Page 28 of Deliverance

Tilting his head to one side, he considers me. “Can you fight?”

I shake my head. Fighting was never encouraged for the women of Brine, and since most of us would never leave the village, it was deemed unnecessary. After all, that is a job for the husbands, as they are supposed to protect what is theirs. Besides, I have never been truly interested in learning to fight. I am a gentle soul and prefer to discuss my way out of a situation than use my fists. Now that my life has turned on its head so dramatically, though, that is beginning to feel like a poor decision.

None of this seems to surprise Alaric, who nods firmly. “Then you run. Get to a place of sunlight or light or cross running water, which they cannot pass. The Unseelie love to make deals, so never accept one unless you have no other choice. There are some things in life that are worse than death.”

Taking his warning seriously, I nod and pull my legs up to my chest in comfort. Everything he is telling me just makes me even more fearful of the Unseelie and my current situation. This was supposed to be a way of calming my nerves, and somehow, I have managed to achieve the opposite.

“In relation to your first question, the Seelie Court is unlike anything in the human realm, so it is difficult for me to explain. Magic is woven into everything we do. Many different races call the court home, yet it is run by the higher fae, like myself.”

A frown twists my face. Higher fae? Does that mean the rest are considered lower because of their race? The concept doesn’t sit right with me, but I cannot judge until I see for myself. Besides, humans are no better. With more questions than answers, I clear my throat and try again.

“Your father is the king?”

“Yes, and I carry the weight of being the heir. It is an honour, something that is taken incredibly seriously within our court.” A shadow passes over Alaric’s face, somehow at odds with what he speaks. He stands in a movement too fast for me to register and walks to the end of the bed, leaning against the wooden bedframe.

Heat flares in me, and I have the sudden urge to press my thighs together against the need that suddenly courses through my body. My life has been pretty sheltered, and I may not have had sex with anyone, but I have explored my body in the cover of night, so this sensation is nothing new to me. What is new is that it is someone else causing it.

Alaric’s nostrils flare, and I watch as his eyes widen as he scents my arousal. “You really should get some sleep,” he says quickly, clearing his throat as he backs away. “I shall be on the couch. Good night, Iris.”

“Good night,” I respond, mortified as I lie down, curling up in the large bed and feeling strangely hollow inside. It takes a long time for the warmth between my legs to fade and for my mind to stop thinking of the topless fae sleeping on the couch just meters away.

Eventually, I fall into an exhausted sleep.

Chapter Fifteen

Claws pull at my clothes and tangle in my hair as I run through the unending forest. The trees all look sinister here, their gnarled branches reaching out as if to catch me.

I haven’t looked at whatever creatures are chasing me, too afraid to match a face with the terrifying noises behind me. Every time I think I might have gotten away, I feel them clawing at my back, determined to get me.

Get to running water, get to the light!

It is no good though, I am not fast enough. A root rises up from the ground ahead of me, and I don’t have time to avoid it. Ankle caught, I let out a strangled cry as I tumble forward. Rolling over, I finally face my pursuers.

Their bodies are combinations of dark limbs, talons, wings, and teeth, but when I look at their faces, there is a shadowy darkness hiding their identities. Terror rises within me as they step forward, ready to devour me.

“Iris!” The voice feels like a lifeline, and I clutch onto it, desperately following…

My eyes fly open as a pair of hands land on my shoulders, and I stare up into the green eyes of a fae prince. His hair is tousled, and sleep lines his face, as though he just woke up. He looks a little frantic, his chest rising and falling like he was just out for a run.

“Alaric.” His name is out of my mouth before I can even process what is happening. Remembering the fearsome creatures, I gasp and thrash in his grip, desperate to get away and warn him.

His hands only tighten on my shoulders, his expression softening. “It was a nightmare, Iris. You are safe.”

The door to the room slams open, startling both me and Alaric. The latter is across the room and has a dagger pressed against the throat of the intruder, who happens to be Blaise.

He must have been distracted if he didn’t hear Blaise approaching with his fae hearing—not to mention he is topless and wearing leggings. Where did he get the dagger from?

“We have to go. We are in danger,” Blaise snaps, not at all concerned about the fact he almost had his throat slit by his friend. He pushes into the room and starts throwing clothes at the prince.

Alaric catches them all with grace, getting changed without even pausing. “What is happening? Are we under attack?”

Blaise is still moving around the room like a hurricane, shoving everything into their packs, his face set in a hard expression. “Someone set fire to the far side of the inn. They are putting it out now, so we should be safe from the flames, but this was no accident.”

Now that he mentions it, I can smell the scent of smoke clinging to his clothes. While the two of them talk, I attempt to hurry out of bed, but my legs are tangled in the sheets, and I stumble forward, only just catching myself in time before landing on my face. Someone set fire to the inn. It could notpossibly be because of us, could it? I groan internally. Of course it is. It would be too much of a coincidence otherwise, especially because we know the Unseelie are actively after us. Are they so determined to get me that they would set fire to the inn, potentially killing innocents?

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised after everything I have been told about them, but the callousness of it shakes me. I am in very real danger here.

Alaric curses and looks at me. “Stay here, I’ll come back for you. Don’t move. I will use my magic to contain the fire so it won’t reach this side of the building. You’ll be safe, I promise.” Authority rings in his voice, leaving no room for argument. He is already turning away and addressing his companion, assured that I am going to follow his order. “Blaise, get the horses ready.”

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