Wicked started on breakfast, as always. It amazed me how he fed me and cleaned up every day without a word of complaint. I’d always been given to believe that men expected women to do these sorts of things for them. It had never been an issue for me, growing up surrounded by servants, and maybe I should have offered to help. That was likely the polite thing to do, though I wasn’t sure the usual manners applied when you were being held somewhere against your will.

After we finished eating, I prepared myself for my usual day locked up while Wicked went out to do gods knew what in the forest. I was so bored and weary of this. None of his books were any good, and I couldn’t do anything while I was trapped in here and he took the only key with him. I examined every inch of my small prison, testing the hinges and the locks, but it may as well have been a stone fortress.

“Please don’t leave me here alone again,” I said. “I promise I’ll be good. I just need to get out of here for a few hours.” I put on my most pleading expression and even clasped my hands under my chin for good measure. “I’ll make you dinner tonight. How about that?”

He arched a sardonic eyebrow. “Do you have any idea how to cook, Princess?”

I narrowed my eyes. What an ass. I had absolutely no idea how to cook, but how hard could it be? “Of course I can. What do you take me for?”

He gave me a look that suggested he knew I was lying and then strode over to where his boots sat against the wall.

“Fine,” he said. “But if you try anything, then I’ll make you sleep outside, chained to the battlements tonight. It’s supposed to snow later.”

“I promise,” I said sweetly, my voice dripping with honey while I batted my eyes. The look he threw me was filled with utter suspicion.

The sun was out today, the air warmer than it had been in days. I left my cloak behind, opting only for my heavy tunic and overcoat, and Wicked did the same.

We emerged to a bright blue sky stretching overhead, and I wondered if he was lying about the snow just to be a jerk.

“Come on,” Wicked said. “You walk in front and don’t get any ideas.”

I tossed him a dirty look and did what he asked, marching ahead as we slunk into the forest. The only time he spoke was to direct me to where we were going. He probably could have made it in a quarter of the time without me slowing him down, but he didn’t complain.

“We’re almost there,” he finally said as he brushed past me and we entered a clearing. In the center of it sat a large iron cage.

“What is that?” I asked, my hand drifting to my throat in horror.

Was he going to leave me out here in that?

He cast a look over his shoulder, and I didn’t need words to tell me that was exactly what he’d planned.

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter Twelve

“I am not going in there,” I declared. He didn’t answer as he pulled a leather wrap out of his pack. He unrolled it onto the ground, revealing a set of iron tools with worn wooden handles.

“Sit down and be quiet,” he said, pointing to a large rock nearby. “You said you wouldn’t cause trouble if I brought you with me, and I’m holding you to that.” He stared at me, not wavering, waiting for me to comply. “The temperature is supposed to drop tonight,” he said, reminding me of his threat to leave me out on the battlements.

Without saying a word, I folded my arms, put my nose in the air and sank down on the rock where he pointed, pretending like this had been my idea all along. “Oooh, what a comfy rock,” I said, wiggling my butt against it. “This is so much better than my cage.”

As usual, he ignored me while he returned to what he was doing. He used the various tools—a screwdriver, a hammer, a wrench—to make adjustments to the cage, first working on the outside and then moving to the door. I stared at the sky and let out a long breath.

My elbows planted on my knees, I watched him work, enjoying the way his muscles shifted under his tunic. He’d taken off the heavier overcoat while he’d worked, the sun warm despite the thin crust of snow on the ground.

I let out another dramatic sigh, and he tossed me an impatient look. When he turned away, I grinned.

It was then I noticed he’d left his dagger lying on the ground next to him. He was working on the door to the cage, crouching on the balls of his feet, his body half in and half out. Should I do it? Now was as good a chance as any, and I’d been waiting for an opportunity like this. I’d have to move faster than I ever had in my life, but I hadn’t seen an opening this good in weeks. Who knew when he’d let his guard down like this again?

I took a slow breath, trying to calm my heartbeat. I couldn’t alert him to any change in my demeanor. He’d sense it—I was sure of it. I edged off the rock so I was hovering just above it, my hands braced for leverage. I’d only get one attempt to do this, and if I messed up, it was over. Counting down from three, I readied myself, and then I ran.

Crashing into Wicked, I knocked him over, sending him toppling into the cage. I slammed the door shut and flipped the lock before he launched himself at me with a snarl. I leaped back, but the bars and the door held fast as he shook it and roared. “Rowan! Open this right now.” For a moment, I was too shocked to move. I couldn’t believe that worked. And oh my gods, was he pissed.

I stepped forward to pick up the dagger that lay just outside the cage, beyond his reach. He lunged again, the entire cage shifting, and I nearly fainted from how hard my heart was beating.

“Rowan, open this right now,” he hissed. I held up the dagger with a shaking arm and shook my head. I needed to end this, but I couldn’t get near enough to slit his throat. Even if I could, I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it. It was one thing to tell yourself you’re going to kill someone and quite another thing to actually do it.

“Rowan!” he roared again, hurling his body at the bars. I had to get out of here. Now.

“I’m sorry,” I said, not sure what I was apologizing for and then turned and ran as fast as I could.

Once again on the run, I headed in the castle’s direction, hoping I’d find my way as I got closer. Otherwise, I’d have to find somewhere to hide. If he caught me, I was finished. He was furious. I prayed the cage would hold him. Clearly he’d intended it for the Reaper, who didn’t exactly sound like a kitten, so Wicked had to have made it pretty strong.

But strong enough to hold a seriously apoplectic Fae? Gods, I hoped so.

Running as fast as I could, I cast glances over my shoulder, terrified of seeing that familiar shape pursuing me. Would he catch me again? I pumped my arms and legs, dashing through the trees, a prayer on my lips.

Suddenly, I went flying, something wrapping around my legs. I crashed into the ground, a heavy weight landing on top of me. I kicked and screamed and thrashed, but he had me. A low growl came from his throat as he flipped me over and pressed me into the cold ground, seizing my wrists in his hands. Slamming them to the earth, I cried out as Wicked landed on top of me with all of his weight.

“Let me go!” I screamed, bucking and kicking. But he was solid and immoveable, and I was completely ineffective.

“Hold still,” he snarled. “I’m going to...” He trailed off, apparently at a loss for words.

“What? You’re going to what?! Leave me in the woods in a cage as bait for the Reaper and leave me to die?!” I screamed so loud my voice cracked.

“That’s not what—” he said and I spit at him, saliva landing on his cheek and slowly sliding down. He growled and leaned over, bringing his face to mine, his big body pressing me into the cold ground. I writhed and fought and then suddenly stopped, my breath seizing.