Page 9

Sav

U pstairs was only slightly better than the basement. The same sour odor permeated every surface of the derelict building. Walking the halls was like playing a game of Tic Tac Toe except you had to jump holes rotting through the floor.

I stumbled awkwardly, hoping I was doing a fair impression of a clumsy human, and kept my eyes pinned on my feet. In truth, the soles of my feet hadn’t entirely healed yet and walking on the angry flesh still burned.

Dane led me to a room near the end of the third-floor hall and pulled a silver key from his pocket. He unlocked the door, ushering me inside.

One mattress was tossed on the floor, and across from it, a narrow bed on a thin wooden frame was neatly made.

I didn’t need to ask which was mine. The mattress had no sheets, the window was barred with iron, and the closet door had been removed from its hinges.

So only a slight downgrade from the home this man had recently evicted me from.

Dane cleared his throat.

My gaze shot to the vile being crowding the doorframe.

“You have a roommate. Alice should be back later. Dinner is at eight in the lobby. I’ll let you settle in tonight, but tomorrow morning, you will begin your re-education.”

“So, I’m a prisoner?” I asked, darting a quick glance up at him before staring down at the stained floor.

He smiled that same cruel smile. “Of course not. But we wouldn’t want you to go wandering around anywhere you shouldn’t, setting any monsters free.

” His eyes danced with dark amusement. “Think of this as a temporary situation. Once you learn the truth, you will understand why it’s too dangerous for them to live among us. ”

I frowned at my feet. “But it will be impossible for me to sleep tonight with these heavy things on.” My words dripped with honey.

He stepped into the room, and I flinched. The scent of the arousal that wafted from him made me grimace. I had known this was a sick human, but this…Anyone who got off on the fear of others was wretched. And he called us monsters.

I planted my feet as he continued toward me.

He pinched my chin, thumb digging into my jaw. My blood flared hot—but I didn’t look away fast enough. His grip tightened. My error in judgment might cost me, but I couldn’t bow to this demon.

He swallowed whatever he had been about to say. “You’re a strong girl,” he said. “You will manage it.” He turned and left the room.

To my surprise, he didn’t lock the door behind him.

I sank onto the bed, taking deep, calming breaths.

It was so much worse than I thought. I wasn’t just in one of their camps, this was their headquarters.

If they found me out, there would be no escape.

I’d be right back where I started, rotting in a cage until my jailers scraped out my remains to make space for a new prisoner.

With the binding on my magic and on my ability to harm a human, I was helpless without the aid of a fae army. The realization settled into my bones. I owed it to the fae below my feet to help. I owed it to them to escape this place and bring back an army to rescue them.

My stomach was in knots as I thought of everyone just below, starving and in pain.

Shuffling onto my side, I lay my head on the vile-smelling mattress and closed my eyes to think.

I would need the aid of the courts. Morgan had been of no help.

With Mab still missing, I would be at the mercy of one of the princes or princesses for support.

Autumn wasn’t an option. They’d sealed their borders years ago. Summer. Never. That left Winter or Spring. I scoffed aloud. Winter. I would go to Winter.

A knock sounded at the door, startling my eyes open.

“Yes.” I bit the words out sharply.

“I have your dinner,” came a smooth male voice.

“I’m not hungry.” A long pause followed, and I wondered if he’d left.

“I can leave it outside,” he finally replied.

I huffed and got up, throwing the door wide.

My stomach twisted as I opened the door. Him . The stranger from the riot. So he was one of them. My fingers clenched the tray tightly as I slammed the door in his face.

“I hope you like it,” he called through wood.

I yanked the door open and shoved the food back into his still raised hands. “I don’t want this. I want nothing from you.” I glared at him.

“I get it. I wouldn’t want anything from anyone at the AFF either, but you’ll need food to keep your strength up,” he whispered as he glanced over his shoulder.

I eyed him, taking him in under harsh false light.

He was tall, as I’d remembered, raven hair falling in waves to shoulders that nearly filled the doorframe.

None of that was what captured my attention, though.

His eyes, a deep emerald, sparked with barely contained fury and the yellow starburst surrounding his irises gave them the appearance of a fae’s.

Beautiful. I grimaced, banishing that horrid thought from my mind.

