Chapter 10

Arough hand shakes me awake. I blink in confusion against the soft light, still half-wrapped in hazy dreams. What's happening? Why is there someone in my room?

I scratch my eyes. Weird. I don't remember checking into a hotel. Where am I?

Something furry tickles my cheek as I sit up, disoriented. I shove the shaggy covers away. The warm firelight sends shadows across the log wall, spilling onto the rug, illuminating the pelt I used as a cover and...

And thick legs encased by leather pants.

I startle awake as my eyes land on the towering creature looming over me. It's not the handsome-but-scary one. The green skin of his chest ripples with muscles and scars. Bandages peek from beneath his open coat. His tusks glint as he grunts something in his guttural language. Before I can react, he grabs my arm and hauls me to my feet.

Luckily, I didn't take off my boots before curling on the massive chair last night. I try to yank my arm free, but our size difference is ludicrous. One hand could hold both my ankles comfortably. And this guy isn't even as big as the one who found me.

I stumble, my heart pounding. Are they going to kill me now? But if that was their plan, why not do it while I was unconscious and helpless?

The monster yanks me out of the room and down a hallway. I have to trot to keep up with his long strides.

"Wait!" I snarl, tugging on my arm again. He might be big, but judging from the fallen woman in the woods, they are not immortal. I don't think I could take him on, but I could annoy him. To the death. "I won't run! Let me walk on my own legs!" No answer. "You know, I was trying to help. If I knew you guys would be this rude, I wouldn't have saved that baby." That's a lie, of course. The baby wouldn't have survived if I hadn't distracted his attacker. "Look, I mean no offense, but your reception is seriously lacking."

Nothing. There's no way we can communicate. How am I going to go back home like this?

If I can't convince them to let me go, I should change my strategies. I pay attention to the twists and turns of the hallways, trying to map out the place in case I manage to escape.

But who am I kidding? All the corridors look the same—log walls dotted with torches—and the place is massive, and even if I did escape, this guy would catch up to me in two seconds.

The monster stops at a heavy wooden door. I don't have the time to study the intricate patterns carved in the door frame before he shoves me inside. I stumble and snap around to glare at him. His face is impassive, even bored, as he steps inside. He closes the door and takes up a guard position.

"I'll remember you," I hiss at him, though my threats are as empty as my stomach.

He snarls at me. I look away before he notices I almost winced. I shouldn't let him bully me, but it's pretty hard when he's twice my size.

When I turn to the room, my gaze finds green eyes and a very human face.

My heart skips a beat.

Another human?