Page 9 of Fae Lost

“Why will you not stay with me? Have you not learned the rules are different here? An unattached female, dressed provocatively as you are, is fair game at the market. You would be taken, used, and then sold into bondage to the Unseely Court. There you would be prey to every male, even the lower Fae, until you expired. I will not have you suffer that fate, but youmust stay with me.”

He grabbed my shoulders and shook me to emphasize his point until my bones rattled. My knees buckled and only his firm grip kept me upright. No. This was nothing like I was used to back home.

And even though he was the one who’d run off, it didn’t change the fact that without Bleddyn, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

He still glared at me, his face only inches from mine. I raised my gaze to meet his. “Yes. You’re right. Please teach me, Bleddyn. Please show me how to survive in this world.”

Bleddyn held my gaze for a few seconds more, his strange eyes flicking to and fro as he gauged how serious I was. Finally, he nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his full lips.

“The goddess knows I may regret this, but yes, I will make sure you can protect yourself.”

I barely heard what he said, since his mouth so close to mine distracted the hell out of me. Thankfully, he let go of my shoulders and stepped back. “Will you stay by my side this time?”

I took a deep breath, swallowing my snippy response. I really wanted to say, “I will if you slow down, dammit,” but I couldn’t afford to piss him off. Plus, there was my growing attraction. If we found ourselves in another situation with only one bed available, I’d probably not kick him out a second time.

Just on cue, he offered me his arm. “Hold on to me. It is likely the safest option to keep you near.”

I returned his smile timidly and slipped my hand through the crook of his elbow. His scent was still in my nostrils, and I barely stopped myself from taking another deep inhale.

Then we entered the throng for a second time. I was hanging on to Bleddyn, my arm lifted high since he was so tall. But he kept pace with me, and together, we arrived at a small stall, set back from its larger, flashier competitors.

An old man crouched on a stool, staring at the ground between his feet as if the secret of the universe was planted there. His pointy ears poked through his sparse hair. His hands were brown with liver spots, and his haggard cheeks were covered with white stubble.

When we approached, he looked up, his Fae eyes much lighter in color than Bleddyn’s. With an effort, he got to his feet to greet my companion. “Milord, it has been too long.”

“Master Griff. I am delighted to find you hale and hearty. The winter was harsh, and I was afraid you might have succumbed.”

Master Griff reached for Bleddyn’s hand and squeezed. “The draught you sent through Elin saved me. I cannot thank you enough.”

Chapter eight

Tomyastonishment,Bleddyn’sears turned red. It was frigging adorable. So my companion had a thing for saving people. Good to know. But who was Elin?

My eyebrows bunched together, but the moment I became aware of it, I made an effort to smooth my features. Yet the pressure in my chest remained. It took me a second to recognize the emotion. Was I jealous of a girl’s name mentioned in passing? Seriously?

“Who’s Elin?”

I wanted to slap my hand over my mouth, forcing the words back inside. Both men turned and stared at me. The old man said, “Elin is my daughter. She works in the royal household.”

Bleddyn spoke over him, grimacing as if he wished Master Griff hadn’t told me. “She came to me because Griff was very sick. I helped as I could.”

I nodded as if that answered my question, but my mind was stuck on “royal household.” Was that the reason Bleddyn commanded so much respect in this society? Was he also part of the royal household?

Did he know who the mysterious “HRH” was who’d ordered human kids to be abducted and murdered in this realm? Amber and I had stumbled on that information by accident, and it had kicked off the events that found me in Faerie by myself.

My head hurt from the rollercoaster of emotions, pushing me this way and then another. My heart was convinced he was a trustworthy ally, but this new piece of information threw me for a loop. Why hadn’t he told me he wasn’t just a simple traveler?

Bleddyn chatted with the old man, unaware of my inner turmoil. He owed me no explanations. I hadn’t asked, and he hadn’t volunteered. All I knew for sure was that he’d saved Master Griff the same way he’d saved me several times now.

“What do you think?” Bleddyn had moved to examine the wares spread on the old man’s cart. He held up the ugliest dress I’d ever seen. The bodice and skirt were shapeless, and the fabric scratchy and rough. It was also a hideous brown color, and I’d rather die than be seen in it.

He didn’t need words from me, it seemed. My horrified expression said enough. Holding up another garment, he asked, “What about this one?”

It looked even worse. Mustard-yellow and boxy, it would drown me. My sewing skills were non-existent, so there was no chance I’d be able to fit it to my body. I shook my head vigorously.

Soon, Bleddyn ran out of dresses to show me. There was nothing I’d wear in public. Nothing. His face twitched, clearly at the end of his patience.

“You must wear something different, Beth. Your garments… You draw attention wherever you go.”

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