Page 6 of My Demon Desire
"What's the plan?" Thorne asks before I take a step away. He's always looking for trouble, and I suppose that's why he's my second-in-command along with Kaden. I trust no other Unseelie in this realm but them.
And until Kaden learns some patience and takes my word as law, we'll always have our disagreements.
Thorne snorts and crosses his arms over his chest as though he expects me to change my mind, which I won't do.
"We'll talk to her and find out what she's doing here."
If the queen has sent a witch to our doorstep to spy on us or sway us back to her court, then she doesn't know us very well. My instincts scream that it's more than that. Like I'm on the edge of a precipice fixing to fall to my death. And I hope I'm not making the worst mistake of my life. Worse than when I let our queen escape the castle and she disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. I will right my mistake. Even if it means allowing this human to be here.
"I don't trust her," Thorne growls, his teeth clenched.
"She's a human and frail," I say calmly, but wonder if he suspects her of having magic or worse, as I do. "How much damage could she do? You nearly killed her with one hand."
He releases a gut of air and leans against the wall.
I press my hand to my chest in a salute. "I'll see you in a few hours." I can't shake the feeling that her presence here could be linked to the queen. And if she thinks her pretty face and soft voice can fool me or hopes to take me off guard, then she is bitterly mistaken.
"Where are you going?" Thorne calls after me as I head to the kitchen.
"For a drink," I say over my shoulder. "I'll bring you back one during my shift." And with any luck, I can use the ale to get Kaden to take the early morning shift guarding her.
I don't know what it is about her, but I can't shake the feeling in my gut that she's important or she's a spy sent by the queen to kill us all.
If I'm right, then this is the most devious trick the queen has played aside from banishing the true queen.
Whatever the reason this wretched girl is here, I will make her tell us the truth, I will dig until I expose all her secrets. And if she is a trap set by the queen, I will rip the human apart myself.
CHAPTER3
ANNALISE
Iwake up in a bed that's not mine, and I don't recognize where I am. I am in a strange bedroom, with unfamiliar decor and furniture of dark wood embellished with carved patterns. I have no idea how I got here or where I am. I try to remember the events of the previous night, but my head is foggy and I can't seem to piece together what happened.
I sit up in the unfamiliar bed and look around the room. There's a small couch against a window with closed shutters, kinda like the old-time Renaissance fair stuff. There's even a stone fireplace that casts a soft glow from the embers still burning.
A wardrobe is across from the bed against a wall, and there's a trunk at the foot of the bed. In the corner are a basin and a pitcher.
There is no sign of my phone or purse. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand up, feeling a little unsteady on my feet. The stone floor is cold on my feet and I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself.
I'm still wearing my coffee shop uniform of a white, buttoned-up shirt, and black pants. My shoes and socks are gone.
I walk over to the door and try the handle, but it's locked. Panic starts to set in as I realize that I'm trapped in this strange bedroom. I try to calm myself down and think logically. Maybe there's a way out through the window.
I try the window next to the small couch, but I see no way of opening it. The walls feel like they're closing in on me. I'm trapped and have no idea where I am or who brought me here.
If it was someone rescuing me, then why lock the door?
"Okay, don't panic," I tell myself, but my heart is frantically beating against my chest.
Maybe whoever brought me here accidentally locked the door and put my phone and shoes away.
The room did look clean and orderly.
I walk to the wardrobe and open it, and inside is a selection of male clothing. I grab a heavy black cloak and wrap it around myself for warmth.
Then I search the trunk at the foot of the bed. I unlock it and find blankets, candles, and several maps of the area. It is odd, however, that none of the maps have any identifying marks on them, such as street names or locations. And I don't recognize the oceans or land masses.
I sit on the edge of the bed, chewing my thumbnail. There has to be a way out of this place. And if someone kidnapped me, I don't even have a weapon to defend myself with.
