Chapter 7
ISABEL
Fear clutches me. After Gideon emits a terrifying growl that shakes the walls of the cave, he swoops out into the night, and I quickly lose sight of him.
Strange skittering and hissing sounds reach me, and I can’t suppress a shudder.
I don’t want to know what kind of fae creatures were almost upon us.
What if we’d fallen asleep in the cave? Would the creatures have killed us? Gideon is a highborn fae, and his people typically live for thousands of years, but they aren’t immortal. Death eventually comes for them. Another shudder passes through me, and I finally force myself to my feet.
Eyeing the line of frost on the floor of the cave, I reach my hands out as I try to walk forward.
When I reach the line of frost, my palms press against what feels like a solid wall of ice.
I push against it and attempt to step through it and even around it, but no matter what, I’m unable to break beyond the invisible barrier.
A barrier Gideon somehow created simply by holding up his hands for a few moments. How extraordinary.
And how terrifying.
Once again, I’m reminded of the power imbalance between us. I’m his mate, yet I’m also his captive. I’m grateful that he promised not to hurt my father, but that doesn’t mean I want to mate with him. It doesn’t mean I want to spend the rest of my life with him.
He’s a highborn fae male, and he’s a commander in the Winter Court army. During the attack on Braemar, I felt the darkness of his bloodlust, the violence that’s a part of him. How can I be mated to such a man? I can’t fathom it.
Escape. Not for the first time, I experience the powerful urge to run away from him. I glance around the torch-illuminated cave. But where will I go?
I walk the perimeter of the cave, within the bounds of the invisible barrier, searching for an escape, a hidden passage just large enough for me to slip through.
As I search for a way out, I think of my father and my steps falter.
What am I doing? Gideon promised to help warn my father about the direwolves.
He promised to take me to the inn in Hollins come morning.
If I escape now, I might not get the chance to warn my father.
I would have to make it all the way back to Hollins before morning on my own, a daunting prospect.
The hisses outside the cave grow louder, and Gideon’s fierce fae growls continue piercing the night. A bright blue glow appears outside the cave, only to disappear a moment later.
The forest is a dangerous place; there’s no doubt about it. Knowing that I might have to contend with direwolves and whatever awful creatures are behind the skittering and hissing sounds is enough to make me second-guess an imminent escape.
Though I finally spot a few darkened areas in the back of the cave that I think might be narrow passageways, I hesitate to approach them.
I glance at the pile of weapons again. Dare I take one?
There are swords, axes, and knives aplenty.
I could arm myself and try to make an escape, then hurry back to Hollins and warn my father.
Why do my feet feel so heavy? Why am I hesitating? Shame heats my face. Gods, I wish I were braver. I feel like a coward for my indecisiveness.
But I can’t stop thinking about the dark forest and all the frightening creatures I might encounter during my return to Hollins. I’m also not entirely certain in which direction Hollins lies. I kept my eyes closed during much of the journey to this cave.
I must think logically. I mustn’t let fear get the best of me. After a few deep breaths, the answer comes to me.
I should remain with Gideon until we’re able to warn my father about the true danger of the forests. But after that, there will be nothing holding me back, and I’ll be free to escape Gideon. At some point, surely the opportunity to run will arise. And when it finally does, I won’t hesitate.
I’ll run. I’ll run to the very ends of the realm if I must.
Keeping one eye on the entrance of the cave, I approach the weapons and pilfer two knives. With quiet movements, I place them inside my rucksack, wrapping my clothing around them to keep them better hidden.
There. I have a plan. Sort of.
I only hope I can avoid consummating the mating bond with Gideon before I’m able to escape.
I don’t know much about the fae, but I’ve heard that their mating bonds become more intense once a couple finally sleeps together.
I have no intention of allowing Gideon to claim me, even though there’s a part of me that burns for him.
But then a dark thought enters my mind.
Will he force me? Will he glamour me into obedience?
Tears prick my eyes at the prospect. Could he be so cruel and conniving?
He’s a fae male, so perhaps he could. Despite the apology he issued for threatening me with punishment, I don’t quite trust him.
The bloodlust that fills him during battle…
it terrifies me. What if I cross him? How will he react? Will he turn his violence on me?
