Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Kerrigan objected, but they both walked away without another word. She stared in shock. Well, this was great. She could call Tieran, but what exactly would he do, except fire them out of the cave? He would hurt her too. She could break her bonds to escape, but she hadn’t regained full control of her magic. She only had one chance, and she’d rather take it when they were unsuspecting.
“Where the hells is he?” the female who had apprehended her asked in irritation.
“He’ll be here.”
Then, she heard the crunch of snow as their final fellow stepped into the cave. He was covered head to toe in furs with a row of mountain rabbits hauled over his shoulder. His face was covered by a beard and a thick winter mask.
“Sorry I’m late.”
It wasn’t until the sound of his voice that Kerrigan realized who had entered their midst. The stranger pushed his hood back to reveal midnight hair and thunderstorm eyes. His smile was rueful as he shook off the snow and stepped fully inside.
“Fordham?” Kerrigan gasped.
28
THE MOUNTAIN FOLK
Fordham startled at the sound of his name. Then, his eyes went wide with blatant shock. “Kerrigan? What in the gods’ names are you doing here?”
“You know this stranger, Ford?” the female who had taken Kerrigan hostage asked.
“Of course he knows me. He is the stranger that I was talking about.”
“Ford is no stranger,” the female bellowed. “His folks are from Erewa, and he’s trying to get up the mountain.”
Fordham ground his teeth together. Apparently, he’d been impersonating the Erewan people. How he did it when their manners were so foreign to a prince was beyond Kerrigan. But he had done it, and she had unknowingly given him up.
Fordham seemed to make his decision. “I am trying to get up the mountain,” he said slowly. “But unfortunately, I let you come to the conclusion that I was mountain folk, Enta.”
Enta didn’t look hurt; she looked murderous. “You lied to us?”
“No. I merely allowed you to make up your own mind. I wear your clothing. I understand your mannerisms. I pull my own load. Those are qualities you admire. It was easier.”
“Easier for you,” Enta growled.
“Yes. For that, I apologize.”
He sounded sincere, but Kerrigan doubted very much that that would matter to any of them.
“Then, who are you?” the female who had tied her up asked very softly.
Fordham bowed to her. “I am the prince of the House of Shadows. I was cursed by the witch of the mountain at my birth. I am here to break that curse. That is why I wish to go up the mountain. That is my aim.”
Silence lingered after his revelation. Kerrigan reached for her rekindling powers so that she would be ready to act if this went south.
“A prince,” Enta said in disbelief.
“He is odd,” the other female said.
Enta glared at her and then back at Fordham. “You have disrespected our tribe.”
“I meant no disrespect, Enta,” Fordham said carefully. “I highly value your people.”
“And this girl?” she snarled. She threw her hand to Kerrigan. “A half-Fae? Is she your servant? That’s what they say about the House of Shadows.”
Fordham’s gaze finally settled fully onto Kerrigan. All the air left her lungs at that one penetrating gaze. Gods, she had missed him. She’d missed him so much. Even with a beard, covered in furs, with braids in his hair, he was still gorgeous. She could see the prince underneath it all. She had no idea how anyone could miss it in his commanding presence.
“She is mine,” Fordham said simply but fiercely. “I have no prejudice against half-Fae, as you should know, Enta.”
Enta narrowed her eyes further. It was then that Kerrigan realized that the massive female was half-Fae. Her ears were slightly pointed. In fact, there were two other half-Fae at the camp. Kerrigan had no recollection if half-Fae were treated horribly here, as they were everywhere else. She had always assumed that everywhere was like that.
“Mendy, if you would, untie her, or she will escape on her own, and you won’t like that at all.”
Well, he knew her.
The female who had tied her up to begin with scurried over to undo the bonds.
“You command no one in this abode,” Enta growled.
The tension bristled through the cave. Kerrigan’s magic was taut as a rope and ready to unleash if need be. She could feel the tides swirling within the room and knew that at any moment, this could go all wrong.
“Oh, shut it, Enta,” one of the males finally muttered. “You’re just mad you can’t marry him now.”
Enta lifted a knife from her belt and angled it toward the male. “Be quiet, or I will make you so.”
The male guffawed. “Try it, Enta. We’ve all seen you mooning over him. It’s good to know something can throw you down a peg.”