Page 8 of Bound By Blood and Lies

“Don’t worry,” I say in a level, almost reassuring tone. “It will all become clear soon.”

CHAPTER 3

FAE

Robyn sits behind me on the edge of the mattress and drags her fingers softly through my hair like she’s afraid I might shatter if she pulls too hard. The first stroke catches on a knot and I inhale sharply before I can stop myself. My scalp is tender in places I didn’t know could bruise. There are small scabs near the base of my skull where Fisher’s fist twisted too tight too many times.

“I’m sorry,” she gasps.

“Don’t,” I whisper back.

The mattress beneath us dips in the middle so we naturally lean into each other and my ribs protest at the movement. My breathing feels like dragging air across splintered wood. But I don’t move away as her fingers continue their steady work.

“You used to hate when anyone touched your hair,” she says softly.

“I still do.”

“Liar.”

Another knot catches and she pauses, pressing her forehead between my shoulder blades like she’s bracing herself before she untangles it. The sharp stinging pain isn’t unwelcome though; it reminds me that we’re still fighting.

“I don’t want him to ruin us,” she whispers.

“He won’t.”

“How do you know?”

How do I know? Because men like Fisher only understand ownership not intimacy. He thinks breaking a body breaks the spirit attached to it, but he never had mine. Not when I was twelve and not now that I am twenty-one. I refuse to allow his darkness to break me. I swallow as I stare at the wall opposite us.

“Robyn.” Her fingers pause in my hair. “Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

“Good,” I whisper, “because I have a plan.”

“What kind of plan?”

I breathe in deeply. To make this work, I need to give him something he’s desperate for. I shift, turning just enough to see her from the corner of my eye. She doesn’t know it but she’s the strength I’ll need for the coming days. My ribs ache with every inhale and I have to swallow before I speak again. My throat feels dry from more than thirst.

“The kind that can end this,” Robyn gulps as she looks at me. “Whatever happens next,” I continue, “you have to promise me you won’t look at me differently.”

“Fae…” I turn back to face the wall quickly, not ready to see that scared look on her face.

“Promise me,” my voice cracks. “It’s the only way to free us.”

“Is it… safe?”

“No,” an inappropriate giggle bubbles up my chest, “but neither is living like this.”

“I don’t want you to be more at risk.”

“And I don’t want to live like this anymore,” I snap, dragging in another breath to steady myself.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t snap, but Robyn…” I turn back to look at her as I cup her face in my hands. “This is the only way.”

Something in my voice makes her go still in a way she hasn’t since the first week I was brought here. Fear isn’t loud on Robyn. It looks like this. Her skin is cold under my touch and I hold her longer than necessary just to memorise the feel of her.

“You might look at me differently,” I whisper. “But remember I was trained for this.”