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“Unseelie hands are made for death and destruction.”

Unseelie Fae: A Scientific Study

P ressure on my bladder rouses me from a dreamless sleep. It isn’t until I open my eyes that I remember where I am—and whose massive arm is draped across my stomach. Ever clings to me, his head resting over my heart, holding me so tightly, my lungs can barely expand. I never want to leave this spot but doubt he would appreciate me relieving myself in his bed. It takes all my strength, but I manage to lift his arm and slip from beneath him. His face crushes up, so fierce, even in sleep.

With my shift nowhere to be found, I throw on my dress to hide my nakedness.

The fog outside is thick enough to stir with a spoon, the tiny droplets of water soaking into the silk gown, gluing the skirt to my thighs as I descend the stairs. No birds chirp in the trees. No squirrels dart or tarry. The only sound is that of the quiet trickle of water in the river beyond Ever’s wagon.

Not trusting myself to find my way back in this fog, I keep close to our camp, stepping behind a boulder to take care of my business. Perhaps we can fashion some sort of privy for ourselves nearby or purchase a chamber pot from the city.

Primitive, I know, but anything is better than the indignity of having to squat.

By the time I’ve finished, water droplets roll down my chest. The hair escaping my braid tightens into springy curls.

Something snaps behind me, and the hairs at the back of my neck lift at the unexpected sound. Slowly, I turn to see what made the noise only to find myself staring into the bloodred eyes of the biggest animal I’ve ever seen.

Not just an animal… A wolf.

The beast’s lips curl back from its teeth; blood drips down its maw, splattering the curled, brown leaves at my feet. I don’t know what it just killed but I know what it’s going to kill next.

Me.

Carefully, and without taking so much as a breath, I back toward the wagon, making it three steps before the muscles in the wolf’s shoulders tense.

“Ever,” I whisper even though there is no way he will be able to hear me.

Why didn’t I wake him when I left? Why did I think it would be safe to go outside? Didn’t he warn me of the dangers of this forest? And off I went without a care in the bloody world.

“Ever,” I call, louder than before, but fear steals the power from my voice. I take another step back. And another. And another, loath to take my eyes from the wolf to search the ground for something to use as a weapon, to give me some sort of chance against the beast.

The wolf’s ears flatten, its eyes glazing over with feral rage. A growl starts low in its belly, lifting the hairs on my arms and sending my heart into overdrive.

I whirl to run but my escape is foiled by my feet tangling in my skirts. I screw my eyes shut and wait for the inevitable pain.

A pitiful yelp cuts through me and my eyes fly open, finding the wolf collapsed at my feet, blood pouring from where a dagger with a bone-hilt protrudes from its crimson eye.

Ever leaps in front of me, yanking the dagger free and dragging the blade across the wolf’s throat. Blood sprays from the wound, splattering all over my bare feet and dress.

With the beast slain, he rushes to where I’ve fallen, cradling my face, but all I can see is the blood. Its coppery tang taints every breath. Ever’s lips are moving, but the ringing in my ears muffles his words.

Something warm and wet dribbles down my cheek. More blood. His hands are painted with it.

The ringing suddenly stops, and everything around me comes into sharp focus.

“Did it hurt you?” Ever demands.

“N-no.” But it could have. It could have ripped out my throat and torn me to shreds and Ever would’ve been none the wiser and he never would have forgiven himself.

He lets me go, carding both hands through his hair, his expression a tumultuous storm of rage and fear. “Why were you out here?”

Why was I out here? I can’t even remember. “I-I had to use the privy.”

“You should have woken me.”

“I’m s-sorry.”

“You could have been killed,” he says, as if I wasn’t already painfully aware of that fact. As if I can’t still see the promise of death in the beast’s eyes. Feel the heat of its blood-drenched breath against my cheeks. “If that wolf had gotten to you first, not even all the water in the well could have saved you.”

I want to shout, but all my trembling voice is capable of seems to be another pathetic, “I’m sorry.”

“You are sorry?” Ever murmurs, his head hanging and proud shoulders falling in defeat.

“I’ll do better.” I’ll prove to him that I can survive on this side of The Divide. He can give me a dagger. Teach me to use the bow. I’ll never be defenseless again.

He yanks the blade from the ground and twists the hilt in his hand, scarlet drops splattering on his bloodstained boots as his head shakes. “You will go back to your people.”

“No.” How can he even consider such a thing? I won’t let him throw us away because of one foolish mistake. “Ever, I love you.”

He looks me dead in the eye and says, “Take your love and return to Rosehill.”

Finally, I find my voice. My courage. My backbone. “No. I’m not going back there.” I refuse to leave him.

“I do not want you here.”

“That isn’t true.” I know it’s a lie, but his words are like a heel to my heart. Breaking. Crushing.

He shoots to his feet, his dagger clattering to the ground next to the carcass. “Don’t you see? I cannot protect you! Maybe before, but now, it is only me. This is the way it must be.”

I can feel the fight leaking from my bones, leaving me hollow. Cold. Shaken.

“Please, don’t do this.” I’m willing to plead with him until my dying breath, but something in the hard set of his jaw and the flint in his eyes tells me it’s no use.

He stalks into the carriage, returning with my slippers, leaving bloodied handprints on the pristine silk. “Put these on.”

“No. I won’t leave you.”

“Put them on. Please. I am begging.” Just when I think there is no way for him to force me to put on those shoes, I see the tears glistening in his eyes.

He is truly afraid of losing me, and instead of fighting for me, he’s giving up.

On me. On us. On the future we planned only a few hours ago.

When I look away, my gaze catches on the dead wolf.

Fear swells like a scream in my chest. I haven’t even been in this territory for two whole days, and already I’ve met one of the beasts that prowl these forests. With Ever out hunting, foraging, searching for food to sustain not only himself, but also me , my life would be confined to that wagon. If we were ever blessed with a child, how could I possibly hope to keep a son or daughter safe in this place?

Compared to Ever and the rest of his people, I have been raised in the lap of luxury; I don’t know how to fight. I know how to bake desserts the man I love doesn’t even eat. I don’t know how to cook meals for him, so he will have to either teach me or do that himself as well.

In this world, I am entirely out of my depth.

I am no good to him.

He needs someone stronger—deserves someone who can defend herself. A partner, not another burden.

I take my slippers with trembling hands and slip them onto my feet.

Ever swipes the dagger from the bloody grass, clenching the bone handle in his fist once more, his jaw set as he scans the forest. If it’s not safe here for me, then he shouldn’t be here either, especially not without access to the well.

“Come with me.”

Dark eyes lock with mine.

“You have no one else.” I swipe my fist beneath my watery eyes. “We will find a way to make it work. Just don’t push me away. Please, Ever. Please.”

My heart clatters against my ribs as he takes my hand in his and leads me out of the forest, past the Unseelie village, all the way to the bridge where Maddox and Gryffin sit by a fire, chatting quietly. When they see us, they lurch to their feet.

“What the hell happened?” Maddox asks me, not sparing Ever so much as a glance.

Ever clears his throat. “Wolf.”

Maddox’s dark gaze darts to Ever, but all my love does is stare straight ahead into the empty gray.

“You never should have brought her here,” Ever grits out. “Take her home.”

Maddox’s gaze returns me, his jaw popping as his teeth grind together.

I cling more tightly to Ever’s hand. “No. You’re coming with me. Please. Please .”

He pries open my fingers, removing himself from my grasp, his sorrowful gaze falling over my face. “I am sorry I failed you. It will not happen again.”

“Ever, please… Don’t do this.”

He presses his lips to my forehead, then turns and drifts away.