I lurched back as far as the bonds would allow. Fear as cold as the rain that had been pouring from the skies earlier ran through my veins. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nodded.
He smirked. “Ah, I see you understand me. Good. It’s time to go.”
Staring at him, I tried to figure out if there was a way to stall. Maybe, just maybe, if we waited long enough, Xander or Daegal would come looking for me?
As if he could read my mind—I was fairly certain he couldn’t. At least, I’d never heard of a Death Elf who was capable of telepathy—the Red Shadow chuckled. “Oh, you think they’re going to rescue you? That little boy and his Fortune Elf.” He shook his head, a glimmer entering his eyes as he flicked his hand.
The strands of magic holding me tight lifted me off the ground and I began tofloatalongside him as he strode through the forest. “No, I’m afraid that’s not going to happen. You see, they’re quite… busy right now. I made sure of it. By the time they realize you’re missing, you and I will be long gone.”
I struggled against the gag, managing to free a corner of my mouth. “If you hurt any of them…”
The Red Shadow laughed. He bent over, slapping his knees as though I had told a joke. Behind the gag, I fumed. “I’m serious,” I spat. “Don’t hurt them.”
“Oh, my.” He chuckled. “Has the king’s pet grown some teeth? What will you do, Aileana? Bite me? I’d like to see you try.”
I shook my head, speaking around the fabric as I seethed, “I’m going to kill you.”
One moment he was in front of me, and the next, my head was twisting back. His palm slammed into me twice as hard as it had before and this time, I couldn’t help but cry out as the bark cut into my back. Stars erupted in my vision as pain ripped through my head.
Behind me, the leaves stirred, and I could feel the pulse of the earth beneath my bound fingertips. Clenching my teeth, I tried to summon the magic that had saved me before.
It wasn’t working. I had no idea how to use my gifts and I was going to lose my freedom because of it.
“You will do no such thing,” the Red Shadow seethed.
He reached up, red sparks flying over his hands as he readjusted the gag around my mouth. Then he bent and unbuckled the scabbard from my waist. I watched, wide-eyed, as my only weapon fell silently to the forest floor. “I was going to let my magic carry you along, but now I see some physical exercise might help you come to terms with your new situation.”
The Red Shadow waved a hand, and the restraints around my legs dissolved into thin air. I fell to the ground in a lump, my knees unable to support the sudden weight of my body. He scoffed, reaching down and pulling me up roughly.
“Walk,” he ordered.
I sucked in a deep breath, my vision blurring, but I didn’t fight back. I heard the cutting-edge in his voice, the threat of barely contained violence simmering under his calm facade, and I didn’t push him further.
Tears slipped down my cheeks, but I didn’t fight against the magic binding my arms against my sides. I ignored the tight hold of the gag around my mouth.
I pushed all thoughts of Xander out of my mind.
He wasn’t coming, and I had to accept that. He regretted kissing me, and he had made it clear he didn’t want me as his mate.
I had tried to be free and look where that had gotten me. I had caused Jo’s death and now I was at the whim of the Red Shadow. We weren’t even at court, where prying eyes would presumably keep me safe. No, here in the forest, he could do whatever he wanted to me. No one would stop him.
I’d seen what red magic could do.
And so I walked.
My muscles ached, my lungs burned, and my heart pounded as I lifted one foot and placed it in front of the other. A seemingly never-ending flow of salty tears ran down my cheeks, dampening my gag.
And I walked.
* * *
The day slipped away as we trekked through the woods. I stumbled and fell countless times. Dozens of scratches covered my cheeks and tiny tears ran through my dress, but we didn’t take a break.
Marching through the forest became the only thing I knew.
Shivering in my damp dress, I stared at my captor’s back. I found solace in imagining what it would look like with a multitude of daggers sticking out of it.
I tried to remember how far The Pines were from my tower. We’d been on horseback and had journeyed at least a week. The problem was, I wasn’t sure if the Red Shadow was taking me back to the tower or to his…