“We have to take you to Montefore. To the High King.” Marke replied.

  “Where’s that?” I’d never even seen the name on a map and my gut told me there was no such place in England.

  “It’s about two days ride from here.”

  “The High Prince is waiting.” The soldier said impatiently from doorway.

  “The High Prince?” I repeated looking at the pair of them. What sort of a title even was ‘High Prince’?

  “Fain, the High King’s brother.” Marke said with a hint of something in his voice that I really didn’t like. “I brought you a cloak, you’re going to need it.” He shoved it at me. It was brown, woollen, though not all that soft. “It would be in your best interests to cooperate.”

  “Cooperate? Cooperate, in my own kidnapping, you’ve got to be joking.”

  “The High Prince doesn’t take any prisoners. And he particularly dislikes Fae. If you don’t want to spend the next two days being dragged behind a horse I’d recommend you play along.” Marke replied throwing the cloak over my shoulders and pushing me out of the room barefooted.

  He gripped my arm firmly through the fabric half hauling me down into the courtyard with the soldier following close behind. Clearly they didn’t want to risk anymore escape attempts but I was damned if I was just going to play along and let them get away with it.

  Whatever ‘it’ was that they had planned.

  The yard was filled with soldiers and horses. All wearing the same style chain mail and all them stopped what they were doing to stare openly at me.

  I rolled my eyes, and scrunching up my face. Like they’d never seen a girl before.

  From across the yard a man walked out and everyone dropped to their knee. Everyone except me.

  He was tall, bigger built than the rest around him, had a mass of short dark curls on his head and days old stubble lined his face.

  But the look he gave me made my stomach drop. I knew that look. I knew it only too well. It was one of pure hate, pure loathing.

  Only I couldn’t look away, I refused to cower before him. So instead I held his stare. Challenging him in the only way I could, even as goosebumps spread across my skin. Even as a chill crept up my spine.

  “This is the girl?” He asked looking down to Marke who was kneeling by my side, yanking on my cloak, clearly trying to make me kneel too.

  Even his voice sounded hard. Merciless.

  “Yes Prince Fain.” Marke replied.

  “Good. Get her on a horse and let’s be going.” He said before turning round and going to mount his own horse.

  Marke helped me as I clumsily climbed into the saddle. No one had even asked if I could ride. I sat half rigid as someone adjusted the stirrups for me and then handed my reins to a waiting soldier.

  My feet recoiled against the cold metal but no one else seemed to notice or care that I had no shoes on.

  Perhaps that was part of their plan, not give me any shoes so it would make it harder to escape. I gritted my teeth. Like that would stop me. Because if that’s what it took, then I’d do it, I’d rip my feet to shreds if it meant getting away from these crazy people and their crazy behaviour.

  Prince Fain turned his horse to face me and narrowed his eyes. “I’m warning you girl, you try anything and there’ll be consequences.”

  I glared back at him but bit my tongue. I needed to buy some time, to make him to think I was at least complying until my moment came.

  Next to me Marke flustered in his own saddle, clearly he wasn’t any more comfortable at riding than I was and the thought gave me some relief. Perhaps they would be more considerate of his needs. Ride slower for his sake.

  In unison our group headed out. My horse followed with the others as I clung to the edge of my saddle, digging my nails into the leather, needing every bit of leverage as I jolted and jutted with every move of the beast beneath me. Any hope of an easy ride was gone the minute we left the village.

  The minute the prince gave the order for us to start cantering.

  If I managed to stay on it’d be a miracle.

  We stopped at what I assumed was midday for food and to change the horses for fresh ones. No doubt because we’d made the poor beasts run within an inch of their lives.

  I practically fell off my horse as I dismounted. My whole body was screaming in protest and I could barely conceal the shaking in my legs.

  I slumped onto the floor glancing only to see if it was dry. A few of the soldiers watched me but I avoided their gaze. I didn’t want to make eye contact. I didn’t want to see the amusement and no doubt mocking in their eyes.

  One of them passed around steaming bowls of something. My mouth watered at the sight and my stomach rumbled so loudly.

  He walked up to me, squatted and passed me a bowl.

  For a moment I hesitated. What if it was poisoned? What if they’d laced it with some drug to keep me docile?

  “Take it.” He said quietly but I shook my head.

  I’d rather starve than risk making it easier for them.

  He sighed picking up the spoon, stirring it around and took a bite. “See?” He muttered as if to prove it wasn’t anything insidious.

  I gulped. My hunger told me to do it. To eat. I hadn’t had breakfast and if I didn’t get some calories in soon I’d start to weaken. If I stood any chance of escape then I needed to keep my strength up. Besides, once I was free, once I was running, who knew when my next meal would be.

  I chewed my lip. The debate obvious on my face.

  He shook his head, taking my hand and forced the bowl into it.

  “Eat quick. We’re leaving shortly.” He said before standing up.

  I glared back at him. Glared at them all but I didn’t hesitate. Not when the food was right there. I gulped it down, ignoring the burning, ignoring the smirks. It tasted like heaven. Hot stew, hot vegetables and chunks of meat though what sort of animal it came from I couldn’t guess and frankly, didn’t want to think about.

