by L. P. Dover
He scooped me up off the ground and sighed heavily. “Holy hell, Your Highness, please forgive me. My eyes must have deceived me because I could have sworn I was chasing a warrior.”
“You were,” I told him groggily. I was exhausted and in pain, and I didn’t want to lose consciousness … not yet.
Carrying me in his arms, he managed to mount his horse by pulling up on the saddle with one hand and keeping me balanced with the other. “Are you hurt?” he asked softly.
He touched the back of my head and I winced. “Just right there where you touched. My horse knocked me off when you shot her. I think you owe me big time after this.”
“I don’t know if I can ever make up for hurting you, Ariella. I was told you had gone missing so we’ve been trying to track you down. We need to get you home where you’ll be safe. We were on our way there in hopes we could intercept you when one of my men scouted you out. He thought you were a traitor headed toward the Black Forest.”
“You can’t take me home,” I pleaded, my eyes wide. “I will do whatever you want me to just please don’t take me back. Everything I’ve done would be for nothing. Please, Bastian …”
Bastian groaned and closed his eyes. “You do realize how this will complicate things if Bayleon finds out I found you and didn’t bring you back. Not only will I have his wrath, but your lover’s as well. I think I need something in return for this favor,” he decided.
“What happened to owing me?” I muttered incredulously.
“What happened to doing whatever I want just so I wouldn’t take you back?” he countered mockingly.
Merrick smirked. “This guy is good. I guess with being what he is he perfected the art of manipulation over the years.”
Narrowing my gaze, I huffed and pursed my lips at Bastian, ignoring Merrick’s comment. “Fine, what do you want?”
Smiling, he pulled on the reins and we set off deeper into the woods. “I only want one night with you, Ariella. Now that you are queen, I know I will never get a night like this for as long as I live.”
“What do you mean by one night with me, Bastian? You know I can’t give you what you want,” I murmured warily.
He sighed and rolled his eyes. “I know that and I would never ask that of you unless you came to me willingly. I can feel it in your soul how much you love your king and I know you would never betray that bond.”
“Then what is it that you want?”
Bastian gazed up at the dark sky and then down to me. I was still clutched in his arms as we rode through the blackness of the Mystical Forest. “There are only a couple of hours left until dawn. All I want is for you to talk to me like you had before, like I was someone who was worthy of your time.”
“But you are worthy, Bastian. You can’t help the way you were born. I just wish there was a way I could break the curse on your people. I do want to see you happy,” I uttered wholeheartedly.
He smiled and held me tighter. “Being with you tonight will make me happy. You have no idea how much. I promise to let you go at dawn.”
“Thank you, Bastian. It means a lot,” I said.
“Anything for you.”
BASTIAN AND KRILL, the other Tyvar who had helped chase me down, built a small camp under the canopy of trees on the outskirts of the Mystical Forest. Merrick stayed with me the entire time, sitting in the corner of the little hut that Bastian and Krill made as our makeshift shelter. For the past couple of hours, I talked to him about many things … normal things, and also the fact that I could see my sister’s dead guardian and that he was accompanying us. I wasn’t too sure if he believed me or not since I took a hard hit to the head.
Bastian wasn’t accustomed to having a female around that could talk to him without wanting to rip his clothes off. You would think that would be any guy’s dream to have naked women around you all the time, but I was wrong. I felt how lonely and sad he was not knowing what it would be like to have a normal life. He got a taste for it with Meliantha when she kissed him, and I could see it in his eyes that he wanted to feel it again.
“You never told me what you were doing out here, Ariella. I want to know why you don’t want me to take you back to your king. Did he do something to you?” he asked, clenching his jaw.
“No,” I cried, shaking my head. “Brayden would never do anything to harm me. You’re not going to like what I tell you, but unfortunately, it’s the way things have to be.”
