“Sweet human, you’re still hurt.” He gives me an encouraging look. “Please tell me where you’re injured, Amelia, and I will heal you.”
CHAPTER 6
TRISTAN
Regret spreads through me.I can’t believe I’d missed Amelia’s additional injuries, wherever they are on her body. Even as I take deep inhales now, I don’t detect blood or an infection. But perhaps she has a painful bruise beneath her clothing.
Whatever is causing her discomfort, I’m eager to fix the problem for her.
I’m eager to heal her.
Already, my palms are tingling with Summer Court magic, and when she gasps and draws back, I realize she’s glimpsed the golden light that’s gathering in my hands.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s healing light,” I explain. “But I must focus it directly on your injuries. Please tell me where you’re hurt.”
An uncertain look falls over her, and she wraps her arms around herself and hunches over a bit, as though trying to make herself appear small. I don’t like it. I don’t like seeing her cower.
Trust, I realize. She doesn’t trust me yet. She’s still afraid of me. Afraid I’m going to hurt her. Probably afraid I’m going toforce myself upon her too. It’s what most of my soldiers do with the war prizes they claim from the human and orc settlements we conquer.
A pained scream sounds nearby, and it’s the worst possible timing. Amelia’s eyes flare wide, and she makes herself even smaller. I suppress a growl of frustration and curse the soldier who’s making the human female scream. Then I quietly create a soundproof ward around my tent. I’ll still be able to hear what’s going on outside, but Amelia won’t.
“Come with me and sit down.” I start guiding her toward the bed, then think better of it. I escort her to a plush sofa instead, and I help her take a seat.
“Please don’t hurt me,” she whispers. “Please don’t force me to…” Her voice trails off, but I know what she meant to say.
I kneel in front of her and take her tiny hands in my much larger ones. Her eyes brim with tears as she meets my gaze, and her bottom lip quivers.
“I will never hurt you, Amelia, nor will I force myself upon you. I promise.” I can’t help but wonder if someone hurt her. The man she was supposed to marry? I still can’t detect the scent of a male on her. If she went through with the marriage, it likely wasn’t consummated.
“Why?” She blinks and a lone tear cascades down her cheek. “Why have you taken me as your war prize? Why do you want a war prize you aren’t going to beat and fuck? I don’t understand. Is this a cruel trick?”
I release one of her hands and reach for her cheek, intending to wipe away the fallen tear, but she flinches right before I touch her. I immediately lower my hand, and rage starts to simmer within me. She clearly believed I was about to strike her. Is it because she assumes all fae are cruel, or is it because someone once hurt her? I want to inquire about her past, but she just asked me a question, and I owe her an answer.
But gods. I can’t tell her I suspect she might be my fated mate. I’ve already admitted that I’m drawn to her, but I can’t confess that I want to keep her close while trying to figure out whether she’s the female meant to be mine forever.
What if I’m wrong? Or what if she reacts badly?
“I swear this isn’t a cruel trick, sweet human,” I finally say. “I truly don’t intend to hurt you. As for why I’ve taken you as a war prize… well, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I saw you in Sorsston. Since I stared into your eyes in the banquet hall for the first time. I swear something passed between us during that moment, and all these months, I’ve regretted not stealing away with you then. I even considered returning to Sorsston to look for you. When I saw you in Glenville, it seemed a bit like…fate.”
“Why didn’t you take me from the banquet hall? What stopped you?”
I clear my throat. “Prince Lucas spoke to you, and though he had no ill intent, you became frightened, and you started crying and begging him not to kill you. This scene drew the attention of all the fae in the banquet hall.”
“The bloodthirsty crowd.” Understanding starts to dawn in her eyes, and I know she’s trying to piece together the events of that night. Or early morning.Whatever the fucking time it was.
“Exactly,” I say. “The spectators expected Prince Lucas to hurt you, and I would imagine most wanted to watch him kill you. To satisfy their bloodlust, the prince glamoured you into silence and escorted you to his quarters. He made the crowd believe he violated you, though he didn’t harm you.”
“How can you be certain he didn’t harm me?” she asks. “I have only the vaguest recollections of that night.”
“Because I was there. I summoned an invisibility shield, and I followed you to his quarters, then I flashed inside the roomand remained there all night, secretly guarding your safety just in case the prince changed his mind about not hurting you.”
She relaxes somewhat, no longer keeping her arms crossed so tightly over her chest. She straightens on the sofa and seems to have an easier time meeting my eyes. It brings me hope. Hope that she’s starting to trust me. Hope that she believes the story I’m telling her.
“I recognize you from the Sorsston castle, sir,” she says in a thoughtful tone, “and I remember you looking directly at me once, though when and why, I am uncertain. It’s all very hazy.”
“Perhaps I’m telling the story too quickly.” I offer her what I hope is a warm smile, and I’m careful to keep my mouth closed. I don’t want her glimpsing my sharp, pointed teeth just yet. Not that she doesn’t already know I have them. All fae do.
“Maybe you could start at the very beginning,” she suggests. “I would like to hear every little detail. If you don’t mind.”
