Page 14 of The Howling (Monsters of the Yeavering #2)

I haven’t broken a bone in my life, so I’ve no idea if the pain and breathlessness I’m experiencing is normal.

What am I thinking? None of this is normal. I’ve been taken into a different realm, one humans didn’t even know existed until a few years ago. I’ve nearly been forced to…I shake my head to get the thought out…I’ve been kidnapped by the black dog of death, and now I’m in his castle.

I gaze up at the bed, a large four poster which could probably take two Reavelys comfortably.

The room has bare stone walls, and like Lord Guyzance’s fortress, it also has large windows.

Unlike Guyzance’s place, it has heavy brocade curtains which hang down to the floor.

The Faerie being impervious to draughts, curtains are not something they bother with.

Here in Reavely’s castle, the curtains remain open, and all I can see is the rest of the room reflected back in the dark glass.

A room filled with small candles, their light dancing here and there.

I’d like to move, to explore, but not only have I little energy, any movement causes pain so bad I nearly pass out. All I can do is lie in the position Reavely put me in and hope he can get someone to help me. If that’s what he wants.

I am completely confused by him, by his reasons. He was clearly planning to escape all this time, so taking me can’t possibly have been his aim. Could it?

I’m fearfully cold, but I can’t shiver as it hurts like hell.

Each movement is agonising. Sweat pours out of me, soaking my dress and making the ice which is surrounding me worse.

My fevered imagination hears voices coming out of the ether, out of the walls, out of the candles which are speaking to me.

They’re calling to me, but I can’t answer. My jaw is locked and my chest has closed up on me. A face comes into view. A handsome face, with fire-filled eyes and cheekbones I could cut myself on. Dark hair sticks up from his head like ears.

I quite like him, if only I could see him clearly.

“Little female?” The voice doesn’t so much fill my ears but my chest.

It doesn’t hurt.

I blink.

The face becomes clearer.

“Reavely?”

He smiles, revealing such sharp teeth, I take in a breath, wanting to move away but unable to.

“The warlock said you needed rest,” he says, his eyebrows crashing together. “You should rest.”

I stop trying to move. I still don’t know what Reavely wants from me. The huge Barghest is perched on the edge of the bed, towering over me.

“Where am I?” I look around the room.

“You don’t remember?”

I shake my head, and when it spins like a top, I wish I hadn’t and make a note not to do it again.

“This is my ancestral home,” Reavely says.

Now my vision is clear and my head is screwed on, I see he’s fully dressed, which is somewhat of a surprise, given so far all I’ve ever seen him in is a pair of trousers. Seeing him in a formal shirt and a dark red silk waistcoat is somewhat disconcerting.

Still, it sort of suits him, even if his dark fur tumbles out at the neck and the buttons on the waistcoat strain to contain his broad chest.

Reavely looks down at himself.

“It’s been some time since I wore these.”

“I think you might have got bigger,” I respond before I can stop myself.

“Entirely possible. I have not been here since I was little more than a pup.” He looks around the room and I follow his gaze.

I’m not sure where the night has gone, but it’s daylight now, and I can see rolling hills through the windows, the green fields bright in a spring sunlight. I can take in the fact the room has a dual aspect, along with a big carved fireplace in which a small fire burns merrily.

It makes me think of Lilburn. I wonder if she survived whatever happened. Tears prick at my eyes. I don’t want her to be hurt.

“What’s wrong?” Reavely studies me, those expressive eyebrows a picture of worry.

“Lilburn…she worked with me in the dungeons…is she okay?”

“Lilburn? The Hedley Kow?” he queries. “It would take much to damage a Hedley Kow.”

“So, you didn’t…” I swallow hard. “…hurt her?”

Reavely looks shifty.

“I didn’t check. But Hedley Kows are tricky. She’ll be fine.”

I appreciate that may well be the case, but his answer worries me even more.

“There were others in the fortress. Gloriana and my friend Kaitlyn…”

“I didn’t burn the place down,” Reavely snaps. “I should have.” He glares at me with his flame-filled eyes.

“Because you want their souls?”

With a growl, he rises from the bed. Even in this form and clothed, he is absolutely enormous, six and a half feet of pure muscle. The sleeves of his shirt rolled back, revealing his arms corded with veins. There is no denying he is one powerful monster.

A monster who either doesn’t know what he did, or he doesn’t care.

“You are mine now,” he growls. “No one will harm you, and no one will come for you.”

“And what if I don’t want to be yours?”

Reavely doesn’t reply. Instead he gazes at me like that’s a question which has no meaning.

I’ve stopped being the possession of one monster, only to end up clutched in the claws of another.