I swallowed down the last handful of berries and took a sip of water. I couldn’t believe how hungry I was. Bastian already knew basically everything because of Meliantha. However, he didn’t know about the scroll and what it said. Quickly, I told him about the dagger I carried and how I was the one who needed to kill the sorcerer. I skirted over the fact that I might not survive it.
“You’re going to do what?” he demanded angrily, jumping to his feet. Merrick, fully alert now, got to his feet as well and stood above me. It was strange to think that I could see him in front of me, but Bastian couldn’t. Bastian continued in a low growl, “If I would’ve known this was going to happen I wouldn’t have agreed to let you go. From what you’re telling me it sounds like you won’t be making it home from the Black Forest. Is that what you’re telling me?”
Still sitting on the ground, I gazed up at him and nodded. “Yes,” I whispered. “That’s why I had to leave. If Brayden knew he wouldn’t have let me go.” I got to my feet and faced him. “I have to do this, Bastian.”
He shook his head and glared at me. “The only way you are going is if I go with you,” he argued. “And if you refuse I’ll tie you up and carry you back to the Winter Court. Trust me, you don’t want me to do that.”
“No,” I exclaimed. “I don’t care what you threaten me with, I’m not going to let you put yourself in danger. The whole reason why I’m doing this alone is so I can keep you all safe and protect you.”
Bastian scoffed and began saddling up his horse while Krill saddled up his own as well. Merrick elbowed me in the side to get my attention. “I know you don’t want to put him in harm’s way, but he would be able to help you. Yes, I’m here with you, but there’s nothing I can do to protect you. I can only touch you and no one else.”
“I said no,” I hissed quietly.
Merrick sighed and squeezed my shoulder sympathetically. “I’m sorry, Ariella, but you’re not going to be able to make that decision for him.” Unfortunately, I knew he was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to deal with. Risking myself was one thing, but risking one of my friends was another.
When Bastian got done with his horse he stalked over to me and took me by the arms, holding me firm. “You do not have a choice in this, Ariella. Either you let me go with you or I take you back. It is all up to you.”
“Why are you doing this? I told you that the chance of surviving is practically none,” I told him.
Nonchalantly, he shrugged and lifted me up on his horse while Krill held the reins. Probably so I wouldn’t run off. “Then we will die together, Your Highness,” Bastian stated. “I would rather die honorably with you by my side than live centuries with the curse of my people. I am going with you whether you like it or not.”
Bastian quickly mounted Krill’s horse and called him over. Before sending him off on foot, he explained to him what he wanted him to relay back to his people, “Krill, when you find Bayleon tell him to send word to Meliantha that her sister is fine, and that I am with her. I’m not going to let her do this alone.”
Krill frowned and bowed his head, replying solemnly, “As you wish, Bastian. Safe journey to you.”
The farewell hung heavily in the air and immediately I regretted ever agreeing to let him come with me. Bastian wasn’t just a normal Tyvar, he was one of their leaders with a brother who would miss him if he didn’t make it back alive. The thought was like a knife in my gut, twisting and opening me up to more pain and death. I was hurting everyone by my decision to leave, and it killed me to know I was causing so much heartache and g
rief.
Bastian clasped Krill’s forearm and said his good-bye, “Farewell, my brother. If I don’t return then hopefully one day I will see you in the Hereafter. I can only pray that I am worthy enough to be set free.”
Krill bowed to both of us and then set off at a brisk pace through the trees. I watched him disappear and imagined how angry Brayden and the others were going to be when they found out Bastian went against orders and didn’t bring me in. If we survived this ordeal, the outcome wasn’t going to be good.
“Why do you have that look on your face?” Bastian asked curiously. He sidled up to my right side while Merrick took up my left.
I blew out a heavy sigh and gave him a withering glance. “You better hope we don’t survive this,” I told him.
“And why is that?” he asked, lifting a curious brow.
“Because,” I started, “once Brayden finds out you’re with me and didn’t take me back, he’s going to be angry enough to kill. I fear of what he will do to you if we make it out alive.”
