Avery stared blankly out the window of the carriage. She'd woken only an hour after Hendrick knocked her unconscious. Her body had healed itself from the blow to her head while she slept. She pulled at the ropes that bound her wrists together before peering out the window again.
It was nearly dark, and she imagined they would be stopping to set up camp in the next little while. The air was cold and smelled of snow and she shivered against the leather seat, thankful for the warm coat she was wearing when she went to the barn.
She wondered if there would be a way to escape once they set up camp. If she could convince Hendrick that she'd changed her mind and was eager to go with him, perhaps he would let his guard down and she could slip away in the night.
The carriage creaked to a halt and she stiffened slightly when the door opened and Hendrick climbed in. He banged the ceiling of the carriage twice and whistled piercingly, and the carriage started with a jolt.
"Good evening, Red." He smiled at her and she forced herself to smile back.
"Hello, my lord."
He blinked a little, obviously surprised by her pleasant response, before moving to sit next to
her. "How are you feeling?"
He examined her head as she forced herself to smile again. "Perfectly fine, lord Hendrick." "I am glad. I didn't like being forced to hit you like that, you know."
"I do know," she said. "It was wrong of me to question you the way I did."
He stared suspiciously at her. "What's with the attitude change?"
"I realized that you were right, my lord."
He laughed. "Forgive me, but you'll understand if I don't quite believe you."
"Why would you not? I've had many hours to think about what you said. I would prefer to
be your wife instead of a slave."
"And what of your beloved Tristan?"
"What of him?" She shrugged. "He has no interest in me other than using me to warm his
bed. Given a choice between being his whore and your wife – I choose you."
"I'm glad to hear you say that." He grinned at her and reached to cup her cheek, wincing a
little.
"Are you hurt, my lord?" she asked.
"It is nothing. Just a small bite on my wrist." He showed her the wound and she frowned. "Why does it not heal?"
He grimaced. "It is from another Lycan. Our healing abilities serve us well but when one of
our own kind bites us – it takes much longer to heal."
"Who bit you?"
"Do not ask me questions that are none of your concern." he snapped.
"Of course, my lord. Forgive me. Here, let me help you."
She covered the wound on his wrist with her bound hands for almost five minutes. She lifted
her hands away to reveal smooth skin.
He stared at his wrist. "Gods be damned. That is amazing. I felt nothing more than a warm
tingling."
She gave him a warm look. "I'm glad I could please you, lord Hendrick."
He stared at her, his voice lowering until it was nearly a growl. "As am I, Red."
He was reaching for her when there was a frightened scream from outside and something large and heavy landed on the roof of the carriage. The carriage creaked to a stop and the horses whinnied nervously as there was another scream that was abruptly cut off.
Avery gasped as something large and winged flew past the window of the carriage.
"Faeries," Hendrick whispered, his tanned face paling. He pulled Avery to the floor of the carriage and put his finger to his lips. "Be quiet."
Avery winced as the sound of men screaming filled the air.
My Lord, should you not help your men?" she whispered. "They are only humans – they stand no chance with the faeries."
He shook his head, his lips trembling. "Be quiet, girl."
She was filled with disgust at his cowardice. "We cannot hide in here like frightened children. They will check the carriage. They are not stupid."
He just stared at her, and she shook him impatiently. "Untie me. We have to at least try and fight. I will not lie here and wait for death!"
"Shut up!" he snarled. "Let me think! I just need to -"
The door of the carriage was ripped open and Hendrick screamed pitifully as dirty, moss- covered hands reached in and grabbed his legs. He was yanked from the carriage and Avery, her legs trembling and adrenaline coursing through her veins, scooted out the door and pressed her body against the side of the carriage.
She moaned under her breath. All around her were faeries, swooping and gliding through the air as they dropped on Hendrick's men. Two faeries, their powerful bodies twisting and turning, lifted one of the men high into the air before dropping him. He landed in a crumpled heap, jagged shards of bone sticking out of his legs, and screamed hoarsely before one of the faeries descended on him. The faerie held his face and inhaled deeply. Immediately, grey mist rose from the man's mouth and within minutes he was slack-jawed, his eyes closed and his body limp as the faerie continued to inhale.
There was a loud howling and she glanced to her left to see that Hendrick had shifted into his wolf form. Snapping and growling he backed away from the faeries. He turned and ran for the woods but before he could make the trees, four faeries descended on him. They pinned him to the ground, hooting loudly and stabbing him with their spears.
Avery looked away as Hendrick howled with agony and more faeries crowded around him, tearing at his pelt with their strong fingers.
She slid along the carriage and around the back of it. If she could get to the trees, she could use them as coverage. She could hide herself deep in the woods and wait until dawn to try and return to Tristan's home.
She scanned the skies above her. Dark had fallen and it was nearly impossible to tell if there was anything flying in the sky above her. She took a deep breath and made a break for the trees.
She was nearly to the tree line when a faerie swooped down and knocked her to the ground. Screaming, she tried to twist away but he pinned her down as easily as a child and stared at her.
"Hello, Red!" He grinned cheerfully at her. "You're a pretty one!"
He brushed his hand across her face, and she spat at him before punching at him with her bound hands.
He laughed and hooted and then bent over her, holding her hands tightly in his own. He smiled at her and she clamped her mouth shut as he started to inhale.
