Page 48 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody
The two fae move to the glass balcony, and I struggle to hear their spoken words as they bid each other farewell.
“I’ll see you around, brother.” Finnbheara takes his leave, carrying the bag containing the heads with him. He jumps on the back of the red dragon in one smooth movement.
The ground shakes once again when Sanguisyl takes flight. This time I’m truly terrified of the glasshouse shattering. I breathe in and out quietly, trying to not completely lose it.
Landon, the Shadow Fae, reenters the room and slumps on the chair again, letting out a heavy sigh. His shadow cats encircle him, begging for a rub.
“All right, I’ll feed you soon,” Landon mutters lazily. His voice is truly music to the ears.
The shadow cats run away as soon as he showers them with attention like normal cats do. Landon subtly tilts his head and gazes at the wardrobe.
I don’t move.
I don’t even breathe.
His gaze remains plastered in my direction, long enough for fear to dip in my gut.
There’s no way he can sense me.
I am silent. I am nothing.
“Well, now that our beloved prince has left, time to entertain our next guest.” His posture tenses like a hound that’s caught a scent.
“Or should I say intruder?”
The knot in my chest tightens, strangling my heart.
“Hello, white rabbit,” he greets, his voice light and full of amusement. “You can surrender yourself freely, or the next five minutes will not be pleasant for either of us.”
I ignore his offer while I look for a way out. My eyes snag towards the glass balcony window from where Finnbheara left, but it snaps shut on phantom wind.
“Come out,” the fae orders.
I begin to panic when he walks towards me. He heaves a heavy breath as he places his hand on the wardrobe door. “This won’t be pleasant then.”
No, it won’t.
The door swings open and I kick his chest with both feet. He stumbles backward to the coffee table; the impact sending game pieces sprawling everywhere on the floor. I dash past him towards the entrance.
“After her!” he commands.
If he sends one of those shadow lynxes after me, I’m dead. I head straight towards the door at the bottom of the staircase before it slams shut right in front of me. It’s a good thing that I’m good at picking locks.
I jam the keyhole until it finally gives way. I sprint as fast as I can until another door blocks my path. Each one I pass through is more difficult to open than the next.
Heavens help me.
This stupid castle is trying to let me get caught. I have a sneaking suspicion it was the one who revealed my position to the Shadow Fae. The rug from beneath my feet suddenly folds, bringing me back to the master it serves.
This is getting tiring.
I keep moving forward, but I’m running out of energy. The exhaustion from being chased by the rats last night and the hike from earlier is taking its toll on me.
I feel the house shuddering around me like a living thing. It doesn’t want me to be inside of it, as if I’m a stomach bug. And now it’s doing its best to purge me.
I’m going to die here.
The Arawynn tattoo on my wrist glimmers faintly.
