Page 17 of Fated or Knot

“Does this train go to Zemosia?” I asked an attendant. That was the furthest sanctuary city from here, on a tiny island all its own. I fancied going there since my stepfamily assumed I was incredibly lazy. They would try to search the closer sanctuaries for me first and maybe give up from there. I would have time to settle and make a life for myself in a city only occupied by betas and omegas.

And I would be a citizen protected by the law if Cymora and Laurel found me and tried to take me back to Osme Fen.

The attendant gave me a long look before gesturing behind him. Out of the train walked three familiar barkfolk, Ellisar and his brothers. They were fae of the wood, growing shingles of bark that they wore instead of clothes. Ellisar, the eldest, had the largest plates, which resembled a tunic that rattled with each of his steps. He took me in with cold, moss-green eyes that matched the vines growing from his scalp and woven in amongst his bark.

“Here she is, as you suspected,” the attendant said, gesturing to me.

I shot him a look of betrayal when Ellisar stepped forward and seized my shoulder. “You thought you could get away from us just like that? Weownyou, wretch.”

I trembled where I stood, lips poised on a response. The scene froze again, as if my sleeping mind rejected the idea that Pack Ellisar would know to wait for me on the train to Zemosia.

They’re not here. They wouldn’t follow my family to Ilysnor in the first place.

A misty figure wafted around Ellisar, inspecting his grip on my shoulder.“Who are these fae?”it whispered.

I tried to glance at the figure, but it was like looking at a warped mirror. All I saw were shapes and colors that didn’t match what it seemed to be. “Pack Ellisar,” I answered in a humiliated hush. “I had to agree to a breeding contract with them…”

“And so they think they own you.”A scoff of disgust lifted from it before a translucent hand waved.

My dream rearranged, and I blinked, now standing in front of a female attendant. “This is the rail to Zemosia, yes,” she said kindly. “Right this way.”

I shook off the oily feeling of what could’ve occurred here and followed her into a little room set with plush seating and a window overlooking the train station. As soon as I sat down, the seats across from me were suddenly filled by two males and their alluring scents.

“Alphas aren’t allowed to go to Zemosia,” I said guilelessly.

“We’re not going to Zemosia,” Tormund said in his thick accent. He reached over and locked the door of the chamber.

I swallowed thickly as the haze over their faces cleared. A tremor shook me as the scene darkened, deepening the shadows in the room as I quaked with fear. Tormund eyed me like I was his next meal, while Fal sat with his hands laced under his chin. The latter’s naturally mischievous features were well shaped for casual cruelty, and his harsh smirk was exactly what I’d expected from the unmasked Unseelie prince.

They were wearing the same clothes I’d seen them in last, complete with the roughly cut cloak tucked under Tormund’s thighs. What else would they wear?

Tension pulsed thick through the air as I waited with dread for what they would say. Something told me they had worse in store for me than Pack Ellisar. Fate was unkind to tie us togetheras scent matches when they were princes and I was next to nothing. “You are a disappointment,” Fal finally said, his teasing tone turned cutting. “But you are still ours. We’re taking you to Serian.”

“Even a servant can fulfill her purpose for our pack.” Tormund scented the air and rumbled deep in his chest. “Your heat is soon. Time to do your duty.”

“N-no,” I whispered, as if my wants mattered. As if they’d listen.

Fal chuckled darkly. “Now for the key question. Which of us will breed her first?”

My hands clenched on my thighs, and I lowered in the chair with a whimper of denial. Of course they’d use me for breeding. That was exactly what Pack Ellisar bought my first heat for. To have a soft omega to fuck and impregnate.

The figure of warped air was back, standing beside me.“I can’t watch any more. This is not them at all.”

The two princes and their comments fuzzed into white noise. Shutting my eyes tightly, I willed them away. They weren’t right. Tormund didn’t know enough Theli to make crude comments about my body, and Fal… I was pretty sure I’d dreamed his features incorrectly. These weren’t the males I’d met. At least, I sure hoped this wasn’t a glimpse at their true intentions.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing before the nice attendant again. “It goes to all places, dear. Zemosia included,” she said.

Here we go again.I glanced around sluggishly, palms sweating as she led me onto the train once more. What other horrors could she possibly seat me with? My stepfamily?

But she showed me to a seat straight from my favorite childhood restaurant, with the window to the outside world now overlooking a worn wooden table. Upon it was a feast of my favorite foods from there: roast boar, herb-stuffed mushrooms,cheesy potatoes, and apple tartlets decorated with thin slices of apple folded into a rose shape on the top.

“We’re prepared for a long trip. Enjoy, and once evening comes, we have special beds prepared for our omega guests,” the attendant said in a sweet voice.

She disappeared the next moment, and I dug into the food without a second thought for her. It tasted just how I remembered, and I settled into my chair with a soft sigh as the memories sharpened every detail. The scratchiness along my back was the aging stitching on the chair, poorly repaired, if at all, with its innards poking out.

It smelled a bit like Osme Fen—the row of shops and restaurants that served the locals had a particular odor from the animals kept at the local farmsteads. Even the estate sometimes received a rank wind that smelled just like this. But that was just home. And though I could lie to myself, I wouldn’t. I missed home. Especially how it used to be, when Father would take me to dine here, just him and I.

I have to leave this behind. Forever.

---