Page 24 of Consort

I sob out an apology as I try to regain my balance. But instead of accepting, it wraps a smaller root around my ankle and pulls me to the ground. Dryads are usually peaceful. I’m shocked by its harsh reaction. I’m cursed. That’s it. That’s the only explanation. I ran from fate, but it found me and struck back. Through a gentle dryad, no less.

There’s nothing to do but lie in the dirt while I try to catchmy breath. I listen for the innot, expecting it to come crashing through the trees any second. But it doesn’t. And, after a while, I manage to breathe normally again.

Once I’m calm, the dryad releases its grip on my ankle. I lie still and watch as the root settles back into the ground where it came from. After cautiously sitting up, I peer at the tree, searching for the hidden face within the trunk. I consider thanking it for letting me go, but I’m still pissed about it grabbing me in the first place.

Holding back a huff, I get to my feet and take a gentle step in the direction I had been going. Part of me expects the dryad to reach out and stop me again. When it doesn’t, I push through the thick mass of pink whisper bushes and come face to face with a giant wall of solid rock.

Damn.If the dryad hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve slammed face-first into the rocky side of this massive hill.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling my face grow hot. I should have known no dryad would be cruel like that.Fate may be against me, but at least someone was on my side today.I need to remember that there are friends in the forest, not just threats.

I move sideways in the direction of our hut—I think—hoping to find the hill’s end and go around. But it seems to stretch on forever. Turning back the way I came isn’t an option. The innot’s venom is still fresh on that path. The only safe way back is blocked by this giant fucking boulder.

I curse my Omega fear for making me flee blindly into the woods. Though, I guess I should give myself a little credit. At least I did something other than cry for an Alpha to rescue me. But I’m still stuck here, at least until the venom has had time to dry up.

And now... I’m beginning to feel sick. Sweat beads on my forehead as the heat in my cheeks spreads over the rest of my body. The rocky hillside seems to sway as dizziness takes hold ofme.

I must have brushed against some of the innot’s venom.

I need to get home, but it’s a struggle just to stay upright. My instinct is to plop down on my ass and sob, but I push away the urge to be useless. Giving up won’t help anything.

I stumble forward, determined to find a way around. I’m relieved when I manage to find a break in the stone. Unfortunately, it’s just an opening into a cave, not a way back to my mother. It’s no use. I won’t find her. I’m going to die.

But not out here, letting the innot or some other creature finish me off. If I can make it deeper into the cave, I can die somewhat peacefully. And there’s a chance Mother will find my body. She’ll know that I’m gone, not just lost. She can move on and find a new pack without the lingering thought that I might still be saved.

I stagger into the cave, feeling my way along the walls as I push myself forward. My muscles ache, and I feel like my stomach is being ripped in two. The fever is pressing down on me, trying to force me to quit. But I won’t. I’ll find my end the way I choose it.

The cold, hard wall opens up into a wider chamber. A few streams of light are shining through the cracks in the stone, and I can see a bed of straw against the back. Just ten paces away. I can do this.

I take the first two steps, fighting back waves of nausea. My vision blurs when I stop to breathe, making it even worse. I close my eyes as I press on, hoping it will calm the dizziness. It doesn’t. I veer off course with each stumbling step, requiring double the effort to stay on track. It’s like trying to get back to my tent after too much wine. And it’s taking more energy than I have to give.

Eventually, I manage to reach the back of the cave, just shy of the straw. I collapse onto the floor, letting my face press againstthe cool stone. It soothes my fever but leaves me focused on the cramping in my belly.

I’m pissed. I just found my freedom, and it’s being ripped away. The pain is so severe, though, I almost welcome death in its place.

I curl up into a ball and smirk at the darkness closing in on me. Fate can kill me for refusing the bullshit destiny it chose for me. At least I didn’t succumb to the pathetic instincts of my designation. And I won’t be spending the rest of my years passed around by repulsive Alphas.

Fuck you, fate. I still won.

Chapter 10

Durin

I wake in my chambers to the sound of tip-toeing footsteps on the stone floor. The smell of freshly baked bread almost brings a smile to my lips, but a dark, dirty feeling still clings to me from last night. No smile could shine its way through that.

The queen dismissed me as soon as I’d satisfied her. The desire and lust that got me through it faded as soon as I left her room. I barely reached my own before vomiting.

As I watch the servants scurry about, I consider the empath who got me through the evening. I need to find out more about him. Something tells me that he was helping me, not servingher. He could be a valuable ally. Plus, if I’m forced to repeat last night’s horrors, I’ll need his help.

I decided to use my status to infiltrate the nobility and take down the queen. Until last night, I hadn’t considered that there may be nobles here under duress like me. I’ll need to study their behaviors and learn more about them so I can figure out where each of them stands. The burden of killing the mixed fae is heavy enough. I won’t accept the weight of more innocent lives.

When the servants finally leave, I drag myself over to the small table covered with sweet breads and fruit. I devour all of it and swallow every drop of tea. It sits like a brick in my stomach, but I need to be ready for anything today.

After scrubbing myself raw in the bath the servants blessedly left for me, I dress in the new tunic and cloak they laid out. They’re both stark white, sure to stand out among the vibrant colors of the forest. The queen’s royal emblem sits right over my chest in gray, reminding me where my loyalty should lie.

Wearing the same attire as Mitah did makes me want to burn it all to ash. But it’s my shield against the other nobles. I remind myself to be grateful that I’m still alive.

I shove on my boots and head out the door, starved for fresh air. Two guards greet me as soon as I step into the hallway, crushing my hopes of navigating the castle alone. One heads off down the hallway, and the other nudges me to follow him.

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