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She lifts her brows. “Yeeeees?” she draws out the word. “What about it?”

“What was it?” I ask. “What did you do to him?”

10

McColl

I laugh. I can’t help it. So far, he’s made me laugh far more than I would like. Far more than I thought possible. Especially out here. And then considering what happened with Arwin.

Then again, my situation could be worse. So much worse, I remind myself.

“Why do you want to know?” I ask as I start to unbuckle the cinch on my horse’s saddle.

“Don’t untack them in case we need a fast getaway. Just loosen the saddle a hole or two.”

I nod, doing as he says.

When I look back at Alaric, he’s got this half-smile that hits me in my lower gut, warming me. May the moon goddess strike me down, I’m attracted to a fae. I don’t even know his name. He’s keeping things from me – important things – and yet I’m attracted to him, anyway. His eyes are quite beautiful and fanned by thick lashes. His mouth is generous. His hair is thick and glints despite the lack of sun. His shoulders are broad. He’s muscled and lean…and…

He narrows his eyes, smiling. It’s a tad unsure. “What? Now you’re looking at me strangely.”

Caught staring.

Oh, the shame of it!

“Nothing,” I blurt the bald-faced lie. “I’m just waiting for a reply to my question. Why do you want to know so badly?”

“I’m curious.” He shrugs. “That’s all.”

I giggle. “Maybe it was a little wrong of me. No!” I shake my head, shivering with revulsion when I think about what almost happened. Anger also courses through me as I think about what he almost did to me. What he would have done if Lord Ondine hadn’t stopped him. “He deserved what he got. My first thought was to turn his…you know…his member…into an earthworm—”

Alaric barks out a laugh, keeping it softer than I think he would have liked, but we’re out here being hunted.

“Why didn’t you? You’re right; he would have deserved it.” His voice turns gruff, and his eyes seem to darken.

“The earthworm would have been alive, and I couldn’t do that to the poor creature.”

Alaric’s eyes glint with humor. “I agree; that would have been cruel.”

“The spell I cast was so much worse.” I cover my mouth for a moment, feeling my face go hot with embarrassment.

“Tell me already, McColl…please,” he urges. “I’m hungry, and I know you are, too. The horses want their oats. He deserved it, I assure you. I have to know. What did you do?”

I roll my eyes and bite my lip. “You’re going to think I’m terrible, but I don’t care. He likes to prey on women, so I decided to make him one…at least, down there.”

Alaric laughs; it’s loud. He quickly checks himself, but keeps on laughing. His shoulders are shaking as he bends over his middle. When he stands upright again, his eyes are glistening with unshed tears.

“That’s perfect. Absolutely perfect. I wish I could be there when he finds out.” He laughs some more.

I bite back a laugh. “Me, too.” Then I turn serious. “At least he’ll never be able to do that to anyone again.”

“No, he won’t.”

“I’m sure he’s done it before.” My voice is soft again. “I got that impression…you know.”

Alaric nods. He takes my hand and squeezes it before letting go. “I understand why you cast that spell. Trust your gut. You say he preys on women and that he’s done it before…that he would have raped you if given the chance…then he deserved it, and more. I would have killed him.” Alaric’s eyes are blazing, and his voice has turned hard. His jaw is tight. He’s angry. He takes a deep breath, and the emotion evaporates. “Let’s get the horses taken care of so that we can eat and bed down.”

I nod, feeling better after talking with him about the whole ordeal.