“Let go of me,” I try to pull away from him, but he only tightens his grip.
“If I tell you to do something from here on out, you’ll do it without hesitation,” he whispers into my ear. “If you try to run away from me again, I’ll order my men to shoot you in the back.”
“Tell them to do it now,” I say. “I fully intend to slash you in your sleep.”
“Good to know, since I’ll never let you see that.” He tightens his grip even more, stealing my breath. “Say, ‘I belong to you, Gabriel.’”
“Never.”
“I’ll give you one more chance to obey me.”
“Give me a million and the results will be the same.”
“Belle—”
“I left that ‘Fuck You’ note behind for a reason.” I spit on his hand, and he lets me go. “Did you have a problem reading it, or do you struggle with comprehension?”
“I see how you’re going to be.” He clenches his jaw. “You’ll walk for this entire journey unless you come to your goddamn senses. Everyone else rides on horseback…”
A Daunting Journey
Gabriel
Later that Night
Werewolves howl in anguish from afar, warning weary travelers to stay on the protected paths that glimmer with moon dust. They’re hungry and searching for fresh flesh tonight, but I’m not concerned about being their prey.
I’ve never been their type.
“Hey, uh, Boss,” Lafayette whispers from his horse. “It’s almost been a full day.”
“And?”
“Don’t you think you should, um… Let our lady prisoner onto a horse now?”
I look over my shoulder, spotting Belle walking between two of my most trusted riders. She hasn’t lost a step the entire day, and while a few of my men have requested that we take brief breaks for relief, she hasn’t begged for anything once.
Sensing my stare, her emerald green eyes meet mine.
She lifts an imaginary dagger to her throat, mouthing, “Don’t sleep.”
I smile as she mimes other threats, and I can’t help but notice how other men are stealing glimpses of her, too.
Her mouth is definitely going to be a problem for me, but I can’t deny that her beauty is utterly unparalleled.
“I think she’s more than fine,” I say, turning around again. “When she stops being defiant and tells me who she belongs to, I’ll let her onto a horse.”
“But Boss—”
“She’s fine.” I refuse to entertain the subject anymore. “Drop it.”
“Okay…” He twiddles his thumbs. “Well, um, how many days do you think it’ll take us to get to the castle this time?”
“Depends,” I say. “We need to catch Mr. Arwyn and Isabelle first. I don’t believe either of them got that far.”
“You sure about that?”
“One-hundred-percent.” I tighten the reins on my horse—Mauricio—and command him to pull ahead.
Now is not the time to second guess my plan, and the last thing I need is one of my men overhearing the uncertainty in LaFayette’s voice.
We’ve failed at ending this curse time and time again, but I’m confident that this time—the seventeenth—is the charm.
It has to be…
The trail ahead curves and bends past Swan Lake, winding through rows of white-roofed elf homes that overlook their hidden caves. It’s a path I know all too well, and yet, no matter how many times I follow it, it feels longer.
Ahead, a bronze door shimmers under the canopy of an oak tree, marking my first stopping place.
“Hold, Mauricio.” I command, and his hooves halt in the dirt. Patting his side, I hop off the saddle and knock on the door.
“Yes?” The door opens, revealing a pale-faced woman dressed in an ivory gown.
“We’re starting another journey,” I say. “Let’s go.”
“What? Now?” She peers behind me as my men move behind my horse. “You said I wouldn’t have to help you again until you were sure you’d found the right girl.”
“I am sure.” I narrow my eyes. “And you’re not in a position to question me about anything. Ever.”
“Last time I checked, you’re the reason we’re all cursed.”
“You’re just as much to blame as me…” I step closer. “Or have you forgotten exactly what happened that night?”
She groans, still staring at the men, looking as if she’s about to risk my rage and refuse to come along. But then her eyes widen at something in the distance.
“Is that the girl?” she asks.
Huh? I turn around, spotting Belle as she slips through a reed bed, slumping to the ground. It’s her first sign of weakness.
“No.” I shake my head. “She’s my prisoner. I’m using her in exchange for the real girl.”
“She’s so beautiful…” She leans against the frame. “None of the other girls you’ve ever tried looked like that.”
“Those girls are all irrelevant,” I say. “Some of them didn’t even get this far into the journey.”
“I wonder why…” She purses her lips. “Oh, wait. It’s because you’re a ruthless asshole who doesn’t know what true love is.”
“I’m done wasting time with you.” I groan. “How long will it take you to prepare for this trip?”