Chapter Twenty
ABBY
KIE’S AWAKE AND rolling up his sleeping pad when Mason and I return from the bathroom stop. That was a quick rest. I step around Mason’s animal form and grab my bag.
Neither man pays me any mind, and I lean against a tree before pulling out one of my beef jerky sticks and a few nuts. I doubt these two plan to feed or give me any breaks today, and I rush to get something in my stomach while Kie finishes packing.
“Did she sleep?” Kie asks Mason.
I hate how he talks about me like I’m not even here.
Mason hums. “Barely.”
I turn and peer over my shoulder, quickly catching sight of a naked body. I don’t let my eyes linger, spinning back around the moment I confirm Mason’s no longer a giant animal.
“She’s dehydrated,” Mason continues. “Her urine reeks of ammonia.”
My cheeks burn, and I chomp my beef jerky stick between my teeth as the two discuss my body fluids. The least they can do is speak about it privately, saving me a tiny shred of dignity.
Kie frowns. “I forget how delicate humans are.”
We’ll see how delicate he is when I’m shoving my foot between his legs and burying my shoe deep into the underside of his balls.
“If we’re quick, we might be able to make it to Traul River by nightfall,” Mason says.
Kie straightens up. “You said it was swarming with shifters.”
“It is, but if we intend to bring Zaha a live human, we have no choice.”
Mason enters my line of sight, thankfully now dressed in his signature black clothing. Almost every inch of his body is covered in tight fabric, the outfit practically screaming for people to stay away.
Kie drags his fingers through his hair. “She’s turning out to be more of a hassle than I anticipated.”
Thanks.
Mason shrugs. “I can take care of that.”
I slide my backpack up my shoulders, debating whether or not now is the time to pull out my knife. Mason’s offering to kill me, so I’m leaning toward yes . I’m laser-focused on their every move, mentally preparing for the worst.
I regret ever coming to the faerie realm. I just wanted to save Lill. I’ve always been guided by emotion, and it’s coming back to bite me in the ass in the worst way possible. I couldn’t imagine a worse outcome than this.
A swift death might be better than a future with Zaha or her brothers.
“No,” Kie says. He stuffs his sleeping pad and tarp cover into his sleek, black bag, filling it to the brim. “We need all the goodwill we can get. We’re bringing her.”
I finish my beef jerky stick before popping a few nuts in my mouth. I’ve never been a huge fan of nuts, but they’re hearty and full of good nutrients. I need all the energy I can get.
I doubt Kie was lying when he said he’d drag me by the straps of my backpack if I find myself unable to walk.
Mason pulls what looks to be freeze-dried meat out of his bag, and I try not to stare as he and Kie work through several pieces. I’m still starving, but I won’t ask for their food. I won’t ask them for anything, especially when I already know they’ll say no .
I tie my sweatshirt around my waist and adjust my backpack straps, keeping myself busy while waiting for them to finish. Thankfully, they eat quickly, and Kie takes the lead while Mason positions himself behind me.
It seems they still consider me a flight risk.
“What will Zaha do to me?” I ask the moment we begin walking.
They ignored me asking this last night, Kie pretending to be asleep and Mason unable to speak in his animal state. I don’t believe Mason would’ve answered me even if he could have, though. He probably thinks he’s too good to speak to a lowly human like myself. Hoity-toity asshole.
I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth when my question goes unanswered.
“That’s fine,” I continue, painfully aware I’m talking to myself. “I suppose I’ll just ask Zaha when I meet her. I’ll make sure she knows of my displeasure with this plan.”
It’s a risky statement, but given all their talk about Zaha potentially not wanting me, I assume she’s picky with the slaves she takes in. If I make an ass of myself, maybe she won’t want me. Maybe I’ll embarrass Kie and Mason, too.
Kie turns and peers at me over his shoulder, his cold gaze calculating. I wonder what thoughts are running through his head, but I have a feeling I already know. He wants me to stop speaking, and he’s likely debating letting Mason kill me.
“I don’t know,” he says. “I’m not in the business of questioning what the gods do with their subjects.”
Subjects. Slaves. Does Kie believe those two things are the same? Because he’s using them interchangeably.
“What about her brothers? What do they do with blood?”
Kie sighs. “Yahweh created the humans, and he closely monitors your realm.” I perk up, soaking in his every word. “He’s stronger than the other gods, and he doesn’t let them near your kind. Once you’re outside your realm, though, you’re fair game—and valuable.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
He continues. “Zaha won’t harm you. She’ll keep you as a pet.”
“A pet?” I’m not a fucking pet.
Mason snorts, and I fight the urge to grab and throw a rock at his head. I might risk it if he weren’t behind me, watching my every move.
“Yes, Abby,” Kie says. “A pet.”
The words are mocking, but I can tell he’s serious. I hate it, hate that they’ve taken one look at me and decided I’m less than them. I don’t know what else I’d expect from a pair of pampered princes, though. I’m surprised they aren’t making me end every sentence with Your Highness .
“You still haven’t answered my question, though,” I point out. “What about Zaha’s brothers? What do they do with human blood?”
“Kie,” Mason says, interrupting the conversation. “Cut left.”
Kie immediately adjusts his steps, curving to the left at a moment’s notice. I do the same—making my movements as aggressive as possible so everybody can see how upset I am—but those plans are ruined as my foot gets caught on a log and I pivot forward.
I catch myself quickly, but embarrassment still heats my cheeks as I huff and straighten myself back out.
