Freed (Imprisoned by the Fae 3)

“Why… why would you do that?”

“Rysdan didn’t know exactly when I would be returning with your human mate—”

“Jim,” I blurt out. Hearing him called that was bad enough the first time. I don’t want to hear it again. “It’s Jim.”

I’m sure Jim already told him that—and I really freaking hope that’s the only name he gave him. I can’t imagine that Saxon would’ve tricked Jim into giving up his true name after everything he went through to get him here; based on how slowly he’s recuperating, it had to be bad. Then again, Saxon is fae. A name is power. Not as much as a touch, but enough.

I swallow roughly.

So, so much trouble.

“Jim, yes. Rysdan put him in my charge until I crossed back into Faerie. He had a meet this afternoon and, since you clearly need some time before you accept your mate again, I told him I would stay over with you until he returned.”

Rys has been very coy and quiet lately. While I spent most of my time in my room, drawing and painting, he’s been keeping himself occupied. It dawned on me a few days ago that I’ve only ever known Rys the prisoner, then Rys the fugitive. Rys, the soldier who pledged his loyalty to Oberon, the Summer King, is someone totally different. He’s too busy to keep me company around the clock. I rarely see him, except for meals, and that’s become our new normal.

So this meet? I didn’t know anything about it. It must be important, though, considering he decided to keep it while I’m spiraling, Saxon looks like he’s dead on his feet, and Jim is… somewhere else. But, just because Rys left, that doesn’t mean Saxon has to stick around.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes,” Saxon says firmly. “I do.”

I guess it has something to do with the strange back and forth he has with Rys. When I first found out that Rys was working with one of the Siúcra guards, I never would’ve guessed it was Saxon. Honestly, even after he explained it a little, I didn’t think that some kind of mysterious favor that Saxon owed Rys would be worth everything he’s done for us. Add in whatever he went through dragging Jim with him into Faerie, and I don’t blame him for the way he told Rys that, now, Rys owes him.

There’s balance in Faerie. And while Rys might not mind being in debt to another fae, I’ve been there, done that, don’t want the t-shirt.

“No. Really. I mean… you weren’t wrong. I think I need a little time to myself. Don’t need a babysitter, though.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

Yeah? Could have fooled me.

“You look like hell,” I remind Saxon. No way he doesn’t already know that. “You were on your way home before my little freak-out. Wouldn’t you rather go there and, I don’t know, take care of yourself?”

“Don’t mind me, Elle. I’ll be fine.”

He’s standing against my door, leaning, the silver stains of fae blood all over his white clothes. Fine? I’m not so sure about that.

“If you’re going to stay, then I gotta ask.” Especially since it’s obvious his injured state has something to do with retrieving Jim—who looked like he didn’t have a single strand of hair out of place. “What happened to you?”

Saxon purses his lips. He obviously doesn’t want to tell me.

I’m frustrated and annoyed and still freaking out a bit that Jim’s only one floor away from me. Though I’m usually the type of chick who will just go along with things to make someone else happy, that changes when I feel like I’m being backed into a corner. It isn’t often, but I do have a tendency to lash out.

Like right now.

Huffing angrily, I snap, “If you’re just going to stare at me, go. If you want to stick around, then I think I deserve to know what happened if it involves me.”

“I’m not so sure it does,” Saxon tells me. “This…” He gestures with his hand, pointing out the slashes in the linen material, the cuts that must’ve sliced right through his bronzed skin. “This is because someone didn’t want me to bring the human across the veil with me.”

Wai

t—

“They were after Jim?”

“The creatures that attacked us certainly were.”

“What? Why?”