Legacy of The Enchanted

Don't Touch Me!

(Alex's P.O.V.)

The morning air was crisp as we prepared to leave the inn, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Taryn and Archer were outside, getting the horses ready. Roan was with me, making sure we had everything we needed before heading to the next town. I could feel the tension in the air, a lingering unease that had settled over us since we arrived in Mystral Point. The town's picturesque appearance did little to mask the undercurrent of hostility toward us—especially toward Taryn, Roan, and Archer. Being Fae made us targets of disdain, but we had little choice but to endure it.

The innkeeper's voice jolted me from my thoughts. He had been watching us, his eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and something darker. As I turned to face him, I couldn't help but notice the way he looked at me, his gaze lingering too long. It was unsettling, reminding me of Lord Zephyrus, the man I was once betrothed to. The same sickening feeling crept over me, making my skin crawl.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked, his voice dripping with false politeness. "Shame. A delicate thing like you shouldn't be out there on your own. Dangerous world for a girl like you."

I forced a smile, trying to maintain my composure. "I'm not alone," I replied, glancing at Roan, who stood beside me, his expression hardening.

The innkeeper's gaze shifted to Roan, and he sneered. "An elf guard? Really? A little thing like you needs a real man to protect her. Not some lowly Fae."

My hand instinctively moved to the dagger at my waist, my fingers brushing against the hilt. The innkeeper noticed, and his smile widened, but it wasn't friendly. It was the smile of a predator who enjoyed toying with his prey.

"Think you can handle that, sweetheart?" he taunted, taking a step closer. "You're too delicate for weapons like that. Best leave it to the men."

I felt a surge of anger rises within me, but I kept my voice steady. "I assure you, I'm more than capable of handling myself. And I don't need a man to take care of me."

His eyes gleamed with amusement as if he found my defiance entertaining. "Is that so? Maybe I should teach you a lesson, just like I did with your little elf friend last night. Make sure you know your place."

Roan's hand moved to his sword, but I stopped him with a subtle shake of my head. I didn't want to escalate the situation, but I wasn't going to back down either.

"Touch me, and you'll regret it," I warned, my voice cold as ice. I drew the dagger just enough to show that I meant business.

The innkeeper's expression darkened, but he didn't move. He studied me for a moment, as if weighing his options, before letting out a low chuckle. "Feisty little thing, aren't you? Just like that elf girl. But don't worry, sweetheart. I'm sure you'll learn your place eventually. They all do."

I forced myself to hold his gaze, refusing to let him see how much he had rattled me. "We're leaving now," I said firmly, taking a step back. "And I suggest you stay out of our way."

The innkeeper's eyes narrowed as he took another step toward me, his gaze sweeping over me with a mixture of disdain and something far more sinister. His presence felt suffocating, like a dark cloud hanging over me, pressing down with the weight of everything I had fought so hard to escape. The memories of Lord Zephyrus flickered in my mind, his cold, calculating smile as he watched me like a hawk, always ready to pounce the moment I let my guard down. This man had the same air about him, the same twisted pleasure in exerting power over others.

"Look at you," he drawled, his voice thick with mockery. "All dressed up, thinking you're something special. But underneath all that finery, you're just another girl who doesn't know her place. And that pretty little knife of yours—" His eyes flicked to the dagger at my waist, lingering there before returning to my face. "—won't do you any good when you're up against a real man."

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my temper in check. His words were like poison, each one laced with the intent to undermine, to belittle, to make me feel small and powerless. But I wasn't that scared, helpless girl anymore. I had fought too hard to reclaim my life, to carve out a path that was mine, not one dictated by men like him. And I wasn't about to let this sleazy innkeeper strip that away from me.

"I'm not afraid of you," I said, my voice steady, though my heart raced in my chest. I tightened my grip on the dagger, ready to draw it fully if he made any sudden moves. "And I don't need your protection, or anyone else's for that matter."

His smile twisted into something ugly, his eyes flashing with anger at my defiance. "You think you're tough, don't you?" he sneered. "You think that just because you've got a bit of spirit, you can walk around like you're better than everyone else. But you're not. You're just another little girl playing dress-up, pretending to be something you're not. And someone like you, parading around with an elf for a guard—" He spat the word like it was a curse. "—needs to be reminded of her place."

I felt a cold fury wash over me, but I kept it in check, channeling it into my resolve. "My place," I said slowly, deliberately, "is wherever I choose it to be. And right now, it's leaving this town. So, if you know what's good for you, you'll step aside."

He didn't move, his eyes locked on mine in a silent battle of wills. I could see the calculation behind his gaze, the way he was weighing his options. He could try to force the issue, to assert his dominance more physically, but I could tell he wasn't sure if it was worth the risk. I was ready for him, my muscles coiled like a spring, waiting to strike if he gave me the slightest reason.

For a moment, the tension was unbearable, the silence thick and suffocating. Then, as if deciding that I wasn't worth the trouble, he let out a derisive snort and stepped back. "Get out of my sight," he muttered, his voice low and venomous. "Before I change my mind."

I didn't need to be told twice. With a final glare in his direction, I turned on my heel and walked out of the inn, Roan following close behind. My heart was still pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I refused to let it show. I had faced worse than this man, and I had survived. I would survive this too.

As we stepped outside into the harsh light of day, the tension in my body began to ease, but the encounter had left a bitter taste in my mouth. The innkeeper's words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of how quickly the world could turn on you, how easily power could be wielded against those who had little of it.

Roan glanced at me, concern in his eyes. "You okay, Alli?" he asked quietly, using the nickname he had given me in an attempt to lighten the mood.

I forced a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm fine, Ro," I replied, though the lingering unease in my chest said otherwise. "Let's just get out of here."

He nodded, but his gaze lingered on me a moment longer, as if he could see right through my façade. But he didn't push it, and for that, I was grateful. I didn't want to dwell on what had happened, didn't want to think about the way the innkeeper's words had burrowed under my skin, rekindling old fears and insecurities I thought I had buried long ago.

"Everything alright?" Taryn asked, her eyes flicking between Roan and me.

"Just fine," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Let's get moving."

As we mounted our horses, I could still feel the innkeeper's gaze on me, his dark, unsettling smirk burned into my memory. I pushed it aside, focusing on the road ahead. We needed to get as far from this wretched town as possible.

Roan rode beside me, his expression grim. "He was lucky I didn't gut him right there," he muttered under his breath.

"Next time," I replied, though the anger still simmered beneath my calm exterior. 

Roan nodded, his grip on the reins tightening as we urged our horses forward. The innkeeper's mocking words echoed in my mind, but I forced them down, focusing on the journey ahead. We had more important things to worry about than the filth of one man in a backwater town.

But as we rode away, I made a silent vow that no one would ever treat me—or those I cared about—that way again. The innkeeper's twisted smile would haunt me, but I would not let it break me.

And if we ever crossed paths again, he would learn that I was not someone to be underestimated.