A delicious ache spread up from my groin, through my core. I had been satisfied twice over in less than an hour.
Most men couldn’t keep up with my sex drive. Which was irritating as fuck. I’d always had to masturbate with all my boyfriends. When they discovered how much I did want sex, daily, they either puffed up that they could do it or eventually ran.
But Darrius and Malcolm made me purr inside during my multiple orgasms. I should hate them. I did.
Fantastic sex was one thing.
They were my enemy. Because of their kind, my mom was dead, I couldn’t let that go. No matter how much I started to care for Darrius and Malcolm. Hell, I even got choked up that the castle’s Brownies had washed and fixed my clothes. Best if I helped them get this Simeon back, get my weapons, and leave.
I’d give them what I had never given any Fae I’d crossed paths with, their lives.
Maggie would give me hell. She hated Fae bastards as much as me. One of the Fae had broken up her parent’s marriage and she’d never forgiven her mom for leaving them. Speaking of Maggie, where was my cell phone? I eased off the bed where Malcolm slept next to me. Quietly, I rummaged through the room and armoire. I found it tucked in the back of a drawer.
Clicking the power button, my heart squeezed when it wouldn’t turn on.
Fuck! Maggie had to be worried about me since she knew about the leminax poison. I had called her, hadn’t I? Before Darrius and Malcolm had brought me here.
The phone must be out of battery. I dressed in the new pants and shirt Mrs. Browning had altered for me and tucked my phone into my back pocket. As soon as I returned home, I’d charge it and call Maggie as soon as I could. I hated that she didn’t know what had happened to me, but she’d trust that I’d fight and do whatever I could to stay alive.
I tiptoed out into the hallway, carrying my boots under my arm. Crossing the Fae barrier was impossible on my own. Humans had to have a Fae escort or invitation to cross without dying.
I had never tried to jump the barrier and start a one-woman army against the Fae because there were too many of them. Those that slunk over the barrier and hurt humans were the ones I hunted.
It would be a suicide mission to try to do the same thing over here.
“Can I get ye anything, miss?” a soft voice asked behind me.
How had she managed to sneak up on me? “Sure.” I turned to find Mrs. Browning staring up at me with her big, amber eyes.
“Um…thank you for washing and mending my clothes.”
She chuckled, rubbing her hands. “Of course, it’s what my kind does. Do ye need anything else?”
Would she take me to the barrier if I asked? Nah. But she could point me in the right direction. I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting Malcolm to come bursting out of the chamber.
“I need to use my cellphone and call a friend. She’s worried about me, but my phone needs a charge.”
“There’s a hub outside of the castle that will charge yer phone in seconds.”
“Really?” I straightened. “Is there any way you can tell me how to get there?”
“I’ll do better than that.” She dipped into a curtsy. “Take ye there myself. Then ye can call yer friend and let her know yer okay.”
“Yes, thank you.” I followed Mrs. Browning down the hallway. With any luck, I could also get Maggie to send a Fae invitation to me so I could get the hell out of this world. Of course, she’d owe a favor to her hated Fae-stepdad, but I’d pay her back.
The idea of me getting home and having knives again made me almost be able to push aside the longing to see Darrius and Malcolm again. They were Fae. I didn’t need them. I didn’t need anyone.
Outside, the autumn air tugged at my hair while leaves of gold, red, orange, and even shades of purple floated down around me.
“How far do we have to go?” I asked after several minutes of walking.
“A bit further. Your phone won’t work until we’re at a special spot.”
For half of a mile, I followed Mrs. Browning to an ancient-looking oak tree in the middle of a forest. From here, the castle appeared unreal and tiny, reminding me of all those fairytale books I read…before Mom died.
“Is this it?” I asked, scratching at my back again. What was up with my skin?
Malcolm had said it was nothing, but now both freaking sides itched like I had fire ants biting me. Had to be some Fae disease. Maggie would get me a remedy.
“Aye.” She nodded. “Just put your phone in the knothole for a charge.”
I squinted at the spot she’d pointed to. It didn’t look like anything special. The tree was beautiful though with thick, twisted branches stretching up to a violet sky. I ran my fingers over the spot and a tingle jolted through me. Guess she was right about it charging the phone.
Not wanting to wait a moment more before I could talk with my friend, I put the phone inside the knothole.
“How long should this take again?”
A hand shoved into my back, knocking me forward. I stumbled into the tree’s trunk. Then through it into a dark cave.
I spun, fists raised. Outside the tree, Mrs. Browning stood grinning at me like she’d gone insane. Then her body morphed, shifting into a cross between an ogre and a giant. Her arms hung down to her knees and her dark hair was now stark-white. Her amber eyes were crimson. While her teeth were sharp and jagged.
Holy fuck! She had to be a Gwyllion.
I ran toward her. Killing the monster would be easier with my weapons. Before I reached her, I ran into an invisible force. I rose and slammed my fists against the barrier between us.
“Stay here, little queen, while I kill your mates.”
“No! Come back and fight me.” She had to mean Darrius and Malcolm. I beat on the wall to get her attention. “Did you hear me? Take me on, you ugly coward.”
She shifted, her body resembling liquid putty. And then a copy of me stood on the outside of the tree.
“Thank you for fucking both of them and tying them to your court.” Her smile widened. “They won’t realize I’m not you until my bone-blade sinks into their heart.”
She held up a white, glowing eight-inch dagger.
“Oh my god.” My stomach clamped down hard. “Is that—?”
“Aye, the bone of my sister, Amber. The one who almost killed the three princes the first time.” She picked at her nails with the knife. “As my thanks for giving me such a wonderful disguise, I give ye an invitation to cross back into the human world. The doorway is straight behind ye. If ye try to cross back though, I will eat yer soul as is my right for letting ye go.”
She turned away and trod back on the path. If I didn’t do something, she’d kill them. I should’ve known better than to trust her. Fae were nothing but evil tricksters.
But I couldn’t let her hurt Darrius and Malcolm. Not wearing my face. If they were going to die, I wanted it to be on my terms. Not stabbing them in the back. Where was the honor in that?
“No, no!” I screamed, banging on the invisible wall, but she didn’t even pause. My heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces. “You fucking bitch! Come back and fight me.”