64. Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Four
Embla
Days pass and I spend them wandering through the Bjartr Forest where not a single life force crosses our paths no matter how much time we spend walking around. The queens haven’t bothered to start my combat training; they say spending time in the forest is the most important for me to build my bond with the land. The sun crests the horizon preparing to welcome the moon as Aine pads softly next to me as we once again wander through the pale forest.
White trunks with grey speckles surround us on all sides, more branches than I can count stretching towards the open sky bearing pink and purple leaves that glisten in the sunlight. Small mushrooms sprout from their roots and discs of fungi pepper the trunks. The fresh air is light as it caresses my cheeks with each soft breeze that puffs by. But nothing will settle the growing anger raging within me. I started training with Alhena like Astrid told me to, and I still couldn’t protect myself. While I’m stuck in this forest, the fae males who attacked me walk free when they deserve to die. I long to feel their blood drip through my fingers and their bones break under my hands. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop over the last two days, and I have no self-control when I make a sharp turn sprinting to the bridge.
Embla wait, where are you going? It’s safe here I promise. The other queens said not to leave the forest, Aine calls as she chases after me.
I’m not going to wait in this forest while those men are walking around Myrr completely fine and able to go after other females. I will not let them attack someone else the way they attacked me. I’m not going to be the only one who has to deal with the consequences of them touching what will never belong to them.
Nothing slowed down in the city with my absence. Fae and faeries alike bustle down the streets going about their day to day lives. I wonder if the fae females knew what happened to me would they still be out shopping? I shake the thoughts from my head as I turn toward the tavern. I’m going to reclaim my dignity today.
The tavern is empty when I arrive, and if I could figure out how to get my wings to work I would’ve flown to one of the balconies to avoid Alhena.
“Thank god she’s not here,” I whisper, before climbing the stairs to the elevator that will take me to my room.
With sword in hand, I begin to scour the streets, looking for the three faces that have been seared into my memory. Fear reminds me what could happen if I fail but I refuse to let it take over me. I will not let someone else be abused, assaulted, and then left to die. And if King Ephraim executes me for murder then I’ll take my punishment with my head held high, but I doubt the faerie queens will let anything like that happen to me.
I prowl the streets, Aine close at my side when a black bag is pulled over my head. I lash out with my sword only to have it ripped from my hands, and my wrists bound behind my back. Aine hisses followed by the sound of tearing fabric.
“Fuck, someone do something about her cat,” a male voice says, I can barely see the light filter through the tightly woven fabric. Something hard slams into the back of my head. Pain explodes. I should’ve listened to the other queens and stayed in the forest.
“Aine?” I call, my voice weak as the fine lines of the fabric blurs together and fades.