Kie peers at me over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised, and Mason lets out a breathy laugh.
“What are you doing in the forest, anyway?” Kie asks.
I frown. I’m surprised it took him this long to ask.
“That’s none of your concern.”
Kie acts like he knows everything, but I think he’s blowing smoke out of his ass. He’s comfortable making lofty assumptions, which feels right up a prince’s alley. I bet he thinks he’s god’s gift to the faerie realm.
A few moments of tense silence pass. Kie probably expects me to drop to my knees and tell him everything, but I pointedly refuse to answer his question.
He and Mason can force me to travel with them, but they can’t force me to speak.
I have no reason to tell these men a damn thing about me and my plans, and I don’t intend to. They’re going to use whatever I say against me, and there’s no point in risking dragging Lill down with me.
I should’ve remained in Farbay until I had a better plan.
“You’re inept and ill-prepared to travel through the forest,” Kie says. “It’s obvious it was a rash decision, and I’m curious what you were looking for out here. Us? Or perhaps a shifter?”
Inept? I grind my teeth, biting back a snarky response.
I’m not giving him the satisfaction of my words. I’d much rather spend my time planning how I’ll get away from these two. They’ve yet to let me out of their sight, and they continually insist on boxing me in.
It doesn’t grant many opportunities for escape.
“How long until we reach the river?” I ask.
I want to take the focus off me, and I’ve gathered that these two aren’t particularly open to discussing anything of substance. At least, not anything I care to know. I’m sure it’s intentional.
“Hours,” is Mason’s curt response.
I smack my lips, waiting for further elaboration, but he doesn’t provide any. Go figure.
“How many hours?” I ask.
Mason makes a quiet, grunting noise in the back of his throat. He wants me to stop speaking, but that’s too damn bad. He can be an angry, brooding grump all he wants, but I’m under no obligation to do the same.
“Quiet,” Kie orders. “We don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to ourselves.”
That’s rich, considering he was just asking me questions. Maybe I should scream. There’s no guarantee that I’ll meet a better fate with the shifters, but I’m not sure it can get much worse than what I’m already dealing with.
“I’m sure the shifters already know we’re here,” I say.
“They don’t,” Kie says, peering left and right. “They’d be attacking us if they did.” He turns, meeting my gaze over his shoulder. “And being a human won’t make a difference to them. They’ll try to rip your throat out just the same.”
I blink, trying not to imagine that. “Why?” I jerk a thumb behind me, pointing toward the shifter prince in the back of our line. “Is he not their prince?”
Kie turns back forward, hurrying the pace. My knees are already hurting, and I wince as I struggle to keep up. Looks like that question isn’t getting an answer. Is it a sensitive subject? Why?
I open my mouth, ready to launch into more questions, but nothing comes to mind. There are a million and one things I want to know, but I don’t want to give away just how little I know about this world. I don’t want to tell them anything about me and why I’m here.
I dig into my bag, pulling out my flashlight. It’s solar-powered, and I should get it charged before nightfall. I was carried through the darkest part of the night last night, but I refuse to be carried again. Over my dead body.
“What is that?” It’s Mason who asks.
“It’s a flashlight,” I say. “It shines light so I can see in the dark.”
A brief pause, then, “Don’t even fucking think about it.”
Mason’s voice is quiet, deadly. It sends shivers down my spine, and I hesitantly shove my flashlight back into my bag.
“I won’t be able to see once the sun goes down,” I say.
“Your eyes will adjust,” is Kie’s only reply.
Asshole. When Mason inevitably returns to his animal form, I should shine my flashlight into his eyes. It’s bright, and I bet it’ll hurt.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I’ve put this off for as long as possible, but my bladder is about to explode.
Kie pauses, the quiet crunching of his footsteps stopping. “Mason will take you.”
Wonderful.
I stumble away, putting distance between us. I already know Mason will insist on watching me, and I don’t need Kie doing so, too. One pair of perverted eyes is more than enough. The next time one of them needs to use the bathroom, I should insist on them doing it within my eyesight. I doubt they would appreciate it.
There’s a fallen tree up ahead, and I crouch behind it to do my business.
Mason averts his gaze this time, staring into the distance slightly to my left. I’m sure he can see me out of his peripheral vision, but I’ll take what I can get.
It takes a moment for me to begin peeing, but the second I do, Mason’s nostrils flare. My entire body breaks into a cold sweat as I notice the action, and I grab on to the bark of the fallen tree so hard, it hurts.
He’s smelling my pee again.
“Stop that,” I hiss.
Mason’s gaze shifts directly onto me, and the corners of his lips curl into a cruel smile as he continues his sniffing. He’s getting enjoyment out of making me uncomfortable.
Unwanted tears fill my eyes, and I blink them away before yanking up my pants. Mason remains where he is, his cold gaze following my every movement.
“You’re a real asshole,” I spit as I pass him.
It’s a dumb thing to say, and I flinch as gloved hands curl around my bicep. They wrap almost entirely around it. Mason’s fingers dig into the muscle, squeezing painfully tight, and I instinctively lower my gaze to his chest.
Blood rushes through my ears, and after a long, tense second, Mason releases me.
I rip my arm to my chest, ignoring the sharp pain that shoots up my elbow. At this rate, there won’t be an uninjured part of me left by the time we reach the portal.
“Watch yourself,” Mason murmurs, his voice low and deadly.
I turn away, hurrying back to Kie.
Lesson learned.