Page 40 of Prince of Never

A hulking figure in a strange mask appeared nearby, its dark features accentuated with red and gold paint, creating a haunting visage that pulled a scream from my throat.‘Ethan?’I cried as he pulled me closer, his pace quickening.

‘This is the part of the night where our high fae overlords round up some unlucky lessers for their games tomorrow.’

‘Games?’

But Ethan didn’t answer me.Another masked figure appeared in the crowd, then another.They seemed to be making a beeline for us.I stumbled, slowing our pace, as panic began to squeeze my chest.‘Ethan, leave me, I’m only slowing you down.’

‘I’m not leaving you.If I have to carry you out of here, I will.’The determined set of his face made my chest swell with gratitude and I picked up my pace as best I could in the shoes I was wearing.

But I wasn’t fast enough.Hands caught me around the waist.‘Got you!’one of the masked figures said, snatching me away from Ethan.

‘No!Let go!’I shouted as I struggled in his grip.

‘Imogen!’Ethan grabbed for me but it was no use.Another figure descended on him, pushing him into the ground as he struggled.

‘Don’t hurt him!’I shouted, struggling harder.The masked face leaned in closer, and breathed in a long, deep inhale.

‘This one’s human.’He said the words with a twisted sort of glee, pulling me in closer.‘Tell you what, you come with us like a good little creature and we won’t hurt your friend.’

‘Don’t you dare, Imogen,’ Ethan said through gritted teeth.There was dirt smeared all over his face and his chest.Blood dripped from a cut on his cheek.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said, my body growing still.‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Good girl,’ my captor said, and he moved his grip to my arms, pulling them tight behind my back as he began to lead me between the bonfires, which looked strange and lonely without the crowds of revellers surrounding them.Ethan was being dragged behind me.Every time I tried to look over my shoulder at him, I was jostled roughly.

A circular structure came into view, lit by torches.It was a mound in the ground cut with crude hatches that seemed to be made of jumbled branches.I swallowed hard as a masked figure opened one of the hatches, revealing a deep hole.Panic squeezed tighter, narrowing my throat as I stared down into the swirling darkness.

‘Wait, please!’I begged as I struggled against my captor.I found no sympathy there.He gave me a shove and I tumbled into the hole, hitting the ground hard enough to knock the air from my lungs.

‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’Ethan demanded.I’d never heard him angry before.But his outrage fell on deaf ears and he was shoved into the hole, landing next to me with a lot more grace than I had.He reached out, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet.‘Are you alright?’he asked.

‘I’d be better if there was a light down here,’ I said, trying to reign in my fear.There were others in there with us.I couldn’t make them out well in the darkness, but I did catch glimpses of glowing eyes and heard the sounds of bodies shuffling.

‘Come here,’ he said, leading me carefully to the wall of the strange cell.He gently pulled me to the ground, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

‘Why didn’t you leave me?’I asked.

‘Immy, do you really think I would leave you to face this lot on your own?’he asked as if I was stupid.‘That wouldn’t make me a very good friend.’

‘Maybe, but now you’re trapped here, too.’

‘Do you remember how we met?’

‘Sure,’ I said.‘You’d forgotten your wallet at the cafeteria.’He was new to the university at the time.He’d looked so lost and there was something about him that made me feel instantly comfortable, which was strange given that I didn’t trust people easily.I was helping him before I’d even decided I was going to do it.

‘And you paid for my lunch, even though you’d never met me before.You’re probably the best human I’ve ever met.’

‘Because I bought you lunch?’I asked, a laugh bubbling in my throat.‘I think you need to raise your standards.’

‘Stop being a dick, you know what I mean.It’s not like that’s the only thing you’ve ever done,’ he said, tapping me on the nose.

‘Well, this is a bigger ask than a cheap cafeteria meal,’ I said, my lips stretching into a smile despite myself.

‘There she is,’ he said fondly.‘It really is a shame you’re not more masculine.’

I scoffed and smacked him.But as the silence stretched between us, my thoughts circled back to our situation.‘What’s going to happen to us?’

Ethan puffed out a long breath.‘At dawn, the high fae have a hunt.’

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