Bastian scoffed, “I am not worried, Your Highness. If he feels the need to fight me then he can. I am not easy to take down.”
Neither was he.
TRAIPSING ACROSS THE barren land to get to the Black Forest was ominous at best. Each step took us closer and closer to our doom and to the unknown. Merrick described what it was like on the way there, and I explained it all to Bastian as Merrick spoke. We were on the edge of the forest where the dark, oily trees stood high into the sky, filtering out all shades of sunlight. I shivered just gazing up at them.
“You might want to glamour yourself now,” Merrick suggested.
I nodded and turned to him. “Good idea, but as what? We need to find this Gothin you spoke of and kill him. What is the best way to get to him?”
Bastian spoke up, “It is simple, Your Highness. No one could deny a beautiful female, especially if she’s taken prisoner and entranced with the Tyvar curse. With me joining their side, I could offer you to him and that would get you close.”
I groaned. “Okay, so female it is.”
I knew the sorcerer liked the Summer Fae women more so than any others, so I glamoured myself to be golden skinned with a hint of red in a shade of golden blonde hair and green eyes. I took characteristics of my sisters and Sorcha and put them all into one. Merrick and Bastian both sucked in a sharp breath, their eyes wide.
“What do you think?” I asked, glancing back and forth to both of them.
Merrick smiled and reached over to touch my cheek. “You look so much like Calista right now.”
He tenderly grazed my cheek and then pulled back when he realized what he was doing. My heart ached for him because I knew he wished Calista could see him and talk to him like I was doing. Seeing each other in the dream realm wasn’t exactly the same as seeing each other in real time. Not to mention he couldn’t touch her like he could touch me.
Bastian took a strand of my hair and rolled it through his fingers, smiling as he looked into my eyes. “I can see traces of Meliantha in you,” he murmured. “She’s a beautiful woman, but no one could ever be as beautiful as you. They aren’t going to be able to resist when they see you.”
“Thank you,” I uttered kindly. I then turned to Merrick and said, “I think we’re ready. Lead the way. I don’t know where we’re going.”
He grunted. “Unfortunately, I do. Once we get to the middle of the forest we will come to a village. The sorcerer’s dwelling is inside the massive tree you will see. You won’t be able to miss it. The troll you want to find should be close by there. I’m sure someone will lead us to him.”
Merrick took the lead while Bastian and I followed side by side behind him. As soon as we entered into the forest it was like all life had been sucked out of everything around us. The air smelled like death and decay, and everywhere I turned there was nothing except blackness. I guess it got its name for a reason.
I placed a hand on my dagger and took a deep breath. It felt so right in my hand that I knew I was meant for this, like it was made exactly for me. “Are you ready for this?” Merrick asked, turning his head so he could glance back at me.
I nodded, but I couldn’t deny that I was a little nervous. What if I failed?
The whole time we rode through the forest I could hear the blood pounding in my ears and the shallowness of my breath as I tried to breathe. I had never been surrounded by so much evil and death, and hearing the erratic beating of my heart didn’t help. Abruptly, Merrick came to a stop and held up his hand for us to halt. He pointed to an area up ahead where I could see the first sign of lights and hear the far away chatter of the sorcerer’s army.
“We’re almost there,” Merrick informed us. “You might want to hide your dagger as well.” I did as he said and hid it under my shirt behind my back. “When you get into the village, just get Bastian to ask someone how to find Gothin. I’m hoping that works, but if not I know what he looks like. Also, it might be good for you two to ride on the same horse going in.”
“Why?” I asked incredulously.
Exasperated, Merrick rolled his eyes and said, “If you’re supposed to be Bastian’s sex slave, don’t you think you would be a little bit closer to him than that. I thought the women who got enamored by them couldn’t keep their hands away.”
