Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
I landed with a resounding thud, disoriented and bewildered from the impact. When my vision cleared, I saw Geoffrey watching me with a knowing grin. Just like Nicolias, he could teleport. I surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings. We were still in Faerie, yet night had descended like an inky shroud, rendering it near-impossible to form any theories about my whereabouts. I sniffed the scent of burning wood and turned to investigate. In the distance was a flickering fire. I discerned the silhouettes of three men and what seemed to be a female, chatting cheerfully around the blaze. I couldn’t suppress my mounting anxiety.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded through clenched teeth. Geoffrey, however, did not heed my question. He guided me toward the group, and though I reluctantly accompanied him, I didn’t make it easy. I wanted answers. I protested, and with a flick of his hand, I lost all control of my body, entrapped by his magic as he pulled me toward the others.
“Come now, my dear. No need to be shy!” he mocked.
“Release me!” I cried, trying to free myself.
“You are getting on my nerves now, girl, but very well. As you wish,” he released his grip, and I thudded to the ground.
The voices fell silent, the only noise coming from the crackling fireplace before me. I felt the group’s collective gaze as I slowly raised my head, face to face with a pair of boots that cast a shadow over me. I rose to my feet and shifted my gaze from the dancing flames to the other side of the room, where I locked eyes with a familiar, handsome face—Ronan.
His eyes widened when they met mine. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but words failed me. The sheer surprise of our unexpected reunion and his alignment with Geoffrey left me speechless.
I stumbled to my feet, my shock transforming into rage. Ronan’s features hardened, then, and a cold detachment settled over him; it was like we had never met. His face remained stoic and devoid of emotion, his once-wide eyes narrowing with clear disdain.
“So, you’ve finally found her,” Ronan said, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he observed me.
“It seems so.” A sardonic edge laced Geoffrey’s words. My gaze shifted to the two men sitting on either side of Ronan, and I couldn’t help but do a double take. Their striking resemblance proved they were identical twins. They both had dark complexions, but while one sported closely-cropped hair, accentuating the chiselled contours of his face, the other bore shoulder-length locks, adding a wild touch to his features.
I regained control of my body and clenched my fists, channelling the fiery heat from the campfire. The vibrant amber hues of the flames rose and danced, swirling in mesmerising circles as it joined me. My hands glowed, and my body warmed, dimming the campfire until only hot coals remained. Fire coursed through me, and I felt a surge of readiness.
The woman rose from the log, and her companions followed in sync, almost like they had rehearsed it. I studied them. An unmistakable bond existed between them, a loyal connection likely forged through shared experiences.
I disregarded the men and stared solely at her, silently challenging her to act first. She stood out from the other fae women I had encountered in Faerie, her physique fuller and curvier, which was noticeably different from the typically slender forms of her kind. Her face held a distinctive beauty that radiated with the essence of immortality, but she seemed to hide behind a stray strand of crimson hair veiling part of her features. The flickering firelight illuminated her face, and I glimpsed uneven texture on her right brow and cheekbone, where a thick, raised burn scarred her otherwise alluring appearance.
“Interesting,” I mused. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to toy with fire?” I allowed my hands to burst into flames for added dramatics. If looks could kill, I might have succumbed then and there. Despite forcing her on the defensive, her eyes harboured a smouldering desire for vengeance.
“You,” I directed my attention toward Ronan, detecting a subtle raise of his eyebrow hinting at his amusement. My eyes darted to the red-haired woman, who reached for her sword.
“Scarlett.” Ronan halted Scarlett with a raise of his hand. She hesitated.
“She’s a fire wielder, Ronan!” Venom laced her voice, and the two brothers turned to Ronan, awaiting further instructions.
“His orders are clear: we must deliver her unharmed.”
“He’s right, Scarlett, you know what’s at stake,” Geoffrey said, approaching from behind me. “You incinerate us, little halfling, and you’ll forfeit any chance of ever seeing your brother again.” The word ‘halfling’ fell from his lips once again. He wished for me to know I was inherently inferior to him, my bloodline tainted by my mortal father. A simple human. “Now, be a good girl and extinguish that fire of yours. Otherwise, I will do it for you.” Geoffrey added with a sinister chuckle. Evil lurked behind his gaze.
