Page 78 of Between Realms

Didn’t Jaden ask for extra patrols?

Goddess, I hope no one has been hurt in the process of whisking me away unseen.

Within the tighter servant corridors, the male yanks me closer when I lag behind, preventing me from leaving my bloody trail.

Once in the garden, I glance back to the prince’s wing of the castle. If anyone were looking out of a window, they would see me. Has Jaden discovered I’m missing yet? Or is he still collecting his things and giving me space to calm down?

If he doesn’t see me being dragged away, Jaden will probably assume that I ran off on my own accord. Will he even notice my blood? Will he know it’s a plea for help?

I don’t like my odds of survival if this elf manages to get me off the castle grounds.

At the edge of Eldrin’s garden, my abductor is distracted by an odd noise in the bushes. It sounds like a high-pitched buzzing within the rustling of the leaves. Is it one of the flower faeries trying to help me?

I use the moment to break the elf’s hold.

I manage a few steps before the male’s entire hand wraps around my neck and yanks me backward. “Behave, and I’ll let you live.”

I doubt he will, so I decide to fight. I spin, but it doesn’t break his vice-like grip on me. My nails rake at my abductor’s face, drawing blood.

I scream as loud as his stranglehold allows, hoping someone will hear. But it only comes out as a muffled croak.

Isn’t the castle on high alert because of the prominent guests?

Whereiseveryone?

The male crashes his angry fist down onto my head and throws me over his shoulder as I lose consciousness.

* * *

When I come to, twilight is giving over to night.

I hang upside down over my abductor’s shoulder, barely regaining my wits.

He tosses me to the cold ground and I flop flat like a rag doll.

With a quick glance side to side, I take in my isolated surroundings, deep in a forest. Well, this is when I die. At least I got to experience a few moments of pleasure before I move beyond the veil.

Dizzy and with an aching bump on my head, I don’t attempt to stand. If he wants to kill me, he’ll have to work a bit for it.

With a low chant and swipe of the elf’s hand, a portal opens before my eyes. A strange circular doorway reveals another scene entirely, covered in snow that glows in the moonlight. Another dimension.

I gasp. Instinctively, I know the winter scene in front of me is in the mortal realm.

He grabs a chunk of my untamed hair and hauls me through to the other side. What the feck is going on?

I shiver with the severe chill in the air and wish I had my cloak.

Releasing me on the other side, he wickedly grins down at me. “Your playtime is over, piglet.”

Longing for one more precious moment with my elves, I look back through the portal toward Elfhame, expecting never to return. “Are you going to kill me?”

“I’m just getting rid of the filth. I’m sure you’ll die all on your own out here in the cold. Don’t dare return to Elfhame. If they try to drag you back, youwilldie for certain next time. And not just you. I will torture and kill anyone you ever cared about.”

His uniform suggests he is a Ryven castle guard, but I wonder if he is actually Alcina’s soldier. If he is, it makes sense. I thrust out my chin in defiance. “You didn’t need to abduct and threaten me. I was leaving the castle tonight, anyway.”

“Don’t lie, you pathetic whore.” He steps toward me and pulls his arm back to hit me. “I should knock your dim-witted brain from your skull.”

I draw my paring knife from my skirt and point it at him to keep him at bay.

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