𝙰 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚜: 𝚂𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚌 𝙴𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔬𝔫𝔢(𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 20-21)

      I blinked at the three strangers, dumbfounded as I beheld their sharp-featured faces--free of masks. They looked like High Fae, but there was something slightly different about them, something taller and leaner than Tamlin or Lucien—something crueler in their pitch-black, depthless eyes.

     Faeries, then.

    The one grasping my arm smiled down at me, revealing slightly pointed teeth.

"Human woman," he murmured, running an eye over me. "We've not seen one of you for a while." I tried yanking my arm back, but he held my elbow firm.

"What do you want?" I demanded, keeping my voice steady and cold.

    The two faeries who flanked him smiled at me, and one grabbed my other arm--just as I went for my knife.

"Just some Fire Night fun," one of them said, reaching out a pale, too-long hand to brush back a lock of my hair.

      I twisted my head away and tried to step out of his touch, but he held firm. None of the faeries near the bonfire reacted--no one bothered to look.

     If I cried for help, would someone answer? Would Tamlin answer? I couldnt be that lucky again; I'd probably used up my allotted portion of luck with the naga.

     I yanked my arms in earnest. Their grip tightened until it hurt, and they kept my hands well away from my knives. The three of them stepped closer, sealing me off from the others.

    I glanced around, looking for any ally. There were more nonmasked faeries here now. The three faeries chuckled, a low hissing noise that ran along my body. I hadn't realized how far I stood from everyone else--how close I'd come to the forest's edge.

"Leave me alone," I said, louder and angrier than I'd expected, given the shaking that was starting in my knees.

"Bold statement from a human on Calanmai," said the one holding my left arm.

    The fires didn't reflect in his eyes. It was as if they gobbled up the light. I thought of the naga, whose horrible exteriors matched their rotten hearts. Somehow, these beautiful, ethereal faeries were far worse.

"Once the Rite's performed, we'll have some fun, won't we? A treat--such a treat--to find a human woman here."

      I bared my teeth at him.

"Get your hands off me," I said, loud enough for anyone to hear.

      One of them ran a hand down my side, its bony fingers digging into my ribs, my hips. I jerked back, only to slam into the third one, who wove his long fingers through my hair and pressed close. No one looked; no one noticed.

"Stop it," I said, but the words came out in a strangled gasp as they began herding me toward the line of trees, toward the darkness.

      I pushed and thrashed against them; they only hissed. One of them shoved me and I staggered, falling out of their grasp.

     The ground welled up beneath me, and I reached for my knives, but sturdy hands grasped me under the shoulders before I could draw them or hit the grass.

     They were strong hands--warm and slender. Not at all like the prodding, bony fingers of the three faeries who went utterly still as whoever caught me gently set me upright.

"There you are. I've been looking for you," said a deep, sensual female voice I'd never heard.

     But I kept my eyes on the three faeries, bracing myself for flight as the female behind me stepped to my side and slipped a casual arm around my shoulders.