His voice suddenly enters my head.
Fucking manggas. Will you all finish dying already?
Manggas? I’ve never heard of such creatures, though they must be a nuisance and perhaps even deadly if it’s taking him this long to vanquish them.
Worry for Gideon suddenly ignites inside me.
Once I’m aware of it, it grows even stronger, becoming a panicked ache in my chest. I try to push the strange emotion away and tell myself that I’m not concerned about his fate.
But the truth is… complicated. I really don’t want any harm to come to him, and this realization causes me to gasp.
I sink down on the makeshift bed and run my hands over the soft furs, anticipating and dreading Gideon’s return in equal measure. There. That’s an honest thought.
A few more flashes of blue light briefly illuminate the mountainside, and I surmise he must be using some type of winter magic to battle the fae creatures known as manggas.
The skittering noises grow louder, then I finally see the awful beasts. Over a dozen scurry inside the cave, heading straight for me, but when they reach the line of frost, they bump into the invisible barrier.
Each one is roughly the size of a well-fed housecat, and they have numerous spider-like legs. When they open their mouths, I glimpse rows of sharp teeth and fangs.
Though I doubt they can penetrate the barrier, I jump to my feet and once again eye the pile of weapons.
But just as I reach for an ax, I sense Gideon’s presence in the cave.
I glance up and watch as he vanishes his wings in a flash, then directs a beam of blue light at the manggas near the invisible barrier.
I watch, awestruck, as the creatures disintegrate before my eyes. Oh, my gods. I knew Gideon possessed great power, as I’d sensed it during the attack on Braemar, but witnessing the ease with which he can kill sends an icy chill down my spine.
And now I suddenly realize why my people were so quick to surrender to the fae.
My father informed me that not even an hour into the battle, the former king of Braemar ordered a white flag to be raised.
He also told me that the Winter Court army has about four hundred highborn fae in its ranks, and that’s in addition to the thirty thousand foot soldiers, the regular faefolk who don’t possess much magic if any yet are still formidable opponents in battle.
Dear gods.
Humans don’t stand a chance against the fae armies. Neither do the orcs. Are we truly destined to live under fae rule forever?
I think of the knives I hid in my rucksack and pray Gideon doesn’t find out. If he discovers I stole fae weapons or suspects I’m planning to escape him, I fear his reaction.
And while I appreciate that the invisible barrier he created ended up keeping me safe from the manggas, what will prevent him from using such magic against me in the future? He could easily use his powers to hold me captive. To keep me in a cage of sorts. His forever prisoner.
He walks closer to the line of frost and steps through the barrier with ease.
I gasp and take a few steps back. His face is impassive as he approaches me.
I keep retreating, unable to keep myself from shaking, unable to prevent the new fears rising within me, until my back hits the cool, damp wall of the cave.
A smirk dances across his lips as he finally reaches me. He places his hands on either side of me, blocking me in, reminding me that there’s nowhere to run.
His eyes bore into me, dark pools of heat.
The intensity of his gaze leaves me feeling stripped naked, as though he’s learning my secret thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Does he know how badly I wish to escape him?
Does he know that I would give anything to return to the bakery right now and live a quiet but safe life in Braemar, unmated and alone?
His cold winter breath caresses my face, and I try to ignore the heated pangs this causes in my core. I don’t understand how I can be so drawn to him yet fearful at the same time.
If I thought we might enjoy a happy life together, I might give him a chance.
But he’s a vicious fae lord. He’s a commander in the Winter Court army.
He’s probably killed thousands of my people.
There’s no denying that he holds a certain bloodlust for humans.
I know he possesses a violent side. I felt it during the attack on Braemar.
He enjoyed taunting me earlier. Well, he enjoyed it until he realized just how scared he was making me.
But how can I bind myself to a male who’s conquered my people?
How can I allow him to touch me?
I can’t. I simply can’t. If I remain with Gideon, my life will be miserable and filled with pain and fear. I’m certain of it, and my resolve to escape strengthens as I hold his smirking gaze.
I’m starting to feel like he’s taunting me now, though I can’t imagine the reason behind his sudden cruelty.