  When I was done I wiped my mouth. Putting the bowl down. I contemplated stealing the spoon but what good would it do as a weapon? Besides they would see it straight away and it hardly fit with the compliant image I was trying to portray.

  The so called Prince wandered about, speaking to the soldiers as though he was one of them. He didn’t look at me. He didn’t even glance my way. It was like he was trying to pretend I didn’t exist.

  As I looked around I noticed no one was watching me. Not even Marke who was rubbing his legs like he was suffering just as much as I had from the hard ride.

  Slowly, I got to my feet. I took a step back. Then another.

  I could always argue I needed a wee, I reasoned as I snuck back right into something hard.

  I turned, staring up at the soldier I hadn’t noticed. The one who was watching me.

  I gulped, pushing back but he grabbed me yanking me further from the group by the scruff of my neck. I yelped, struggling to get free but then he pulled a dagger and I froze.

  “All Fae are a freak of nature.” He spat lunging at me.

  I didn’t have time to scream. I barely had time to raise my arms, to block his blows feeling the sharp agonizing slices as they took the brunt of the attack.

  But his other hand gripped my cloak so tightly I couldn’t get free.

  “Let her go.” Marke’s voice rung out behind me and my attacker spun me round, blade to my throat as he faced him. All the soldiers were there now. Swords in hand, ready to strike but clearly they were hesitant to do anything with how he held me.

  “She needs to die.” The man holding me growled pushing the blade harder against my throat. Forcing me to press myself further into his body, fighting every instinct that screamed at me to get away. I closed my eyes, not daring to move. Not daring to even breathe.

  But a whimper still escaped.

  Small. Pathetic. Just like me. Cowardly Alice was back.

  A whoosh of something passed. I felt the air move, shifting to accommodate the movement and then I heard the thump as the dagger hit its target.

  My attacker gasped, and we both fell hard onto the ground.

  Me right on top of him.

  I cried out scrambling to get away from him, scrambling to get away from all the blood spurting out from where he clutched his throat around a jewel encrusted hilt.

  As I looked up I met the Prince’s eyes. He gave me such a look that I knew he was the one who’d done it.

  He’d thrown the dagger.

  I gritted my teeth, pulling my cloak around me. Only too aware now of how vulnerable I really was. This was far more than just cosplay if they were willing to murder one another.

  “Get rid of the body.” Prince Fain ordered. “And get the horses ready.”

  “She needs a healer.” Marke stated.

  Fain shook his head. No doubt irritated by the fact I’d let myself get injured. “We have none. Ridley, bandage her up.”

  The soldier who’d given me the food nodded before beckoning me to follow. As he pulled back my sleeve I flinched. The cuts weren’t as deep as they felt but there was enough blood to make it look bad.

  “Hold still.” He murmured.

  I glared at him. I know it wasn’t his fault. I know he didn’t hurt me and yet he was part of this wasn’t he. He was part this entire charade.

  He didn’t react beyond wrapping my arm, bandaging it tightly enough that the throbbing pain became muted.

  “I’ll check it tonight and redress it.” He said.

  I scowled in return, yanking my arm away. Did he expect me to thank him? To be grateful that he was helping me?

  He walked off. No doubt as keen as everyone else to get packed up and going.

  I looked around seeing the two soldiers that had disappeared off to bury the body sauntering back.

  No one was looking at me. The prince had his back to me. Ridley was packing his horse, doing something with it’s saddle. Even Marke wasn’t paying any attention. It felt like they all wanted to be going. Like they were all desperate to be out of here and pretend the whole incident had never happened.

  I didn’t think this time.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  I just ran.

  My heart was pounding in my chest as I ran faster and faster, half tripping as I went. I could feel the stones, and twigs, and hard ground digging into my feet, butchering them more than yesterday had.

  But I didn’t slow.

  I didn’t stop.

  I just kept going.

  Had they even realised I’d gone?

  I didn’t dare to look back. I didn’t dare to check. They’d know soon enough. I just hoped that I could get to the treeline and get hidden.

  Someone had tried to kill me.

  To actually kill me.

  This wasn’t a game anymore and I sure as hell wasn’t going to just play along like Marke had suggested. I didn’t even know what direction to run in, didn’t know how far from the house I was but I knew I had to be days away.

  But I couldn’t focus on that now.

  I just had to get away. Hide. And once I was alone I could come up with a plan. Worse case I would walk the whole way back, even if it took days to do it.

  My legs screamed in protest as I went. My thighs, already battered from the riding, were slowing down, refusing to cooperate.

  I had to keep going. I had to get away.

  Something barrelled into me from behind and within seconds I was slamming hard into the ground with someone heavy on top of me.

  I kicked out, tried to lash at the person with my hands but he held me firm, wrenching my arms above my head before I could land any decent blows.

  As I stared into his face I realised who it was.

  High Prince Fain.

  “Let me go.” I said even though I knew already it was useless. The bastard would do no such thing.

  “Not a chance.” He snarled back.

  I could feel his whole weight on me as I struggled against him. I tried to knee him in the balls. Tried to headbutt him too but he was so much stronger than me that it was pointless.

