My captor twisted, throwing their weight against the dark in the middle of the arch. Blinding light erupted all around me as I was dragged into its centre.
“You found her!”
I didn’t know that delighted voice, nor could I see its owner, blinded as I was.
“It was only a matter of time before the stupid bitch showed up.” I didn’t know the male’s voice that sounded in my ear, either.
“Maelgwyn won’t be happy if you kill her.” The female drawled, completely unperturbed.
“I haven’t harmed a hair on her head.”
“No, but she’s suffocating.”
With a shove, I crashed to the floor. Air, warm, blessed air filled my lungs, seeping into the swirling desperation of my mind. I gave myself over to a fit of coughing, sucking down rasping breaths in between. Breath by breath, my senses sharpened.
My hands braced against a cracked, marble floor. Light gleamed off the shiny surface. My skin was sticky with sweat. Heat or fear?
Maelgwyn had been mentioned. Was I in Tir o Haf?
I lifted my eyes.
The room I’d landed in wasn’t large by castle standards, but my entire human house could have fit snuggly inside it. One long wall was lined with enormous windows, but the others bore doorways, firmly closed. Which one had I come through? Which one would lead me out? A gallery overlooked the room, and a fireplace stood empty below it. And before the hearth was an enormous, sturdy table carved of dark stone. It was there that a fae female lounged in her seat, her booted feet propped on the table amongst a mess of plates and cups. She grinned when she caught me staring.
“Welcome, Human Queen. We’ve been expecting you.” There was nothing welcoming about her tone, if my method of arrival hadn’t been indication enough. My already flushed skin prickled with unease.
“Where am I?” I demanded, sounding braver than I felt. I pushed myself to my feet, swaying on my hollow legs. Nausea coated my tongue. “What do you want?”
“Me?” She pointed at her own chest, mock surprise lighting up her flawless face. “Oh, honey, I just want to get paid.”
“Hey, I found her!” the second voice, belonging to my captor, barked out behind me. I jumped. I’d almost forgotten he was there. I edged sideways, bringing him into my peripheral vision, where I could keep an eye on him. The world swayed alarmingly with that tiny movement. “I’m the one who’s been waiting in that shithole for weeks. It’s my reward!”
“Relax, Hari,” the female drawled. “We’ll all get paid for this prize.” She rose gracefully to her feet. She was short by fae standards, probably an exact match in height to me. Not that I laboured under any illusions of taking her in a fight.
“Where did you find her?” she shot the question at my captor.
“The other side of the Blood Gate,” he grunted. “I had to wait on her side. The vermin have been getting bold lately.”
“I was going home.” The words spilled out in a rush. “I wasn’t going to help the princes or try to steal the throne or anything. I just wanted to go back to my world.”
“But you did help the princes,” the female crooned. “You woke them from the curse. King Maelgwyn isn’t pleased with you.”
My insides turned to ice cold liquid.
“In fact,” she continued. “Somebody should let him know of your arrival.”
“I’ll do it,” Hari snarled. “I found her. I’ll be the one to tell him.”
“Oh, I thought you’d want to deliver her to the dungeons.”
Dungeons? I couldn’t go to any dungeons. My eyes darted to the doors. There was no telling where they led, but anything had to be better than whatever Maelgwyn had in store for me.
“I’ll do both!”
Was I faster than a fae? Probably not. Would Maelgwyn care if a blade or arrow lodged itself into my fleeing back? He’d probably be irritated, but not as pissed off as he’d be if I escaped. I was dead either way. My heart hammered in my ears. I had to try. I’d come so close to freedom. I couldn’t simply accept this twist of fate.
“He won’t appreciate the delay.”
I ran.
A shout echoed around the room as I hurtled toward the nearest door. My feet pounded the marble, the impact jarring up my shins, but my footsteps weren’t the only ones. I barely slowed my pace as I reached for the latch, throwing my momentum against the door.
It didn’t budge.
No.
I shoved, jangling the latch, but the door remained unmoving. The thundering footsteps closed in, and I shrank, sliding my back against the door. Both fae approached, glowering. The male held a sword. It was useless. There was no way out.
“Nice try,” the male growled.
He swung his arm. The metal hilt of his sword collided with my temple.
Darkness swallowed me up again.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
A dull, throbbing beat of pain filled my skull, pulsing from one side to the other with growing insistence. I stirred, trying to get comfortable, but when I rolled, I didn’t find a soft spot of pillow, or a squishy bit of mattress. Just cold, hard stone.
