Page 15 of A Bargain with the Fae King

“Ma—” I screech, stumbling back.

Between the stones, tall figures appear wearing similar armor to what Riven wore the day before, though less ornate. More practical, to be honest. With the browns, greens, and tans of their pants and tunics, they blend with the forest around them. Even the metal of the breastplates and arm coverings looks more matte. How long have they been out there? This whole damn time?

“W-who?” I raise my arms in front of me. A poor defense but all I’ve got.

“A human,” one gasps. From the sound of his voice, you’d think I was a unicorn.

“It is.”

It? I’m an ‘it’ now? My teeth grind together before I can shove my irritation anyway. “Where’s my sister?”

Blank stares greet me.

“Little girl? Blond. Always happy. Was wearing…” Shit. I have no idea. “Pajamas?”

There are half a dozen of them. They look between one another as if they can’t understand a word I’m saying, but they spoke my language a moment ago.

I raise my hands. “I come in peace?”

Total lie. I loosen my stance and shift my weight to the balls of my feet. If they’ve hurt May, I’m about to kick some ass. Or at least I’ll go down swinging.

One fae man steps forward. Dark brown hair wraps around elongated, pointed ears like Riven’s, but a golden earring dangles from one ear and this male’s hair ends at the nape of his neck. His skin is tanned or tawny—it’s hard to tell in the moonlight. A golden tree is emblazoned on his chest, different than the green of the others. Their leader?

“We should take her to the king,” he says.

Oh, hell no. I back away, my hands out in front of me. “Not a chance. I have to find May and take her home. Or Riven. Maybe he took her.” Still can’t rule him out, though just the thought of it makes the back of my throat burn. “Do you know him?”

More silent looks, but this time it’s not confusion. They know that name. The fae glance at golden tree guy, who says, “He didn’t take her.”

My lips thin. The certainty in his voice offends me. “How do you know?”

The man holds my gaze, not even blinking. “He’s been with the high court all night.”

The high what? My nails dig into my palm. I could just scream. “Have you seen a little girl? Tell me!”

“Seen. No.” Golden Tree steps closer. “But we scented one.”

May. Oh, God. Tension flees my muscles, and I nearly sink to the ground. It has to be May. I knew it. I knew… “Who took her?”

The fae look at one another again. “Unseelie.”

The word chimes through the air in dissident notes. Shivers race across my skin. Bad, bad, bad. “I have to find them. Right now.”

Golden Tree shakes his head as he advances. “I’m taking you to the king.”

“Hell no!” I stiffen.

He halts.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I look around the group with my teeth bared in a snarl. “Not a damn one of you.”

“You are if you want your May. The king can help,” one says.

A rebuttal is about to spill from my lips when gold tree guy says, “You called for Riven. He’s our king.”

The world sways. All I can do is blink. He’s a…

He talked about his people, but holy shit, I never thought he meant that way. He never said…

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