She stared into his muddy brown eyes, feeling her body going limp and her mind dimming. She opened her mouth as he continued to inhale. A mist, blue instead of grey, drifted from her mouth and the faerie's eyes widened with delight and hunger.
"So tasty," it whispered to itself before it inhaled again.
Avery moaned as the world darkened around her. Tears were trickling down her cheeks and she breathed Tristan's name before falling into the darkness.
** *
"We're ready to go, Tristan," Marshall said. He, as well as Leo and Jeffrey, shifted to their wolf forms as Tristan bent down to Sophia.
"You did the right thing in telling me, my love. I will be back soon with Avery. I promise you. Do not be frightened while I am gone. Your grandmother will keep you safe."
She nodded solemnly and stepped back, taking Maya's hand as Vivian stepped forward. "Be careful, Tristan."
He nodded and was turning away when Victoria stepped out from the house. She glanced around the group curiously. "Tristan, my darling? Where are you going?"
Tristan stared at her. He had been so obsessed with getting Avery back that he hadn't even thought of Victoria. Now, staring at her, he could feel his anger and fear boiling up inside of him. There was no doubt in his mind that she had conspired with her brother to take Avery, and with an angry roar he stormed towards her. She backed up against the wall as he planted his hands on either side of her and stared down at her.
"My lord, what is wrong?" she whispered.
"I know that you and your brother have been plotting against me," he said in a dangerously soft voice.
She winced. "Tristan, I do not know what you mean."
"Stop lying to me!" He shouted at her, and she cringed against the wall of the house.
"You will gather your slaves and your things, and you will leave my house immediately. The
gods help you if you are still here when I return."
"Tristan wait, let me explain," she begged. She stared at Vivian. "Vivian, please help him to
understand that I did it for him."
"You would be wise to hold your tongue, Victoria," Vivian said.
Tristan stared at the blonde Lycan. "If your brother hurts her, if he even touches her, I will
kill him where he stands. And then I will hunt you down and kill you as well. I will wipe your entire bloodline from the face of this earth. Do you understand me?"
She nodded, her eyes yellow and rolling in their sockets with fear and her face covered in a thin sheen of sweat. He stepped back and looked at Ian. "Help her pack and leave. Watch her carefully."
Ian nodded and took Victoria's arm. When she tried to yank free, his eyes glowed a deep yellow and a snarl tore from his throat.
"All right," she whispered and allowed him to lead her into the house.
"It will be dark in a few hours, Tristan. Perhaps you should wait until morning to go after them," Vivian said.
"No. He's left with seven men and a carriage. They will be slow and if we leave now, we can catch up to them by nightfall."
He stared at Maya who had been pale and silent since she had found out Avery had been kidnapped. "I'll bring her back."
She nodded and gathered Sophia against her as Tristan shifted and he and the others disappeared into the woods.
** *
The wolves moved quickly and confidently in the darkness. The white wolf, his fur gleaming in the moonlight, whined quietly at the large, grey wolf beside him. The wolf barked sharply, his eyes glowing, and lengthened his stride. A man's scream, shockingly loud, pierced the night air from somewhere ahead of them. Marshall whined again, and Tristan snarled before they bounded forward.
** *
"I want a taste! Get out of the way!" A faerie, its body covered in scars and strange markings, pushed at the faerie who was pinning Avery down. The faerie held onto Avery's arms and continued to inhale. With a scream of rage, the second faerie drew his spear and stabbed the other faerie in the neck, pushing him off of Avery as black liquid and blood flowed from his neck.
With a hideous grin, he leaned over Avery and inhaled, his eyes closing in ecstasy as he tasted the blue mist rising from her mouth. He was so entranced by her taste that he took no notice of the sudden screaming of his fellow faeries. He leaned closer and took another deep breath. It wasn't until the first wave of hot breath washed over his face that he opened his eyes. Frowning he turned his head and stared into the glowing green eyes of a giant grey Lycan.
He reached for his spear, but the Lycan tore his head from his body with one swipe of his paw. The faerie's head, its mouth open in a silent scream, rolled across the ground before coming to a gentle stop against the torn and mutilated body of Hendrick.
** *
Tristan shifted to his human form as Marshall and the others worked together to kill the remaining faeries. All around them were dead men and faeries but Tristan paid no attention to them. His hands shaking, he sat on the cold ground and gathered the limp body of Avery into his arms.
"My love," he whispered. "Wake up. Please, my love. Open your eyes."
She didn't respond. Her face was pale and cold, and her eyelids were tinged with purple. He held her against him, kissing her face and stroking her long red hair.
"You're all right. You're just fine," he whispered. "You can heal yourself of this. I know you can."
He continued to hold her and when she didn't wake, he shook her almost roughly. "Avery! Wake up! Do you hear me, girl? Wake up!"
She remained limp, her breathing steady and slow and her eyes closed. She was like a large doll in his arms and panic flooded through his veins.
Marshall approached and placed a hesitant hand on his back. "Tristan, brother - it is too late. The faeries have taken her essence."
Tristan howled in agony before rising to his feet. He clutched Avery against him and glared at Marshall. "It is not too late. Do you hear me? She will be fine. She will heal herself and she will wake."
Without looking at Marshall or the others he carried the limp and still body of Avery towards his horse.