Bonds that Burn and Bind

Chapter 3 Part 4

AN: 122 reads and 35 votes, thanks so much. This is a short update and probably the last Wednesday update until I pass the NBCOT (the board occupational therapists have to pass to become registered. I like to edit each chapter before positing it. Happy reading

The Fae Prince nodded towards the soldiers who released me, and immediately formed a protective circle around their prince. They moved as one, stopping a few yards away to talk amongst themselves.

Now free to move as I pleased, I rushed to Winnie. " I'm so sorry! This is my fault. If I hadn't insisted on helping that fairy-"
She held up her hand, stopping me from continuing. "Val, that don't matter no more. That job you offered my sisters, tell me you weren't making that up."

"Of course not!"

She let her hand drop to her side. "Then go find my ma and tell her to send Cassie and Tula to your father. She don't like your family much, but she'll listen. Especially if you tell her I sent you. They are in Dragide. It's a village close to Witch's Row."

" Winnie, you're going to be the wife of a Fae Prince!" My eyes drifted to where he stood with his back toward us, still  talking with some of the other soldiers. "He seems like he likes you." I said, recalling the gentleness he displayed when interacting with her— something not shown to me. "Maybe as he grows to like you more, you can ask him to-"

Winnie's eyes filled with tears, and they glinted with the last bit of sunlight that clung to the sky. " Val, you're talkin' like I have time for that. I'm not gonna be around for much longer. A couple of years back, another gather from Dragide got mixed up and ended up on Fae land ." She let out a soft whimper. "Two days later, her body shown up in front of her husband's house. Barely anything left of her— like she'd been eatin' by wild animals. Something's wrong with this place. Can't you feel it? Even the trees are screaming." Her eyes drifted towards the forest and lost focus.

I reached out and squeezed her arms, and she snapped back from wherever her mind had gone, blinking at me once, twice in confusion.
"Winnie, I doubt any of those girls had your skills or..." I trailed off.

Within Winnie's features, I saw a ghost of a man and a boy I once knew.

The name Jamie was wildly popular around twenty-five years ago because of the hero King Jamie the Dragon Heart. Three of the twenty mercenaries who were hired to escort my mother and me to Incartha to meet my betrothed had been named Jamie. And all three of their fathers had also been part of our band.  So, when Winnie mentioned her brother was named Jamie and her father was also with us, it hadn't clicked immediately who her relations were until now.
"Your Boris' daughter, aren't you? You resemble him and your brother."

Winnie swallowed hard and nodded, like hearing the name of her father pained her.

" He and your brother are the reason I survived when the Shadowlings first attacked."

She laughed, and a few tears slid down her face. "That don't surprise me much. They were brave like that and real strong."

I nodded in agreement. "If they trained you— whatever challenges are killing these girls—I bet you can survive them. Just remember to remain calm and keep your wits about you. Repeat after me. Remain calm and keep your wits about you."

"Remain calm and keep your wits about you," she repeated softly.

"Good," I said, forcing yet another smile to my face, while I patted her shoulder. "Just remember that, and you'll have a chance."

"Time for you to go!" I turned and met the Fae Prince's cold stare. He raised his hand, and an invisible barrier pushed into me, forcing me towards the misty wall.

"Don't worry about your family," I called to Winnie, digging my heels into the dirt to slow my departure. "I'll make sure they're alright until you're done with the challenges!"

She gave me a smile, I bet she didn't feel. "Thank you, Val. Just be sure you hide your fangs when you meet my ma or you might scare her," she said before the mist swallowed me, and I lost sight of her.