I contemplated what would happen if Geoffrey unleashed his full power upon me. Had Nicolias taught me enough to take him? The king had imprisoned my brother and now he wanted me, the bearer of the hearthstone. If I held any importance to him, perhaps I could bargain for Jesse’s freedom—a life for a life. I suppressed the power coursing through my veins, allowing the warmth and flames to dissipate.
“Good girl,” Geoffrey said before addressing Ronan. “Tie her to that tree.” He gestured at a tree near the makeshift tent. Ronan approached me from behind, gently turning my body to face him.
His imposing height and muscular frame seemed even more pronounced than I recalled. I offered him my wrists without hesitation, extending them toward his chest. I felt the intensity of his gaze as he took my hands in his. He was tender as he tied a rope around my wrists, forming two loops and knotting them at the sides, securing them in a way that left no wiggle room. I watched his hands, refusing to look up. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him—I wouldn’t grant him the satisfaction, and yet the warmth of his touch against my skin ignited a complex mix of emotions. Slowly, my eyes travelled upward, tracing the contours of his forearm, collar, and the buttons of his cloak. I forced myself not to dwell on the details hidden beneath the fabric and looked up for a moment. Oh gods. He was undeniably beautiful. The interplay of shadows and firelight accentuated his chiselled features, and I felt my cheeks warm in response to his intense stare.
He diverted his attention from me and peered over my shoulder before raising his voice. “Come then, halfling.” He shoved me forward, and I staggered before he pressed his hand on my lower back, guiding and supporting me. I wanted to push him away, but with my hands bound, it rendered me powerless. I attempted to tug at the ropes, hoping to loosen them, but when I did, the rope came to life, sliding and slithering like a snake around my wrists and tightening with each attempt. I yelled, forcing my hands away from my body, but the animalistic rope tightened further, squeezing and pinching my skin. Panic surged within me as I realised the bindings were too tight, and with each attempt to free myself, the pain only intensified.
Ronan pulled me into him and held me close. I gasped when he whispered, “The rope is enchanted; the more you struggle, the tighter it binds. You need to breathe, Aleithra. Steady your breath and try to relax.”
I glanced back at Geoffrey, the brothers, and the red-haired woman gathered around the fire. They were far enough away not to overhear our conversation, and based on Ronan’s positioning, it seemed he hadn’t informed them about our prior meeting.
The warmth of his body against my back somehow eased the tension within me, and I relaxed my shoulders ever so slightly yet scoffed at his concern. I didn’t understand why he came to my rescue that night at the tavern or appeared at the winter solstice if he was working with the king all along. Ronan hushed me and guided me to sit in front of the tree trunk before tying a longer rope around my feet. He kept his touch gentle despite his clear frustration.
“Don’t touch me!”
“Be quiet and stay still!” Another rope appeared in his hands out of nowhere, this one longer than the first. He bent down, checking his comrades weren’t close enough to hear him as he secured the rope around my feet. I sensed his anger and frustration with me, but his touch remained gentle. “I warned you to leave. Why did you not listen?” He gritted his teeth, peering down at me beneath his full lashes. Fury and darkness ignited his eyes, casting shadows over his face. He watched me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I raised my chin, unyielding.
“And tell me, Ronan,” I whispered, lowering my voice so no one else could hear me. “Why would I listen to you? I don’t know anything about you, so why in the worlds would I trust you? You’re working for the one who wants to imprison me! You serve the king, don’t you?” My words were more of a statement than a question. I knew of his affiliation with the king. He continued wrapping the rope around my waist and looping it around the tree. He bent in front of me and leaned across my chest, tying the last knot around my stomach just below my breasts. My heart skipped at his scent of cedarwood and jasmine, a harmonious blend enveloping me like a gentle woodland breeze infused with florals. It danced through the air, momentarily distracting me from the gravity of the situation. I swiftly pushed aside the allure of his scent, refocusing my attention on him.
“How can you do this?” I yearned to unleash my accusations, call him a traitor, and demand an explanation for him betraying his people!
