A deep voice said, “Stop the cart. She’s awake.”
Cart. We must have left the woods.
Instantly, I wished I had kept my mouth shut. The Red Shadow’s gleaming blue eyes appeared in my field of vision as the vehicle rattled to a stop. He was riding atop a dappled gelding as he studied me, a wolfish smile on his face.
“Hello, sweeting,” he purred. “Nice of you to wake up and grace us with your presence.”
I sneered at him. “Don’t call me that.”
He narrowed his gaze, a look of malice crossing his face as he drew closer to me. He opened his mouth to say something when he lurched backward.
“Ugh,” he huffed. “You smell horrible.” Wrinkling his nose, he called to someone I couldn’t see. “Fenris, come here.”
A shuffling sound came from outside the cart moments before a nasally voice answered. “Your Highness?”
“Help my fiancée out of the cart.” My captor waved a hand, and the red ribbons of magic binding my arms to my sides disappeared. My weary muscles cried out in relief as I flexed one arm, and then the next.
Finally.
The Red Shadow continued, “She’ll need to get cleaned up before we reach Hiset. She stinks, and I won’t marry someone who smells like a pig.”
What?
My eyes widened in panic as I sucked in a deep breath. This couldn’t be happening. My heart pounded in my chest as I shook my head. “Marry?” My voice squeaked.
He turned his gaze back to me. “Yes, sweeting.” He sneered. “After your little disappearing act, you and I are going to get married right away. Then I’m going to take you home and teach you exactly what will happen if you continue to disobey me.
“So we are going to Hiset, the priests will marry us and you will be bound to me forever. And then, when we get home, I’m going to lock you up in a tower so dark, you’ll forget you ever knew what the sunlight felt like on your skin.”
The world felt like it disappeared from beneath me as his words settled upon me.
No.
NO.
Kydona help me, but Hiset was nearby. Two or three days of travel would likely bring us there.
I could not marry him. I wouldn’t. But how could I get out of this? I needed to escape, that much was clear. But these prohiberis bracelets were going to make that difficult.
I’d have to find a witch to get them off later.
My mind was swirling when I heard the nasally voice reply, “Yes, sir.”
I tensed, balling my hands into fists when a tall, lanky elf appeared in front of me. He had olive-colored skin and long brown hair, but there was an air of familiarity about him. I stared at him, my brows furrowed as I tried to remember where I knew him from.
“Don’t take all day, Fenris,” the Red Shadow snapped. “I want to get back on the road.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Fenris said. The elf reached into the cart, grabbing my arm with calloused hands. His grip was rough as he wrenched me upwards. “Come here.”
I struggled against his grip, but there was no use. The elf was much taller than me, and clearly much stronger. He must have been Mature. The fact that his upper body hadn’t been bound by magical ties for hours on end certainly gave him an advantage as well.
I frowned as Fenris tightened his hold on my elbow and dragged me towards the bushes.
“Let me go!” I yelled, digging my feet into the ground in an attempt to slow us down.
He ignored me, yanking me over roots and small stones despite my best efforts to stall him. My eyes were wide as I looked around, trying to take in my surroundings.
We had stopped on a dirt road, and we were surrounded by nothing but trees and rocks. Other than the Red Shadow and the cat shifter, I counted the elf currently dragging me into the woods and a fourth male.