Page 44 of Last Ride of the Umbra Fae

One, two, three…My eyes went wide. I knew each pouch had over a thousand. He was giving away almost everything we had.

“I am not worth any of this,” I stated.Four, five…I couldn’t stay here any longer.

“I’m out of here.” I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding, feeling the betrayal as I realized we were only feeding into the problem. We could have stormed this place and took what we wanted, but I knew Pa. He never shared all the details of his plans. I could only assume he was complying because we were in the enemy’s territory. There would be more nara coins to come, but it still didn’t make this transaction any easier.

I hadn’t realized I had left the connection open until Raven called my name.

“Vessa, wait.”

“Don’t follow me.”

Raven’s cursed growl echoed throughout the room.

Before I reached the stairs, the final bag thumped onto the table, causing my next step to seize. “She only gets the best.”

I shuddered at the words before ascending the stairs.

Walking out the tavern doors was all I could do for now. I had an idea of how to get back to my room, but if my assumptions were right, Ryder’s stallion would guide me the rest of the way. I approached his horse too abruptly, sending him to stomp hishooves as I reached to untie the reins, stirring the human male in the process.

“Hey, where are your other frien?—”

A thick tendril of darkness unfurled and went for his throat. “I’d shut the fuck up if I were you.” I mounted the horse and shot him a seething glare.

He choked on his next words before I released him.

“Gods-damn. You’re just as violent as your lover,” he said, rubbing his throat.

I scoffed.

Lover?

I spat in his direction. Those words held too many obligations and responsibilities that I had no time to consider. Raven was already up my ass, and to have another male tied to me?

“I belong to no one,” I snapped before riding away.

Raven’s callcame through faint threads of magic, scratching at the edges of our bond. I knew he was being careful where he shifted. I was surprised he had followed my order to remain with Pa and Ryder to finish off the transaction, but I knew as soon as he was able to, he’d be in his raven form to come find me. But none of that mattered. Things would always be tense between us as long as this bond was forced. Pa had paved our path to hell, and I was tired being a part of it.

Riding through the streets of Donia felt like a betrayal of the very values and peace our lands once had. No matter where I looked, I couldn’t help this numbing feeling that I didn’t belong here, no matter how easy this place made life seem with its cozy bookshops and places to eat. The merchants outsidesome of these small businesses were thriving, but I knew most of their success was made from the working hands of fae. I knew what lay beyond their accomplishments. Fae would never be welcomed in their true forms, having to glamor their ears, scarred or pointed. Some were still being sold and enslaved. Not every fae who hid among the humans had a choice. This entire place was a prison.

It wasn’t long before I found our building, as if Ryder’s stallion had been here many times before. I rode up to the stables and dismounted once I saw one of the boys walking my way from the barn doors.

Without saying much, I handed him the reins and went back to my room.

I plopped down onto the bed, warring over the complexities of this situation as the weight of it all pushed against my chest. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths, trying to calm myself before it got out of hand. The muscles in my body ached. A tear slipped free as I finally gave in to the tonic’s call, popping the top off and swallowing the contents in the last vial Ryder had given Pa for this journey. It wasn’t long until I succumbed to the effects, overcome by fatigue, and with it, my sorrows drifted me to sleep.

I must have slept for an hour before I was awakened by a clamor of boots and the deep bass of Pa’s voice in the hall. I got out of bed and placed my ear to the door. I heard Pa invite Ryder into his room, and I peeked out to catch a glimpse of Ryder entering before the door closed behind them. Raven was nowhere in sight, which told me he was already roaming the skies. In haste, I removed my boots and quietly tiptoed down the hall to eavesdrop.

“Well, looks like your job is done here, cowboy,” Pa said. A few heavy bags of nara coins thudded on top of the table. Ryder’s last payment.

“Keep it,” Ryder said as the coins made a slight ring—what I assumed was him pushing the bags back toward Pa. My next breath stalled as confusion fell across my face.

What is he doing?

“I don’t want any more of your money. I think what you and Vessa have gone through is enough.”

My heart pounded against my chest as my cheeks heated.

“She struck you that bad, huh?” Pa’s gruff voice ended in a sigh as he drummed his fingers against the wood. “I don’t blame you a damn bit, but you need to understand what you’re getting into. She might be pretty to look at, but she loves just like gold, hard or cold. You cross her the wrong way once, and your fate is sealed.”

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