Groaning, I turned to look at Bastian who had a bewildered look on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Merrick thinks we should ride in on the same horse together since I’m supposed to be your sex slave and all,” I answered matter-of-factly. Bastian tried to hold back his smile and failed. “Don’t get any ideas,” I snapped at him. “It will only add to Brayden’s wrath if we make it out alive.”
Bastian shook his head and slid back to make more room in front of him. He patted the saddle with his hand, a big smile on his face. “I would be foolish to not take advantage of this situation. If is the key word here, Your Highness. If I am going to die then why shouldn’t I enjoy what little bit of joy I have left? I would gladly submit to the wrath of your lover just to be here with you.”
Merrick lifted a brow and chuckled. “He has it bad for you, doesn’t he? No wonder Kalen doesn’t like it when Meliantha gets visits from him and his brother.” I laughed and rolled my eyes knowing very well none of it was funny, but I had to find humor somewhere to get my mind off of what we were about to do. It was probably the last laugh I would have.
Slowly, I climbed down from my horse and took Bastian’s hand so he could pull me up in front of him. He wrapped his arms around my waist with one across my stomach while the other held onto the reins. “Let’s go, lover,” he whispered jokingly in my ear.
“Keep it up, Bastian,” I warned halfheartedly. He chuckled low in my ear and held me tighter just to mess with me.
As we approached the village there were guards stationed at the entrance. “Make sure you ask for Gothin,” I told him quietly. Our time for joking was over.
I could feel him nod and tense behind me when the two giant Redcaps stopped us at the entrance. “Who are ye?” one of them said in a gruff voice. The blood from his cap ran in rivulets down the sides of his face. He smelled of raw meat and the metallic scent of the blood pulsing out of his cap.
“I am looking for Gothin,” Bastian announced. “I was told he was the one I needed to find. I have a gift for the sorcerer.”
The other Redcap approached from the other side and poked me in the leg with his pikestaff, piercing my skin through the leather pants I was wearing. The blood pooled by the wound and slowly drifted down my leg. Before the blood could fall to the ground, the Redcap took off his cap and soaked it up like a starved animal. Bastian growled low in his throat and held me tighter while I held my breath, hoping that it wouldn’t come down to a fight.
When the Redcap placed the cap back on his head, he closed his eyes, releasing a contented sigh, and staggered forward as if he was drunk. “Aye, tis a nice gift ye have there,” he said admiringly.
“So can we
pass?” Bastian questioned impatiently through clenched teeth. I could feel the anger emanating off of him, and I knew that if they didn’t let us pass he was going to attack.
The Redcap who took my blood immediately stepped aside and replied, “Aye, ye can pass.” The other one glanced at us warily before slowly moving out of the way and letting us go.
Without wasting any time, Merrick, Bastian, and I entered on our horses and steadily made it through the camp. There were creatures everywhere: faeries, trolls, Redcaps, leprechauns, dwarves, and even some elves. They all stared at us like wolves as we sauntered past them, and I prayed that they wouldn’t stop us. I couldn’t believe the amount of people who had turned on our courts.
“Just keep going,” Merrick assured us. “Do not stop until we get to Gothin. I know where he’ll be.”
We followed him until we got to the massive tree which stood as the sorcerer’s private dwelling. Merrick had been in this exact same spot years ago when he and Ryder were waiting to save Calista. It was the same day he died, the same day my sister’s heart broke. Bastian dismounted and inspected the wound on my leg from where the Redcap punctured me.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I gazed down at my leg, and since we healed fast the wound had already started to close up. I nodded and answered him, “Yeah, I’m fine. It didn’t hurt as much as it pissed me off. I was afraid we were going to fight.”
“I thought so, too. I did not like what he did to you at all.”
I smiled up at him. “I’ve had worse done. Believe me.”
“All right, you two, let’s go,” Merrick called. “We need to find Gothin before the sorcerer finds you.” He stared at various places in the village and then pointed to a building off to our right. “And I do believe we will find the troll in there.”