“Come in.” I backed up, giving him plenty of space to enter. Was I wrong about him? He looked human, dressed human, but there was something…

Balancing the tray in one hand, he stepped through the door and into my small room. Electricity charged the air, making the tiny hairs on my arm stand on end. He smelled like pine and woodsmoke and something dangerously inhuman. I told myself to stay focused, but my body hadn’t gotten the memo.

I backed up, dropping to the low mattress.

He moved with me, sitting on the bed across from mine, knees bending awkwardly in the small space, and held out the tray of food.

I took it, setting it down beside me, and picked up the stale bread, tearing into it with my teeth.

Dark brows rose and some of the anger simmering in his eyes banked as his lips tipped up. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your appetite.”

“You said I needed my strength.” I ran a hand down my thigh, wiping crumbs from my tanned skin. His gaze dropped to my fingers, tracking the movement, and I bit back a smile. Typical man. I could use that. “You know what I really need?”

Piercing viridian eyes shot to my face. “What’s that?” White teeth flashed, and for the barest moment, his sharp edges softened. I wondered absently what had happened to make him so hard.

He’s human. I reminded myself. It doesn’t matter.

“The key to these chains.” My gaze fell to the chains still burning against my red, angry flesh.

He couldn’t see it or smell it. Glamours were useful that way, but they didn’t hide the pain that made me want to weep when I thought about it for too long.

At least it drowned the tug of Morgan’s summons to return home.

A raven brow shot up. “Why did they chain you up?”

I ground my teeth. “Never mind. I don’t need your help . You can find your way out, I’m sure. The door’s right there.” I leaned for the tray and pain spiked sharp and bright as the iron scraped bone. I bit back the scream clawing its way up my throat.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, and there was genuine concern in his voice.

I scrambled desperately for something to say that wouldn’t draw attention to my burned flesh. “One of those men must have hit me harder than I thought. My head is pounding.” I rubbed my temple for emphasis.

“I can get you some aspirin.” He leaned closer, gaze scouring my head for said injury.

“No,” I gasped, leaning back. “I just need a bit of air. It would help clear my head. I’m feeling…Dizzy.”

I shifted my leg, attempting to move the iron away from the bone that was screaming in agony, and his gaze slid down my bare skin. Toward the chain. Alarm bells sounded in my head. Had my glamour slipped? Would he see what I truly was and drag me back downstairs?

Reaching for his hand, I laced my fingers through his. “Could you take me…outside?”

He looked up, searching my face. His heart beat rapidly in his chest, but I couldn’t tell if it was because he had figured out what I was or if he was considering breaking his faction’s rules.

His gaze dropped to my mouth and my fingers tightened around his reflexively, warmth flaring to life in my chest.

I released his hand, scooting back. What was wrong with me? He was my enemy. My fingers were cold and clammy, and I squeezed them into fists. I had to get control of this situation. This human man was the first person here who hadn’t treated me like…a fae.

I had to use that.

He looked away, jaw tightening. “I…can’t.” Something flashed in his eyes and his gaze fell on me again. “Why did you free those fairies tonight?”

My heart rate picked up speed. He knew about that.

Damn. So much for asking for his help. Like all the other cult members here, he probably assumed I deserved this punishment.

“I…Wasn’t. Those men called me a fairy, and they were going to lock me up.

” I glanced at my leg. “Is it a crime to fight back against your attackers?”

He searched my face for a long moment. “So, you weren’t helping them?”

I forced a laugh between my teeth. “Why would I help those animals?”

He stood, moving to the door. My chance was about to walk out and leave me alone.

I hopped up and didn’t need to fake the shake in my knees.

The pain of the chains overwhelmed my senses, and desperation weighed me down, pulling me toward a spiral of anxiety.

I would be trapped here in AFF headquarters and all the fae below–the ones who were counting on me–would die.

“Ow,” I cried, falling to the floor and sniffling softly.

He knelt beside me, resting a hand on my back. “Is it your head? Let me get you some water. Aspirin.”

I looked up, wiping a tear from my cheek. At least some of the pain wasn’t an act. I was desperate for his help. “If I could get these chains off, I could rest for the night. Maybe then I’d feel a little better in the morning.”

“Yes.” He sounded more confident this time. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” He stood, rushing from the room.

My shoulders slumped, some of the tension bleeding from me. Let him come back. Let him believe I was broken. When night fell, I’d be gone.