I think back to what Lord Fenwood—Davien, I remind myself firmly; Lord Fenwood never existed—told me the night of the dining table. No wonder he knew so much about fae magic. Here I thought he was a hunter when he was actually one of them himself.
The group settles in for the night. Hol makes the fire while Shaye and Davien go off hunting for dinner. They come back with hare that’s promptly carved up and roasted.
Hol hands me a piece and says, “It might not taste like anything, or do anything for you, but it can’t hurt to eat it.”
My stomach growls, apparently loud enough for them to hear because Giles lets out a snort. I don’t really want to eat their fae food, but I have to try and keep my strength. At the very least, even if it tastes like ash and fails to nourish me, my stomach will hopefully feel full. And that’ll be enough to quell its singing.
“Thanks,” I mumble and take the thigh he’s holding.
As I haven’t eaten anything all day, it smells like heaven. Mouth watering, I take a bite, bracing for a mouth of campfire. But instead…it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. Had I even eaten food before this? I take another large bite, wiping liquid fat off my chin with the back of my hand.
“At least you’re making an effort to eat it,” Oren says with a smile.
“It can’t hurt,” I repeat Hol. I don’t want them to know that I can taste the food. Maybe other humans were lying to the fae. We can lie, after all, and they can’t. Maybe making them believe that the food and water fails to nourish us is a tactic for us to escape and get back home. Perhaps it’s the food that will allow me to cross the Fade.
Dinner finished, the group settles in for the night. Hol takes first watch, Giles second, and Oren third. My best shot at running is when he’s on duty. If I’m going to escape, it’s going to be then.
The forest floor is more comfortable than I expected. The thick carpet of moss cradles my body and I fall into a surprisingly deep slumber. I wake when Oren stirs next to me. I positioned myself close enough that he wouldn’t be able to move without me feeling it. Pretending to still be asleep, I sigh softly and roll onto my side. Covering half my face with my hands, I crack one eye open and peek out between my fingers.
Oren and Giles whisper among themselves. The conversation is brief and Giles takes his spot among the group on the ground. I wait until his heavy breathing has become soft snores.
Moving slowly, I roll onto my stomach and put my hands underneath my shoulders. I push myself up on my palms and knees and scan the group, using the smoldering remains of the campfire for light. My eyes snag on Davien. Even in the low light, his amber skin is practically luminescent. The orange embers contour his muscles, the sharp cut of his jaw, and the line of his brow, softened by sleep.
If I look only at his face, he’s not too unlike the man I imagined, down to the slight stubble. But then I see the crimson, iridescent wings stretched behind him. No, the Lord Fenwood that I knew was an illusion. All along, this fae was manipulating me. When I left my family’s home, I swore I would never be used again.
That promise to myself didn’t end just because I crossed into their world.
I slowly stand, tiptoeing out through the archway made of branches and bark. Oren leans against the opening of the ruins. His dutiful watch comes to a halt on me.
“You should be asleep,” he whispers.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I say sheepishly, ignoring the metal taste in my mouth. “I figured I shouldn’t do that where everyone else is resting their head.”
“You can do it over there.” He points to the other side of the tree, right next to the shelter. “I will look away.”
“I can’t—that’s too…” I sigh in frustration. “I can’t do it that close to people.”
“They’re all asleep.”
“I get stage fright.” I shift my weight from foot to foot as though the need is urgent. “I’ll go just behind that tree. It’s far enough away.” I point to a large oak tree near another ruin.
Oren purses his lips. “Fine, but hurry up.”
“I’ll do my best.” I press my hands into my lower abdomen. “That food isn’t sitting right with me.”
He gives me a pitying look, almost enough to make me feel bad for lying and running away. But he was the one who lied to me in the first place. If he cared about me he would’ve told me what he was or stopped them from taking me here.
I cross over to the tree and step behind it. After a second I glance back. My eyes meet Oren’s. I mouth the words, Don’t look.
He rolls his eyes and looks away. This is my chance. I dart from the tree to behind the crumbling wall of another long-ago-destroyed house and listen to see if he is giving chase. The forest is silent. I don’t think he saw me move.
I take a breath, brace myself, and make my escape.
