Chapter 4
Chapter Four
T he gentle rocking of my body back and forth roused me to consciousness. I tried to open my eyes yet was met by blinding sunlight, coaxing me to close them once again. I winced. My head pulsed, and the throbbing worsened with each passing second. A strange but comforting warmth enveloped me, contrasting with the chilly breeze that grazed my face. Despite my groggy state, I mustered the effort to peel my eyelids apart, blinking against the glare.
Where was I? I seemed to be on a horse, cocooned between arms that held me snugly from both sides. I breathed in a honey-infused lavender and violet aroma, lulling in and out of my hazy state. When I glanced to my right, I saw an unfamiliar muscular arm. Slowly, I turned to examine the individual positioned behind me. The once-hooded man was now unveiled, locking his piercing eyes onto mine.
“She wakes,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. The right corner of his mouth lifted, and his dark hair cascaded over his features. My attention flicked to his ears, which rose to a subtle point. Beneath his stare, I was immobilised, yet his eyes were unrelenting, upholding the connection for a moment longer. A rush of warmth flushed my cheeks as I realised how close and intimate this position was. I averted my gaze in an instant.
“Do you know what you have done?” I demanded.
“I stopped you,” he replied, his voice hushed. “I stopped you from making a reckless and profoundly foolish, desperate decision.”
“Do you not understand the consequences of leaving my brother and sister?” I shot at him, my words slicing the air with urgency. I wanted to erase the self-satisfied expression from his face. “You may as well have personally delivered him to the King yourself!” Nausea surged in my stomach as if I were about to— “Lower me to the ground.”
“We are nearly at our destination; be patient,” he countered.
“Release me this instant!”
“You may think me foolish, but I can assure you, I am anything but?—”
“I’m going to be sick,” I insisted.
“Sick?” he repeated, his tone puzzled.
“Yes! Hurry!” I tapped his hands in a state of desperation.
“Whoa,” he murmured to the horse, coaxing it to a gradual halt.
He eased me to the ground, yet I shoved his hands aside, staggering toward the nearest tree. Kneeling behind it, I retched repeatedly, expelling the contents of my stomach until nothing but bitterness remained in my mouth.
“Someone fetch her a drink,” he commanded.
The world spun, overwhelming my senses. “Oh gods.” I held my stomach and squeezed my eyes shut. The air seemed unusually thick, and nothing about my surroundings smelled familiar. The wind rustled through my hair and whispered in my ears like a subtle caress.
My eyes snapped open to face my surroundings. Hold on a moment—where am I? The city, the path to the Sagayan farmland, and even the King’s castle were nowhere to be seen. Where had it vanished to? I gulped, and a fiery sensation scorched my throat.
The landscape stretched out in vivid shades of green, brimming with vitality. Rolling hills and meandering streams captured nature’s abundance. Waterfalls cascaded in the distance, embraced by a tapestry of vibrant flowers that rose toward the sun. It was like a page from my childhood storybooks brought to life.
Surrounded by towering mountains, I gaped, taking in the contours of the land. Rivers flowed below, carving their path through the lush expanse. Everywhere I looked was a kaleidoscope of floral hues, each petal a burst of colour mirroring the rainbow.
I was up high—too high. I staggered away from the cliff’s edge as a figure hurried towards me, clutching a canteen of water.
“Thank you.” I took it from him, offering a grateful smile. Tilting my head back, I drained the entire contents while keeping my eyes on him. There was a specific term for his type, but it eluded my memory.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to introduce myself earlier. My name is Brennan,” he said. I nodded. Though I appreciated his attempt at kindness, a sense of caution lingered. His friendly demeanour was disarming, and trust was not something I could afford to give easily, especially not with strangers.
I kept my voice steady. “Am I your captive, Brennan?”
“Gods no!” he chuckled nervously. “Let’s just refer to you as our guest, shall we?” He gave me a reassuring pat on my knee.
“Can you please tell me where I am, Brennan?”
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, Miss…?”
“Jayne,” I told him.
“Ah yes, indeed, Miss Jayne.” He looked at his feet, but I swore I heard a note of sadness when he said my name. “Jayne,” He coughed, clearing his throat. “You are no longer in Sagaya.”
“Yes, that much is clear,” I said. “Which city have you taken me to?”
He kept his voice low and said, “We have brought you to Faerie. We are headed North to our home in the Winter Court.” He smiled proudly. “We have crossed over realms, and here you will be safe.”
I blinked, trying to comprehend his words. I leaned forward, my heart pounding.
“Crossed over realms?” I echoed, widening my eyes.
“We are beyond the wall, Jayne.”
I shook my head. “That’s not possible.”
“What is not possible?” He looked at me, confused.
“The wall does not exist anymore. King Haymur II and his army destroyed it centuries ago after a war between humans and the Fae. We were defeated!”
He laughed as if I had told him a funny joke.
“I’m sorry to tell you, Miss Jayne, but you have been misled. I, Brennan, son of Dwarf Lord Henry Briggsworth Baitters, stand before you as living proof.” He placed a hand on his chest and met my eyes. I took in his wavy, dark red hair that complemented his golden skin. His features were unexpectedly human-like, with sharp and observant brown eyes betraying both wisdom and a hint of mischief. Despite his shorter stature, he carried himself with a presence that commanded respect. Dwarf. Of course, he was a dwarf!
