the glass bottle as it shatters on the grass.

“Human!” Rainer roars, his voice practically rattling the windows. “What on earth is wrong with you?!”

Mustering up the last dredges of confidence, I chuck the bottles at him one by one. I find no humor as he dodges my sloppy throws, but I refuse to let him think I’m weak. That I won’t fight back.

With the lord, I rebelled in quiet ways: eavesdropping, sneaking around with Felix, indulging in Char’s stories, stealing books from the library. Look where that got me.

Perhaps it’s time I rebel loudly.

My cheeks heat with fear and fury as I yell, “Let me out of here you monster!”

“Just for that, I’m never letting you go!” he roars back.

“Then I’ll ruin your pretty little flowers.”

He laughs darkly. “Not if I seal your windows shut!”

I throw a small tin at him, and it hits him square in the forehead. My hands fly up to my mouth as I gasp.

“I’m—” I stop myself before I apologize.

No.

He deserved that entirely.

Rainer’s body goes rigid, and he cocks his head at me, leveling me with an intense stare. I swear his lips quirk with humor, but it’s too far away to be certain. Either way, butterflies take flight in my ribs. I’m oddly proud of my defiance.

Whatever moment passes between us is gone, and Rainer turns and strides out of sight.

Once the pride fades, my gut knots with guilt. I expected Rainer to come up and unleash his rage on me. I sat trembling in the corner for a few hours before I realized he wasn’t coming.

He spared me a punishment.

One I certainly deserved for acting like a heathen. If only I had fought back like this sooner, with the lord. Perhaps I could’ve spared myself and Char. Except I’m certain the lord would’ve murdered me for such actions. Considering he broke my leg without a second thought when I tried to escape, among the various other punishments he doled over the years, it’s a realistic assumption.

But for some reason, the faerie spared me…at least for now.

My door creaks open and someone clears their throat.

Peeling my eyes from the floor, I blink away my tears and give the newcomer a cautious once-over.

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