Page 354 of Once Upon a Fable

“LET GO OF ME!”

I twisted my arm, trying to get free of the bastard’s grip.

His fingers merely tightened, digging into my flesh, keeping me well and truly trapped at his side. His strange, bi-colored eyes scanned me up and down even as his question hovered in the air. Licking his lips, he repeated himself, his voice scratchy and too-loud in the night. “Who the hell are you?”

I kicked out, aiming for his knee. “Someone who doesn’t take kindly to being held against her will.” My bare foot struck his leg.

He stumbled sideways as I connected, his fingers loosening a little but not letting me go. “Ow.” He sounded vexed and pissed off but not hurt. “That was unwise.” The level of blackness in his tone was even darker than the night. Keeping hold of me, he bent a little and rubbed where I’d kicked him with his free hand. His backpack squeaked as it slipped on his back. “I wouldn’t do that again if I were you.”

I sneered. “Let go of me, and I won’t have to.”

“I’ll let go of you when I have my answers.”

“Answers you haven’t politely asked for!” I bared my teeth. “Say please, and maybe I’ll—”

He yanked me into his body, brushing our noses together as he stood to his full height. “Say please? Ha. How about you give me answers that I’mentitledto, seeing as you’re the one walking around my valley in your fucking nightgown.”

“Your valley?!” I squirmed and tried to get free. “I thinkhewould have something to say about that.”

His eyes lit up, glowing brown and blue. “He being...”

“None of your damn business!” My self-defense training kicked in. Memories of getting free from attackers swamped my muscles, and I spun beneath his arm, forcing his wrist to twist at an unnatural angle. The evil pouring off him coated the back of my throat like tar.

My hackles warned he wasn’t a good guy.

I needed to go.

Now.

I spun the final way, ripping his fingers off me and parrying backward.

Hissing beneath his breath, he shook out his twisted wrist, his eyes narrowed and sharp. “You’ll pay for that.”

Backing faster, I grabbed a stick from the ground and brandished it at him. “I think it’s my turn to ask a question.” I swished the stick through the air. “Who the hell areyou?!”

Dropping his arm, he slipped his shoulders back. Ever so slowly, he shrugged out of the backpack, not looking down as the bag dropped to the ground with a thud.

He didn’t answer me, his eyes skating all over me with fascination bordering on obsession. His stare made my skin crawl. Waving my stick, I snapped, “Eyes up here, buddy.”

A half-smirk twisted his lips. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

I hid my shudder. “Don’t flatter yourself.” I arched my chin at the cave where he’d appeared from. “Leave before I hit you. You’re trespassing.”

His eyebrows shot up his forehead as a choked laugh rumbled in his chest. “Shit, this just keeps getting better.” He held up his hand, shaking his head. “I’mthe one trespassing?”

“Yes. Leave.” I looked over my shoulder, searching the night forest, wishing that Kas was close. Where had he gone? Worry over his state of mind and what he’d intended to do as he’d run from the house trickled ice down my spine.

I didn’t have time to fight this asshole. I had to find Kas before he did anything stupid.

“I won’t tell you again,” I hissed, taking a step toward him as if he was a raccoon who would run at my show of dominance. “Get.”

He laughed fully then. A deep, rich, intoxicating rasp that threatened as well as ridiculed. “Ah, fuck...you’re really quite adorable. If you weren’t already under the thumb of a master, I’d be tempted to keep you.”

“What?” My nose wrinkled. “I’m not under anyone’s thumb.”

He pointed at the last remaining links of the chain Kas had padlocked to my ankle. The same chain I’d smashed with an ax and looped like a thick anklet up my calf. “I told you. I belong in this valley far more than you do. That chain isn’t just a chain. It has a name. It has a history.” He stepped smoothly toward me. “And I know that history very fucking well. Better than you, I’m guessing.”

More chills darted down my spine. My arm shook, keeping my weapon high. All instincts told me to ignore him. He wasn’t just talking;he was doing his best to undermine my strength and resolve. Yet...there was something.