  “What do you want from me?” I gasped finally giving in.

  “You know what I want.” He said.

  “No I don’t.” I cried.

  “You belong to my brother and that’s where I’m taking you.” He stated.

  “Right, unless one of your buddies kills me first.” I snapped.

  “The Agnai are no friends of mine.” He growled.

  “Like I care who your friends are.”

  “You should because I’m the only thing keeping you alive right now.” He said narrowing his eyes running them over me in such a predatory manner.

  But I refused to flinch. I refused to back down.

  “Well crap job you’re doing. I almost got a knife in my throat just now or have you forgotten that?” I snapped.

  “Almost. You almost got a knife in your throat. You should be grateful. I saved your life remember.”

  “Yeah sure I’m real grateful. You drag me halfway to who knows where and you want me to be grateful.” I said struggling against him again.

  “Enough. I’m not going to argue with you.” He replied grabbing me by the scruff of my cloak and dragging me to my feet. “We need to get going.”

  “Not so fast Prince Fain.” Someone said behind us making the prince spin around with me still in his grasp.

  “What is this?” Fain snarled looking at dozen or so soldiers starting to surround us.

  Circling us like jackals.

  I knew none of these were the Prince’s. They’re armour was in poorer condition, they didn’t even have helmets.

  “Lord Ghosh wants his Fae back.” One of the soldiers said taking a step forward, his eyes fixed firmly on me.

  My stomach twisted at that. They’d followed us from the village. Tracked us down.

  “The Fae belong to the High King, even you lot know that.” Fain snarled.

  They laughed in response. “Not this one.” One of them muttered as they pounced.

  I was wrenched from the Prince’s grasp, tossed like a rag doll into waiting arms while the gang of them began fighting the Prince back.

  I yelled out, kicking, punching doing everything I could to get free but the soldier holding me struck me so hard that I was too dazed to do anything but hang limply, pathetic in their arms.

  As they threw me onto the back of another horse someone struck me again. This time harder. Much harder.

  Darkness overtook me.

  And I slipped into it.

  Welcomed it, like an old forgotten friend.

  I woke whimpering slightly, aware that my head hurt worse than ever and that I was cold. Freezing cold.

  It felt like they’d put me in a dungeon, an actual god damn dungeon.

  I shivered looking around. A flicker of moonlight was coming through the narrow barred window. God knows how long I’d been unconscious for it to be night again. I was lying on a stone floor, with straw around me, like I was an animal.

  I tried to stand, to get to my feet, but my legs gave way under me.

  As I collided once more with the hard stone I let out a cry. My teeth juddering with the contact.

  “You’re finally awake.” Someone said and I gasped looking around for the source of the noise.

  “Who are you?” I asked staring up at him. Squinting through the darkness to try to make him out.

  “Your new master.” He stated opening the door and stepping inside. As his face appeared through the darkness I realised who he was, the Lord from before. The man I’d been paraded in front of while everyone had been screaming that I was a Magar.

  I flinched, pushing my body back against the cold stone. Instinct telling me that this man was dangerous. That this man was going to hurt me. “Let me go. Please just let me go.”

  He grinned kneeling in front of me. Tilting his head the way an animal does before it makes the kill. “Why would I do that? Why would anyone do that when they get the chance to own a Fae?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not Fae.”

  His lips curled with amusement. He was so close now I could smell his sweat, smell his breath too. Both so rancid it made me nearly choke. “Oh yes you are. Look at you, your hair, your skin, even your eyes give you away.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not Fae.” I shouted.

  “You know what they say about you lot don’t you?” He murmured as his fingers brushed my cheek.

  I flinched as a feeling of revulsion set in my stomach.

  “What?” I stammered not really sure if I wanted to find out. No, certain that I didn’t want to.

  “If you fuck one, if you fuck a Fae, you’ll be blessed your entire life.”

  “Get the hell away from me.” I cried pushing him back, pushing away with the little strength my pathetic body could muster.

  He laughed. “You are going to give me everything I want Fae.”

  “I’ll give you nothing.” I shouted.

  “Then I’ll take it. I’ll take your body and your powers. And once I’ve done that I’ll take Rette’s crown, Uther’s too.”

  “Let me go.” I cried looking round, trying desperately to find some escape.

  But there was none.

  I was locked in with him. Locked in with a monster.

  He lunged at me, pulling my body round as I tried to fight him off.

  “Stay still girl, you’ll enjoy it more.” He growled.

  “Get off me.” I cried punching him hard in the face. Only he hit me back making my head smash onto the floor.

  I could feel his hands grabbing at me, fumbling with the zip of my jeans as if he didn’t know quite how to undo them.

  I kicked out, clawed at him and he hissed.

  “If I have to, I’ll beat you into submission…” He began but someone pulled him off before he could finish his threat.

  “Get your hands off her.” Prince Fain snarled.

  “I found her, she was mine first.” Ghosh stated.

  Fain narrowed his eyes glancing at me as I scrambled back against the wall. As I curled up as small as my body would go. “She belongs to my brother.”

  “Join me Prince Fain. We could rule this land together.”