Captive

Chapter 1 (Part 2)

"That wasn't what I was going to do at all," I lied, hastily backtracking from the rash mistake I had almost made in my panic. There was no chance that I stood against taking Rowan down, or most Fae, for that matter, and I didn't want to find out how the man who had mostly helped me when we last crossed paths would react to being attacked. Though he had been nice in his own way, that didn't mean anything now, especially not since it appeared he now held the keys to my confinement. "I accidentally knocked it over. I was able to save the vase, but..." My eyes lowered to the puddle of spilled water and the single discarded flower.

Not to mention, Silas. For all I knew he could be trapped here with me. My actions could affect both of us. Now was not the time to attack, it was the time to question and gather information so the picture around me could grow clearer for when the time did come.

Rowan's eyes followed mine to the wet mess on the floor before returning to my face. Unable to read his expression, I continued to ramble out excuses.

"I was checking if there was a bathroom hidden behind one of the doors when I bumped into the dresser. Turns out, there isn't. They're both locked." My eyes narrowed as I pointed out the detail I'm sure he was very much aware of given he just unlocked one of those doors.

My heart skipped a beat when my eye dipped from him to the key that hung around his neck. I quickly looked away before he could catch me eyeing it considering that the last time I did, it was while attempting to steal it.

Maybe this was the universe's twisted way of giving me another chance at getting it.

Or maybe it was just another way for it to make me suffer.

He hummed, dragging his cold eyes over the vase I still held. I quickly turned it around in my hands so I wasn't holding it like a baseball bat anymore.

"You can use mine," he said as he stepped back, not addressing the locks or mentioning anything further regarding the vase as I gently set it back.

Turning around, he made his way back into the room that the locked door connected to. I only made it a few steps after him before my feet stopped and I couldn't help but gawk.

"Where are we?" The question slipped from my lips in awe at the sight of the room. This was definitely not an inn.

White walls rose to support a high ceiling with gold and cream detailing that gave the large room an air of wealth that the furniture and the rest of the details only added to. Large wooden double doors stood at one end, no doubt the exit, while the French doors opposite that had curtains blocking the glass seemed to lead to another room. The far wall held rows of arched windows with drawn curtains hiding the night from sight. I was sure they were open during the day for sunlight to reach the various plants filling the space with shades of green. In the center of the room, there was a set of upholstered seats surrounding a glass coffee table that had a large crystal chandelier hanging above it. I couldn't help but imagine it falling and crushing anyone who dared to sit beneath its intimidating size.

"The castle."

My head snapped towards him at his answer. "Castle? What castle?" Please don't was Win-

"We're in the Royal Castle of the Autumn Court."

My shoulders didn't loosen much. "Why? Haven't gotten around to calling your buddy yet?"

"My buddy?" He questioned with a minuscule tilt of his head.

"The Winter King."

Rowan's lips curled slightly before straightening into an expressionless line that made him appear bored. The slip gave away the act it was. "The two of us aren't acquainted."

I raised a brow at him. "Yet you help him kidnap unsuspecting humans?"

His eyes pinned me in place. "I do what is expected of me."

"Then what was that bullshit about not wanting trouble? You told me to run, yet you dragged me here unconscious." The accusation in my tone was as unmistakable as it was in my words. Despite having no reason to trust him, I felt a sense of betrayal after everything he had claimed about not wanting trouble and letting me go. That had clearly been a lie given where we both were right now.

"I don't want trouble. If you were better at running, you wouldn't have ended up here, bring it to my doorstep. And I wasn't the one who dragged you here," he said, moving through the room to the French doors that led into another room of equal size to the last, only the focal point of this room was the large bed the doors opened to reveal. It was flanked by doors centered in the arched windows on either side that led out onto a baloney that had curtains moving in the wind that they let in.

I bristled at his insulting remark. "But you're the one here right now, generously letting me out of a locked room to take a piss," I crudely pointed out with a roll of my eyes.

"Would you have preferred I left you inside undisturbed?" He questioned as he made his way towards one of two doors on the wall. Opening it, he flicked on the light to reveal a bright washroom.

"I would prefer it if you let me go."

He turned his empty eyes back to me. "I can't."

"You let me go last time-"

"This is different."

"How?"

Instead of answering my question, he ignored it completely as he gestured toward the washroom. "I would recommend washing up while you're in there," he suggested, his gaze as it tracked down my body more rude than his words. "Take your time. I'll grab you a change of clothes and something to eat."

He went to leave but didn't make it far.

"Wait," I called out, causing him to pause and look back at me. "Where Silas?"

"Silas?" Rowan parroted back in question.

My eyes narrowed on the furrow of his brows. The display of confusion was too clear to not be suspicious. It didn't last long before his bored and empty expression returned.

"The man- Fae," I choose to emphasize, "who was with me."

Rowan watched me for a moment before his tongue darted out to wet his lips. "There was no one with you. You were brought in alone."

Captive is complete and available on Patreon. Stolen, book 3 of The Blood Stone Series, is currently being updated. Read more at:

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