**ASH**
The tiny ramshackle building that is the Myrh family farm is nothing but a pile of bricks by the time I show up. Men armed with torches stand around the fields, laughing and pissing all over the blackened earth.
Smoke and ash are something I’m quite comfortable with normally, but this scene reeks of torture and death. I can almost hear the screaming that took place hours ago. The echoes of desperate souls. The ripping of flesh. Right away, I know something is terribly wrong. And when I say wrong, I don’t mean in the criminal sense.
Prince Hayden is seated upon his gray destrier, looking bored and cold. His father, the king, is hefted upon his own grand animal and shaking his head in anger.
"Terrible shame,” Hadimere says.
I wander up astride the nameless white beast I am usually sat upon whenever the three of us have mind to ride. The pair of them barely register my arrival because their eyes are glued to the blood splattered walls that still remain.
My face is grim as I look through the doorway. Candles and lanterns decorate the gory ruins before me. Half of the house seems to have been eaten by the sky. It is as if part of the damn thing exploded.
“They’re all dead,” Hayden chuckles. “All of them.”
I narrow my eyes at the two, thinking for the briefest moment that they did this. For some odd reason, the notion upsets me.
“Are you sure?” I query, dismounting the mare to take a closer look.
“No,” Hadimere answers. “He is not sure of anything, because the little peacock never even got down from his horse.”
I sharpen my eyes at Hayden who simply shrugs.
“But-” the king goes on “-there are body parts inside. None are left standing.”
“Body parts?” I hiss as Hadimere grins at me. He nods, “Aye. You are thinking what I am thinking. ’Tis a Faerie kill.”
I rip my gaze from the king’s as I step closer to the door. I don’t even need to step inside to know he speaks the truth. I can smell it.
Magic.
“Oh father, now you’re just being silly.” The prince groans and kicks his horse into action. “I will be at home washing all the poor and grotesque from my body and soul, while having my long-awaited supper.”
I take note of his slow departure and decide I need not go after him just yet. He will take his time, probably visit a whore or two before actually getting home.
Turning back to the shack, my eyes find all the little points of interest. The entire place sparkles with black dust. Invisible for human eyes, but almost blinding for mine.
“They’re all dead,” the king repeats from behind me. “Leave it. And do not, whatever you do, tell my sweet little peasant what has happened here.”
They are not all dead.
I smell three bodies, yes.
But only two share the same blood.
One of these deaths is Fae.
One of these bodies belongs to the attacker.
But I did not orchestrate this attack and the Winter Queen would have no reason to. At least none that I can fathom. So, what the fuck happened here? Why would a Fae soldier enter in this village and attack a simple farmer and his family? There aren’t many Fae kingdoms close enough to these woods to sneak by without notice.
Which also begs the question, which little human got away and where did this little human go? I might have to send scouts out tonight to track the silly chit. I must know if she simply survived and is in hiding or-
\-if she was, perhaps, taken.
Studying the dark forest beyond the battered walls, I am suddenly desperate to leave. Should the king decide to take a closer look indoors, he may discover the Fae body for himself. So, I carelessly toss a lantern into the middle of the rubble setting the place ablaze. As I do, my gaze falls upon the fat arm of the former Farmer Myrh.
So, one of the humans is Daphne’s stupid sire and the other must be a sister. That means, one of her kin has escaped.
The fact that at least one of Daphne’s sisters survived, eases the pain in my chest. A foreign ache I hadn’t even realized was there.
I must get back to Daphne.
Now!
I turn around and walk back toward my mare. “All dead you say?” I inquire while mounting. “I guess we’ll soon see.”
He nods. “My sweet little pet is now alone in this world. No one to worry for her. No one to keep her in line.”
I smile at him while thinking to myself how wrong he is. She doesn't need to be kept in line, at least not by him.
"Are you thinking she will try to escape you?" I ask, keeping my voice light enough to remain casual. "Or go back on her word now that her family is now beyond safety?"
Hadimere frowns, looking thoughtfully into the flames ahead of him, the fire started by the lantern now reaching for life. "Nay," he answers with false confidence. "It is not that which I fear for. My little peasant was more than willing for me to spread her legs. Not that it would matter had she not been. She sold herself to me. Her life is mine. Whether she enjoyed our coupling or not, she is mine to enjoy for as long as I desire. But a happy slave is much more enjoyable than a dead one. And should she ever deny me, that is what she would be. Dead."
*She is not yours!* I want to shout. The image of Hadimere forcing himself on Daphne burns into my mind like hot coals behind my eyes.
I realize, I do not ever want him to touch her body the way I have. Not ever. Just the thought of it may drive me mad.
Gritting my teeth, I fight for control. A fierce possessiveness is a stone in my throat, and I can feel my magic coiling like a snake about to strike.
She is not alone.
She has me.
“We’ll tell her when the time is right. And I, will decide when that is. Not you, not Hayden. Is that understood?”
I nod at him as I turn myself around and gallop back to the palace. As soon as I am out of sight, I kick into high gear, only stopping once at the river to drop three stones into the water.