My panting breaths came quicker and quicker, and I struggled with the rope again.Need to get free. Need to escape.
Caom made an alarmed sound and crawled forwards. For once, he didn’t try anything suggestive. He placed a long-fingered hand on my chest with firm pressure.
“Breathe, Ash.” His voice was calm. “Don’t panic. There’s no point. We won’t hurt you.”
I exhaled a trembling breath, my body instinctively obeying him. I did remember reading that fairies couldn’t lie, which meant Caom was potentially telling the truth when he said they wouldn’t hurt me.
So why had they taken me?
“That’s it.” His hand was warm as it rubbed over my chest, but his touch made me want to squirm away. “You know, youarehandling this remarkably well, all things considered. You are definitely one of us. You know the truth already, deep down.” He chuckled.
I shook my head in automatic protest, sucking in a slower breath. Caom gazed down at me, copper eyes so unnatural but alluring.
“Even with this mortal skin, you are breathtaking,” he said, but his tone was more matter of fact and less slimy, so I just glared at him rather than telling him to fuck off.
“And warm,” he added in a murmur, eyes turning hungry. “Warm skin. Warm eyes.”
Okay, that was enough. I shoved his hand off with a twist of my shoulders and hunched away from him, ignoring his exasperated huff.
“We’re here!” Idony had a bit of life in her for the first time since I’d woken up. She knelt up in the cart, peering ahead with bright eyes. “I can’t wait to get something to eat.”
“Me neither.” Caom settled back in his spot.
She glared at him. “You’ve eaten half the apples we collected, you pig.Andyou threw some at Odran.”
“Ignore Idony,” Caom said to me. “Sour-faced cow. You’ll be taken straight to the Carlin, but afterwards we’ll come and find you to give you clothes and food.”
My breath caught with panic. They weren’t going to stay with me? As twisted as it was, the thought of Caom and Idony leaving me was terrifying, even though he wouldn’t stop hitting on me and she kept scowling at me. I didn’t want to meet this Carlin on my own. I didn’t want to meet herat all.
“Wh-why aren’t you coming with me?” I hated how small my voice came out.
“We can’t go inside without invitation and”—Caom shrugged—“no invitation. We were just part of the troop that collected you. Belial will take you in.”
I recognised the name. “The one who kidnapped me?”
“Kidnapped,” Idony snorted. “So dramatic.”
I stared at her with hard eyes. “What wouldyoucall it? I was snatched out of my garden and knocked unconscious.”
“He didn’t knock you unconscious,” she sneered. “He’s not a brute. He poisoned you. Just a little dose so you fell into a nice sleep for the journey. Evidently, he didn’t use enough,” she added in a mutter.
I spluttered. “Hepoisonedme?”
“He’s awonderfulapothecary.” Idony’s tone was gushing, her eyes softening for the first time. “A master.”
Caom gave me a conspiratorial eyeroll. “Idony’s been half in love with him for years.”
“Shut up, pig,” she hissed, jabbing her bony elbow into his side. “He’s coming.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, head whipping round. A tall, lithe male dressed in black leather armour with gleaming silver adornments was slinking alongside the procession towards the cart. He had pale blue skin, black hair pulled up into a high ponytail and unnaturally electric blue eyes. He was as beautiful as everyone else seemed to be.
“Hello, Belial,” Idony said breathlessly as the procession came to a slow halt and he stopped alongside the cart. Ignoring me, he nodded once at her before those glowing eyes slid to Caom and held.
“Hello, Caom.” His voice was low and smooth, almost emotionless, but even I could see the barely masked yearning in his bright eyes.
Caom gave a little half wave, apparently entirely oblivious, and Belial let out a small sigh only I heard. He finally looked at me, eyes briefly tracking over my frame.
“Are you ready to meet the Carlin?” he asked.