Page 87 of Given to the Fae
The hard gallop has me gripping the horse for dear life as my flesh is shaken from my bones, but we make it to the Ring before it closes. I clutch Morgan, steeling myself for the horrors that await me inside the corridor between worlds.
But when we enter, the screaming doesn’t assail me. I can still hear it, but it isn’t so loud, and I don’t feel so terrified.
The whispers come from one direction, and I make myself open my eyes to look, but there’s nothing but the black of the Breach around us.
‘Bryn.’
I turn my head to see who calls for me, but there’s no one else in the Breach that I can see.
We come out into a small town square under morning sunshine and blue skies. The buildings are wooden and paintedbrightly, and there are colored triangles on long lines of string hanging all over as if there’s going to be a celebration.
I look back at the Ring. I don’t know why, but something tells me that the Breach didn’t affect me so much this time because I’m stronger, and I’m stronger because of last night. But that doesn’t make sense. How wouldthatgive me strength? It must merely be a coincidence.
‘Where are you coming from?’ the Gate keeper asks from his hut.
He smiles at us amiably, even at me, and I’m taken aback because I’m usually overlooked, or I receive a scowl.
I find myself smiling back, enjoying not being a slave in his eyes, and putting my thoughts away for the moment to enjoy the freedom even if it is false.
‘Just passing through the Circles,’ Locke says. ‘Is there a festival?’
The pixie Gate keeper nods. ‘Tonight. For the full moon. We have a witches’ coven here, and they enjoy their lunar celebrations.’
‘Aye, they do at that,’ Locke nods. ‘Where’s the best inn?’
The pixie scratches his head, his lips pursed in thought. ‘The Ram’s Head will serve you well, I think, and last I heard they had some rooms.’
Locke nods his thanks and we leave the square.
The Ram’s Head is on the main street, so we find it easily, and the last two rooms are procured for the night.
It’s a refreshing change that the males aren’t reminded to not let me on the soft furnishings or told I have to sleep in the barn with the other slaves.
It’s decided that I’ll be with Jak overnight in case what happened in the cave occurs again, but I’m almost sure that it won’t. I don’t have the same odd sensation that I felt yesterday. Jak doesn’t think it will be a problem again either, assuming itwas the world we were on. I haven’t told him that I felt odd from the moment I woke up that morning.
I traipse up the stairs behind Jak, deep in thought.
It scares me that I wasn’t in control of myself and it frightens me even more that he’s wrong. If I don’t know what caused it, I don’t know how to stop it from happening, and the thought of having it come upon me again, of begging to be fucked... It’s bad enough when I asked the three fae, but what if they aren’t there next time? What if I’m reduced to begging some unknown master to relieve me?
I shy away from these thoughts, my heart thudding in my chest. I can’t let that happen. I need to speak to Jak, tell him the truth about when I began to feel odd, and that the Breach isn’t affecting me as much as it has before. Should I tell him about my suspicions as well? That I feel stronger because of last night?
I have no proof. He likely won’t believe me. But perhaps he should know everything I know.
When we get into the small room, Jak heaves a sigh and puts his pack gently on the table.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asks.
I tilt my head as I look at him. Is the concern in his eyes because he fucked me? Or is he just being kind because he pities me?
‘I need to tell you something,’ I say instead of answering him.
He nods and sits down, handing me the skin with the tea in it.
I know instinctively that I don’t need that now, so I don’t take the cork out and drink the vile stuff.
‘Yesterday...’
He gestures for me to sit down at the small table with him, so I do.