“Don’t judge me when you know nothing of what you speak,” he retorted. His words sliced through me, and a shiver crawled down my spine. His eyes narrowed, seemingly stung by my allegations. His face was mere inches from mine.
“Try me,” I blurted without thinking.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m saying, Ronan, explain yourself. You have my full attention,” I declared. I displayed my bound wrists with wide, innocent eyes.
He rose to his feet to create distance between us, assessing me. He casually leaned against the nearest tree with a subtle arch of his eyebrow, crossing his legs and arms. He held himself in a way that made me question where he came from; he was different from the others here. I studied him, his straight back and lifted chin; his clothes gave no indication that he was a nomad. There was a sharpness to his presence that only a high lord, or someone of nobility, could possess. He didn’t move or speak. He simply watched me. I couldn’t bear the silence.
“Your friends seem like a real treat, by the way, especially your lover over there,” I gestured at the redhead. I wasn’t fond of her, and the way she kept glancing in his direction both stirred my curiosity and irked me at the same time. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, I couldn’t ignore Ronan’s handsomeness. There was no denying that behind his arrogance and cold demeanour, there was a ruggedness to his beauty, which was notably different from the other fae I had encountered.
“Are you referring to Scarlett?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Is that her name?”
“Yes, her name is Scarlett. I—It’s not what you think.”
“Does she know that?” I blurted the words before I could stop them.
“Know what?” He furrowed his brow, oblivious to the obvious.
“Does she know it’s not what I think?” I echoed his earlier words. Why was I pushing this? It wasn’t my concern, but I pressed on anyway. “You must see the way she looks at you. I’ve barely been here five minutes, and it’s clear as day.”
He turned to steal a glance at her. She had ceased glancing our way, preoccupied with reigniting the fire. I hoped to provoke a reaction, even a slight one.
“I don’t need to explain to her.”
“That’s a bit presumptuous, even for you?—”
“She knows my heart belongs to another.” His words came so quick out of his mouth it was as if he had been holding onto them for an eternity. A wave of shock stole my breath as his eyes bore into mine. They were filled with fire and longing and a whole lot of emotions I couldn’t place. His heart belonged to another.
His words caught me off-guard, and I released a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. I tried to picture the kind of woman who would have captured the heart of a man like Ronan. She would likely be beautiful, brave, and noble, or perhaps reserved and contemplative—a quintessential fae lady, resilient enough to navigate his hard and agile personality.
Ronan pulled away from me, and the warmth from our closeness dissipated. I felt a cool breeze in place of where he had just been, similar to what I had felt the first night I saw him in the tavern when I wanted to reach for him to keep him from leaving. I must have been insane!
He pushed himself off the tree and knelt before me again. “And what about you, Jayne?”
“What about me?”
“I noticed how you were looking at Prince Ambrose during the Winter Solstice.”
I stiffened. “I wasn’t doing anything.”
“Hmm,” he scoffed, narrowing his eyes as though trying to access my thoughts. I wasn’t sure if that was within his capabilities, but I didn’t want to risk it. I shut him out, fortifying my senses by erecting mental barriers like Nicolias had taught me. He grinned. “I see they’ve trained you well. Let me guess, Nicolias?”
“Wait, how do you know Nicolias?—?”
“Ronan!”
Ronan’s eyes left mine as he turned at the sound of Scarlett’s voice in the distance. I cursed the redhead under my breath, noting the slight parting of his brow as he turned. A flicker of recognition passed through me, distant and elusive, like a hazy connection from some distant memory. It felt like I’d encountered this before, but the details remained fuzzy, tucked away in the depths of my mind. My expression must have mirrored my confusion, as if I’d glimpsed a ghost. I shook my head. Was this place driving me to madness?
“I need to go. Just sit tight.” He assessed me, and I squirmed to get comfortable in the awkward spot he’d left me. Crossing my legs, I leaned my head back against the tree.
“Try not to do anything…” he hesitated, seeming to search for the right word. “Reckless.”
I raised my hands, displaying my bound wrists. There was nowhere for me to go.