Page 12 of The Last Storm
“Well, I don’t normally like to involve you two in these types of matters… but I feel like it needs to be said, for your safety. It seems a rather powerful Fae crossed the border and has remained here undetected,” he declared. “There is also a small encampment of Fae soldiers north of the border, but it’ll all be fine. There isn’t much of the Fae army left after the war and we’ll decimate the small force stationed there. It is nothing to worry about, Ara. However, until we discover this foolish creature, it is best for you to stay put. Both of you. Completely. Do not leave the walls of this estate, not with anyone, not even Finley. Do you understand me?” He gestured to us both, eyeing me.
I nodded, but icy fear crawled up my spine. Not for the random Fae roaming Auryna, although that was terrifying, but for the chains that were tightening around me. Numbness and hysteria settled over me simultaneously, warring. It took everything I had to not panic.
His dark eyes peeked up at me again, noticing the dress. He smiled lightly.
“Ah, I do love that color. It brings back such happy memories of when things were so… simple. And now here we are, my little girl is engaged,” he sighed contentedly, dismissing the gravity of everything he just said.
The sadness overwhelmed me as I stared at him, looking, but not seeing.
He was so sure of himself. So sure that I would perish the moment I got any semblance of freedom. So convinced that I would fulfill my purpose with Finn that it blinded him to the sorrow and desperation that clung to me.
I couldn’t stand it, looking at him so pleased by what was tearing me apart.
Excusing myself with shaky hands, I returned to my room, softly closed the door behind me, and collapsed on the bed, choking on a sob.
I couldn’t stop the tears that fell, couldn’t breathe through the hopelessness.
I will be married to Finn.
The tears didn’t stop until I fell into a dreamless sleep, exhausted.
* * *
Something pulled me from my sleep not even an hour later.
Glancing through the window, the moon had only risen to half peak so it wasn’t too late in the night. As I woke, the conversations from dinner returned. Hysteria gripped me by the throat, tightening like a noose and choking off my breath. I brought a hand to my neck as overwhelming panic burned in my chest and did the only thing I could to stifle it.
I rose from the bed, quickly changing into trousers and a tunic. After tugging my boots on, I tucked my dagger in the right and climbed out of the window, descending the vine with a renewed sense of purpose. I needed to be as far away from this house as possible, as fast as possible.
Once I neared the pub, I allowed myself to breathe. The air of the woods always grounded me. As the smell of the needle-covered path, damp tree trunks, and forest flowers met my nose, a wave of calm settled over me
Staring at the pub, I knew tonight would be different. Expectation hung heavy in the air around me as I pulled the door open, embracing the honeyed scent of mead and Livvy’s warm smile.
Tonight, I am free and I will be free for as long as I have left.
Chapter Six
Rogue
Fate had been cruel to me my entire life, but this was, by far, the worst hand she had ever dealt me.
My mate was human.
The thought set off a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. Every inch of my body still ached for her and my mind was repulsed by it. It could never happen. I would never stoop so low as to be with a human.
I would not.
As soon as I realized who she was—whatshe was—I immediately dropped the glamour, thrust into the sky, and flew as fast as my wings would carry me back to the encampment.
Flying had always given me the space to think, and as I glided over the never-ending sea of evergreens, my mind returned to the plan I concocted in the pub.
Fuck.
The fact that Evander had a daughter was the only insightful information I learned over the border, and I had been here for days. My general and his commanders were expecting something, anything from my trip. I could not come back empty-handed.
Years ago, when Auryna began ravaging the villages north of the border, our armies were already decimated, our people overworked and exhausted. Auryna’s armies greatly outnumbered us. We couldn’t even manage to hold them off or defend their homes. We had to move them all farther inland for their safety and they left everything behind—their homes, livelihoods, family lands. Leaving them with nothing but their memories and devastation.
After a year of attempting to convince the council, they finally relented, agreeing we needed to go across the border.
