Taken

Chapter 16 (Part 3)

"What part of 'don't wander too far' did you not understand?" Silas hissed, his hand tightening where it remained on my shoulder. His eyes burned with fury that had my mouth drying and my back pressing into the wall behind me.

"What constitutes as far?" I nervously answered with a forced air of lightness, attempting to soften his anger. Instead, it had the opposite effect. A muscle jumped in his cheek as his jaw clenched in response.

But my question was forgotten when his eyes lowered to narrow on my cheek, taking in the smear of dried blood it must have held. "What happened?" He demanded as his eyes continued further down my body in search of more.

My eyes widened in surprise as I realized it wasn't just anger that tightened his features. He was worried.

Of course, he must have been. I had the Blood Stone warming the inside of my chest.

But... the way his eyes roamed over me, searching for more signs of injury, told me it was more than that. His gaze held concern. He was worried about me.

"Nothing." I squeaked the lie out without a thought as I raised my hand to wipe at the dried blood. The response was a habit, one I had developed as a child after learning that answering that question and several others with honesty could make things worse. I was afraid of how Silas would react to the truth.

The intensity in his eyes as they found mine again was unnerving and made me second-guess my choice to lie. He saw right through it, the flaking blood on my skin giving its own account of events.

"What. Happened," he repeated, demanding more than asking this time.

I swallowed hard, knowing I needed to come clean. He needed to know that another Fae had seen through my glamour, even if he hadn't reacted as I had come to expect. I wasn't the only one it could come back to bite. I wanted to omit what had happened prior to Rowan reaching for my ear, but the blood of an injury I no longer had forced my hand.

My mouth opened and closed, not looking forward to how Silas would react or being berated for finding my way into trouble.

"The three fae who approached us at the tavern," I started, my tongue darting out to wet my lips. "They saw me-"

"Were you wearing your ring?" He interrupted, his voice dripping with accusation.

"Yes," I snapped narrowing my eyes at him. "I'm not stupid. And apparently, they weren't either. They recognized my clothes from behind. When they saw my face and found it unfamiliar, they knew what to look for. It didn't take them long to spot my ring and know what it was."

Silas cursed as he turned away. "Of course they would. They're bloody thieves," he hissed in anger which was aimed more towards himself than me. "Did they hurt you?" He demanded, suddenly in my face as his hands wrapped around my biceps. I couldn't help but flinch.

His grip softened, but he didn't let go as he waited for my answer.

"Yes."

His fingers twitched. "Where?" The questions came out growled. His eyes snapped to my cheek again as he lifted his hand to it, not waiting for a response.

I couldn't help but shiver when his fingers grazed over my skin, searching for a wound. Despite there being none, he still sunk healing warmth into my skin with his touch.

Reaching for his wrist, I pulled his hand away. "Stop. It's already been healed."

He stilled under my hand. "How?"

I swallowed. "Rowan.

His eyes narrowed. "Who the fuck is Rowan?"

"The High Fae who helped me. He interrupted Jarvis and his friends then healed the damage they caused."