The Tree's Heart

XXIV

Clover soon found herself on her knees in front of Avery again. Her hands and legs were tied, and she was exhausted. She didn't have much fight left in her after this entire ordeal. She just wanted to eat something, get some water, and get some sleep. She wanted this all to be over already. She had given up on ever getting out of this forest at this point, and she just wanted to be able to accept her fate.

Next to her was Willow, also kneeling with her hands and legs tied. She looked tired, but she still seemed to have an angry spark in her eyes. She didn't look like she had given up just yet. Of course, she wouldn't. Clover never suspected that Willow would give up anything. After all, she had spent years in the forest in the hopes of turning her girlfriend back into a human, and she didn't seem to have gotten any closer.

Clover had to admit that she admired Willow for helping her to get away from the fae when Clover becoming fae could have helped her in trying to turn Nora back. After all, she had unsuccessfully tried to get access to the ancient scrolls that the fae had. If Willow turned fae, she might be able to get those scrolls...

Clover resolved that she would help Willow out in any way she could if she had no choice but to turn. For now, it seemed like all options were still somewhat open, but she had to wait for what Avery was going to say. For now, he was just looking down on them, staying silent as they were both looking up at him, wondering what would happen next. He wouldn't kill them, would he? No, that would make no sense.

Still, Clover didn't like the look in his eyes. Avery's eyes had turned cold. It was obvious that he was upset, that he was hurt. Of course, he would be hurt. Clover had literally run away from him at their wedding, when just weeks before she couldn't get enough of him. She still found herself drawn to him, but she could finally see the bigger picture, the way this life wasn't for her. Maybe she would change her mind on that in the future, but right now she couldn't commit to an eternity in the forest.

She glanced over at Willow who was frowning at Avery. She didn't seem to be the least bit scared – maybe that was because they already had some history with each other. Maybe it was because she knew that he couldn't control her. He couldn't control Clover, either, but that didn't mean he had no power over her. She still felt this strong attraction to him. Willow seemed to be immune to that, and Clover wondered whether it was because of some spell she had cast on herself or whether it was simply because she wasn't into men. It could have been either of those things. Or a secret third option.

Clover looked back at Avery who had started pacing up and down in front of them. She wondered what he was doing. Why he wouldn't talk to them. It almost seemed like he was thinking about what to say. Had this entire escape caught him so off guard? Clover almost couldn't believe it. Surely, he must have known that something was up, that Clover would try to escape with Willow... Or had he trusted her?

Clover hoped that her little escape didn't mean that she would have it worse once she got married to Avery. If she got married to Avery. When she got married to Avery. She wasn't sure whether there was any point in having a little spark of hope that he might just let them go. He wasn't fully human, after all. And wasn't that why he hadn't seen anything wrong with kidnapping her in the first place? Why he hadn't thought that she would resent him for that? Because he was losing his humanity and he just never thought she might have a problem with being whisked away? It seemed ridiculous, but maybe that was the case. It made sense with all the things she had heard from the nymphs about the fae.

"Well, here we are. Again." he finally stated, stopping to look at both Willow and Clover. Willow's frown got deeper.

"Avery..." Clover tried to say. He turned to her, and the words got stuck in her throat. He looked so hurt and upset; it almost made her feel bad. It was easy to forget that he had literally kidnapped her to force her into a marriage. To force her into a way of life she didn't want to live, even if she'd be immortal.