Taken (Fae's Captive #5) - Lily Archer Page 0,8

the winter realm fae to lose sleep over me.” I swallow hard, because deep down, I believe my own words. After all, Gareth didn’t come through the portal for me. Despite fighting for me, and telling me—wait, was Gareth talking to me in my head back in the winter realm?

The Catcher interrupts my thoughts, “Don’t try to trick me, changeling. Gareth almost killed me for snatching you.”

“So?”

“So, I don’t believe you.” His eyes narrow. “You mean something to them. Enough for them to fight for you. Dumb of Gareth, of course, to fight for a changeling slave with no more worth than the mud under my boot.”

“You’re wrong.”

“About which part?” He snorts and shoves me forward.

This time I keep my footing. “Gareth didn’t come after me. If I were as important as you say, he would be here killing you with embarrassing ease.” I return his earlier smile. “So, you can stop patting yourself on the back any minute now.”

“Mouthy changeling.” Another backhand from him, and I’m on the ground again, pain streaking across my face. “I’ve had enough.” Dropping down to his haunches, he repositions my gag, then forces me to my feet.

At least the fabric soaks up the blood. I want to keep my head up, to stalk toward my death with strength and resolve. But instead, I find myself caving in, hunching my shoulders, and becoming the same wretched slave I was when Taylor first found me in the dungeon. But this time will be worse for me. Escape isn’t taken lightly, especially not by Granthos. My chin drops, and I focus on the forest floor, the flowers that grow along the fallen trunks, and the burrows where animals take shelter as we pass. Though I try not to think about Gareth, my mind keeps returning to him. He didn’t follow me here, but he did try to save me in the winter realm. I should give him credit for it. He fought for me when no one else would, so that’s something. I’ll take that memory with me to my grave and thank him in my heart.

We walk for hours until the light begins to fade and the will-o’-the-wisps begin to glow in blues and greens all around. Cresting a hill, the Catcher stops and lets out a grunt. “Finally.”

Beneath us, the palace spreads out like a tropical bird as the capital city of Byrn Varyndr settles into a warm night.

Home.

A chill cuts through me, and my knees threaten to give. But the Catcher leads me ever onward, marching me to my death with sure steps.

6

Gareth

“And there’s more where that came from!” I brandish my knife at the bloody kelpie that stares at me from the water’s edge.

It blinks slowly, the blood between its crooked fangs oozing into the seafoam. The creature tosses its head like a horse, but its depthless eyes hold nothing but ancient fae malice. With a hiss it dives into the surf, its scaly green tail splashing me as a parting gift.

I lie back and stare at the azure sky while trying to catch my breath. The kelpie put up a vicious fight, and my leg burns from the corrosive venom in its bite. I keep the knife in my palm. There’s no way to know what dangers lurk in the trees at my back. The waves gently lap against the shore as I recover, my body expelling the poison as I focus what little healing magic I have on my leg.

I don’t have a moment to waste. Not when Beth needs me. I can feel whispers of her through the bond—and none of them are good. Fear, loathing, and pain all echo down the link between us. It’s enough to get me on my feet, the sand giving way beneath me as I try to get my bearings.

The summer realm sun is relentless, but it also gives some clues about where I am. The angle suggests it’s well after midday, and it moves eastward across this realm. If I’m in the Ocean of Storms at the far end of Byrn Varyndr, I can follow the coast west.

Bending down, I inspect the torn leather around my right calf. The skin has knitted itself back together, but my pants are ruined. The kelpie ripped my shirt with its claws, and I can feel a deep scratch running down my back. Damn the summer realm to the Spires. Angrily, I strip off my shirt and toss it to the sand.

With long strides, I set