Page 25 of White Raven

“It means . . .” He paused, rubbing his hand over his face. “That this farmland was part of the Day Realm until a few years ago.” He didn’t give me time to respond before he spoke again, his voice low. “Now shut the fuck up before I gag you again. And don’t bother screaming for help here. No one will help you. And if you run, hope that I don’t catch you.” He turned, not even bothering to drag me along, imagining his threat was enough.

Maybe trying to run would be pointless, but I couldn’t imagine anyone seeing a kidnapped woman and not helping. Especially if they learned who I was. Silvervalians were ordered to protect me at all costs, and they gladly bent the knee for me.

If this farm used to be part of my country, the people inside were probably Day Ravens. They were obligated to help me.

He was hoping I’d believe him and not bother, be a willing victim who didn’t fight back.

He should know I was not that girl.

CHAPTER 7

Itrailed after him to the worn one-story house, the structure badly in need of repairs. A decrepit rocking chair sat on the porch alongside a wood pile, but nothing besides the glow from the window showed any signs of the people who lived here.

The aged wood creaked under our weight as we sneaked up onto the porch. The Northerner peeked through the window, his gaze tracking what was inside.

“What?” I whispered.

He peered over at me like he was once again irritated I was there or dared speak to him.

“Only see one man. Asleep.”

Disappointment settled into my stomach. I had been hoping for a family. The more people, the better chances I had of getting away from my abductor. He wouldn’t let me go easily.

The Northerner moved to the door and without hesitation rammed his body into the wood, cracking through the entryway.

“Woah! Woah!” A man’s voice rose in panic as I raced in. A shorter, heavyset man with brown hair, grey teasing at his temples, struggled out of his chair, arms up. His light brown eyes were wide in fear, tightening my stomach in disappointment. Definitely not a Day Raven, but he also didn’t have the black hair and eyes of a Night Raven. “Don’t kill me. Anything I have is yours.” His gaze darted to me and shock widened his eyes at seeing me enter right after the Northerner, but he quickly turned his attention back to the main threat. “I was actually just cooking some stew.” He nodded to the black pot hanging in the fireplace, and the smell of boiling meat came into my nose. “Gladly share with you. I also have some mead.”

The Night Raven pointed his large dagger at the man. He didn’t let down his guard, scanning the room looking for weapons, or someone else to come at us. I could feel his wariness, the ease with which he would slash this man’s throat if he made one move.

“Check the house. It’s only me.” The man picked up on it too. “I swear.”

“You. Come with me.” The Northerner motioned to the man with his knife. The man hesitated, but shuffled to the Northerner, swallowing roughly as the blade touched his throat. “If I find you lied, your throat will be slit before they can do anything and then I will gut them too. Understand?”

“Yes.” The man nodded, his throat bobbing. They moved together, the older man shuffling like his bones ached. They traveled through each of the three doors off the main room. Each space held nothing more than a bed and side table and cupboard. All the windows were boarded up and locked, looking like no one was really using them.

“See?” The Shadow Rifter motioned to the empty rooms. “It’s just me.” He swallowed against the knife. “You put that down and I can get you and your mate something to eat.” His eyes shot to me. The intimation of us being lovers flushed me with heat, tightening my muscles in disgust.

“He’s not⁠—”

“Food and clothes.” My ex-thrall cut me off but didn’t release him from his hold.

“Of course. I think there are clothes in the cabinet in the bedroom.”

“You don’t have a horse here?”

“No.” The man shook his head. “It was taken from me a while back.”

A debate battled over the Northerner’s face, struggling to decide what to do with this man. I couldn’t let him die. He might be my only chance of escape.

“We don’t want to hurt you.” I stepped closer, laying my hand on the Night Raven’s arm, hoping he would follow my lead.

“I won’t make the same promise.” The Northerner scowled at my touch, and I dropped it quickly.

Fearing more bloodshed, I went on. “You won’t do anything stupid, right?”

“No.” The man shook his head, his hands going up again in earnest. “I swear. Let’s have some good food, and you can rest for the night before going on your way.”

“Sounds great. We appreciate that.” My eyes flicked up to my abductor. His lids were narrowed on me in rage, his jaw grinding. Tension grew between us, the knife primed to spray this man’s life all over the walls. “No one needs to lose their life tonight.”