Everything within me screamed at me to run. I had to run away. To not look back. I had to act.
And yet, I was frozen on the spot.
Of all the times for my body to fail me. Why now?
“Oh, but it is.” An eerie chuckle filled the air. “I’ve been looking for you.”
That voice. I knew that voice. It haunted my nightmares. It came to me in the worst moments, when I thought about what my married life would have been like. Next tohim.
I began to shake, slowly at first, but then harder and harder as leaves crunched behind me.
Branches snapped, heralding his arrival, and my heart seized.
“Did you miss me, my sweet?” the voice asked.
He was still hidden by the trees, but I knew. I knew who it was. And this time, there was no question.
This was not a dream.
In reply, I screamed. I clenched my fists at my side as I turned around.
“Xander!” I yelled at the top of my lungs as panic threatened to overtake me. “Xander, help me!”
My heart pounded in my chest as I reached for the sword sheathed on my hip. I grabbed the hilt, but before I could do anything more than slide it out of the scabbard, thick red ribbons of magic twisted around me.
The magic yanked me off my feet, forming thick ropes that bound my arms and legs tightly together.
“No.” I moaned, struggling against the bonds. I tried to pull my hand up, but the magic cut into my skin. Every time I moved, the red ribbons tightened.
Soon, I couldn’t move at all.
My own two feet were barely holding me upright. I knew if he released the hold on his magic, I would tumble face-first to the ground.
My eyes widened as I sucked in a deep breath, opening my mouth to scream once more when the branches in front of me shook. His voice was louder than ever as he hissed, “None of that, sweeting.”
My blood ran cold as the Red Shadow finally emerged from the forest. Like a living nightmare, he stood tall in his black tunic. His black wings were nowhere to be seen—as one of the most powerful Death Elves in Ithenmyr, the Red Shadow was also a full-blooded shape-shifter—but even without the wings, he was frighteningly imposing.
His blond, curly hair was tied back as he loomed over me. Two pointy ears were visible, covered in matching crimson caps. Long, obsidian horns curled away from his forehead, pointing to the sky.
The cat—theshifter—was perched on the elf’s shoulders, licking its tiny paws. It seemed completely unperturbed by the red sparks dancing on the Red Shadow’s skin.
“Get away from me!” I huffed.
He raised a blond brow. “You’re rather feisty for someone who is tied up, aren’t you?”
“I will never go anywhere with you. Run home and tell your father I’m not coming back. The two of you can go perish in the seven circles of hell, for all I care.”
Chuckling, the Red Shadow produced a handkerchief from his pocket. I snarled at him, but he just laughed as he stepped forward. I tried to bite him, but he evaded my teeth. He wrapped the handkerchief around my head, tying it at the back of my neck. It tasted horrible, like salt and dirt and sweat.
I can’t believe this is happening.
He patted my head, tutting. “There now. That’s much better. I always liked you better when you couldn’t speak.”
I glared at him, telling him exactly what I thought he could do with himself. Unfortunately, the gag meant my words came out as nothing more than incoherent mumbles. But I knew he got the idea when his hand flew through the air. It seemed to move in slow motion as it approached me. Staring at it, I vowed I wouldn’t flinch. I kept my back straight and sucked in a deep breath.
It wasn’t enough to prepare me for the moment his palm met my face. A clap rang through the forest, and I saw stars. Pain ripped through me, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry out. He thrived on the suffering of others. I knew that from personal experience.
“Don’t youdaredisrespect me again,” he spat. His blue eyes darkened with fury. “You need to be able to spread your legs for me and bear my children. That doesn’t mean you need to be able to walk, or that your pretty face needs to remain unscarred.”