CHAPTER TWO
BETH
I was about to draw the sigil in the air when a male voice said, “Do you mind if I join you? Together, journeying is more fun. Do you not agree?”
I whirled around, choking down a gasp. A tall man with brown skin and the silver-gray eyes of the Fae casually leaned against a tree, his dark hair tied behind his back. His smile was friendly, but I’d seen enough to know those couldn’t always be trusted.
While he waited for my answer, I gave him a once-over. Apart from his good looks, there was something else about him that hit all my buttons. If I’d met him in my world, I’d have climbed him like a tree. He towered at least two feet over me, making me feel small, even though I was of average height.
Was it smart to travel with him? Probably not. But what choice did I have? There was so much I didn’t know. Like who was in charge. Were there Fae tribes? Did I have to worry about wild animals or monsters on my journey? He’d be able to tell me everything about this world and its dangers.
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea,” I conceded after several long minutes.
He threw his head back and laughed. When he was done, he wiped tears from his eyes while I stared at him. What had I said that was so funny? My throat closed up, and all my insecurities came rushing up like heartburn.
No. I might have been a pushover in my old life, but here, in this new world, I could be who I wanted to be. This guy was gorgeous, but he’d just royally pissed me off.
I swallowed to keep my voice under control before speaking. “On second thought, maybe it’s better if we travel separately.”
His eyes widened as my words hit him. He threw up his hands with his palms toward me. “No, milady. I am very sorry if I offended you. I did not expect you to need to think about my offer. You are clearly a stranger here, so if you traveled by yourself, you would not get far. There are many dangers that would snuff out your life in an instant.”
I took a step back in surprise. As far as danger went, despite my imagination running wild, I’d expected maybe highwaymen. “Dangers? Like what? Robbers and stuff?”
His lips lifted. “And stuff. The way you humans talk is so peculiar to my ears.”
He turned his head to scan the road ahead, his eyes tightening at the corners. “Jesting aside—there are creatures in Faerie you would not want to encounter. Some are quick enough to intercept travelers, even if they use the runes.”
I moved my fingers in the familiar pattern, enjoying his surprise.
“Who taught you?”
I wasn’t going to tell him about my dad. So I ignored his question. Instead, I asked, “How long will it take to get to the city?”
“I would think before darkness closes in. There is an inn on the outskirts of Emlyn. Do you have any aurints?”
I assumed that was the currency in this world. “No. I have no money at all. But I’ll be okay sleeping in the forest.”
The very thought made me shiver, but years of watching survival shows had prepared me for this. Maybe.
The man stared at me as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “Woman. Did—”
I interrupted him. “I’m Beth. And you are?”
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, as if I was killing his last nerve. “My name is Bleddyn. Now. As I was saying: there are deadly monsters in this world. You would not survive the night. No. I will not have your death on my conscience. It would be my honor to invite you to dinner. A good night’s sleep will set you right, and we can discuss how you want to proceed.”
And there it was. I didn’t swallow his I’m-such-a-good-boy-routine. No guy offered to pay for food and accommodation without wanting something in return.
I crossed my arms, standing my ground. “Look. Blefen.”
“Bleddyn,” he corrected me, although it didn’t sound much different from my attempt.
I nodded, acknowledging the strange name. “Bleddyn. While I appreciate your offer of a hot meal, I can’t pay you back. And I certainly don’t want to share a room with you.”
He stood straighter, his eyebrows rising to his hairline. “Milady, I would never. What makes you think such a thing?”
My stomach dropped at the indignation in his voice. Had I misread him? He seemed so aghast at my suggestion, I felt embarrassed about saying it out loud. His speech had something formal about it, like the Hollywood version of chivalry. Maybe I had misjudged him.
“I guess it’s my turn to apologize. In my world, men don’t offer things like rooms in an inn without an ulterior motive.”
He paled and his eyes blazed. “You must have cads in your world as much as here.”
He bowed with a flourish that wouldn’t be out of place at a royal court. “Would you do me the honor and be my guest until we reach the city?”
I wanted to laugh at the extravagant gesture, but that would have been rude. I bit my lip and dropped my head forward as if I was considering his offer. But all I did was hide my amusement until I had myself under control. Then I said, “Thank you, I would be delighted to be your guest.”
He stepped aside so I could walk next to him. From the corners of my eyes, I caught a lightning quick expression, like a smirk, on his gorgeous face. It happened so fast, I let it go.
But the tiny ember of trust died as quickly as it had been ignited. I’d watch my back until we reached the city. Then I’d give him the slip. Until then, I had to rely on his smooth promises that he’d be able to protect me.