At bedtime, our father would tell us magical adventures from the Fae Land. “Shall I tell you a tale?” he’d ask.
“Yes!” we begged.
“Stories of magic wielders and light summoners? Or elves and dragons, or goblins and pixies?” He laughed when we clapped our hands in delight. His stories were endless. Dwarves were tougher than any other race in Faerie. They were stubborn and steadfast but fiercely loyal, fighting whoever aggrieved them.
I turned toward my group of captors, who were engaged in what appeared to be a heated debate. I channelled my senses, attempting to tune in to their conversation. While I couldn’t visually perceive their magic, I felt its presence, like a subtle energy enveloping them. One among them had conjured a shield around the group to ensure I couldn’t eavesdrop. Brennan continued to address me, but I managed to tune him out, peering beyond his shoulder to focus on their lips. I’d always been good at lip-reading and didn’t need magic to do it; it was a talent I had perfected during my time in the orphanage while spying on the keepers and leaders.
From what I could discern, two of them were displeased with their leader’s decision. The burly hirsute one emphatically expressed that ‘he would be jeopardising their entire mission’ or something along those lines. They exchanged words like ‘her’ and ‘you shouldn’t have.’ When they looked at me, I turned back to Brennan, feigning interest. I pretended to take another sip of my now-empty flask.
“Who are they?” I asked, nodding in their direction.
“Oh, yes. Indeed. The one on the right is Kaelan. He’s a shifter yet is currently in human form, although he was originally born a wolf, which is his true nature. He’s part of the wolven clan,” he explained. Another wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt the onset of panic. This hidden world was overwhelming. We were led to believe Faerie no longer existed. Our mother, and perhaps a handful of others, were thought to be its last survivors. The revelation hit me hard. We had been much closer to it all along, even closer than I had imagined. “That’s Nicolias.” He gestured toward the individual with golden hair and green eyes. “He’s fae, or as humans like to say, he’s a ‘ fairy .’” My gaze flickered to Nicolias’ pointed ears; it was like he had stepped out of a fairy tale, a real Prince Charming. His green eyes sparkled with charm, and his brown hair fell in soft layers, perfectly framing his face. He had striking features, including high cheekbones and a well-defined jaw. “Ah, I can see why you seem perplexed. I know your kind often uses the term ‘fairies’ for those little wee creatures that flutter around, but what you’re referring to are Fire sprites! He is actually a faerie.” I furrowed my brow, feeling uneasy, and touched the side of my head, which throbbed.
Brennan continued, “And finally, that is Prince Ambrose.”
Prince Ambrose. I silently repeated the name in my head as warmth radiated through me. I was grateful my cloak concealed its glow this time so Brennan wouldn’t notice. Yet I could have sworn I felt Ambrose’s eyes upon me. I trained my eyes on the dwarf instead.
“He’s the prince of the faeries.” Brennan chuckled, nudging me. I surprised myself by offering a faint smile in return.
“You’ve shared enough, Brennan.” Prince Ambrose approached us, the other two trailing behind him.
“Yes, you may be right. I struggle to keep my mouth from running away from me.”
“Jayne, is that your name?” Prince Ambrose asked. “You are not our prisoner. We have escorted you here, where you will remain henceforth for your safety.” I surged forward so abruptly that he stepped back.
“Listen, Prince?—”
“Please, call me Ambrose,” he said, and I couldn’t help but notice the small smile tugging at his lips. I studied the face of the man before me. Although he was a prince, he couldn’t have been much older than I, perhaps only a year or two my senior. Dark hair as rich as midnight cascaded to the nape of his neck, framing his face. His pointed ears and flawless complexion added to his ethereal beauty, making him look as though he had stepped straight out of a legend. But it was his eyes that held me captive—deep, warm pools, like molten honey, holding an intriguing blend of mystery and authority. No, I could not trust him.
“Ambrose,” I paused, surprised I spoke his name with such softness. “I genuinely appreciate what you and your companions did for me back there. You saved my life, and I am truly grateful, but I must leave. I must find my sister; she’ll be waiting for me.”
I started to turn, but he grabbed my wrist. A surge of power coursed through me, and I allowed him to sense the fire beneath my skin. A warning. He released me, his brows knitting together as he drew back his hand, examining the reddish imprint.
“What was that?” he demanded.
“I’m not staying here. Listen, I don’t care who you are—prince, fae, wolven, or Son of Lord Briggshoot,” I pointed to each of them in turn. “You may be strong men in this world, but I’m a grown woman in mine. I can make my own decisions. My brother and sister need me, and, unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of wasting any more time here.”
Ambrose stood, still shocked. Had no one stood up to him before? Maybe not. I could only imagine the rarity of openly opposing a prince. The others stifled their laughter behind him while his piercing golden eyes remained on me. Then he did something rather surprising. He smirked.
“You want me? Then you will have to come and get me,” I declared. However, I was too slow. His lips moved, but I couldn’t react in time as a brilliant light enveloped me, and once again, everything faded to black.