“Belle, this is Sola,” he says, gesturing to a young woman on the horse next to us. “She’ll be your personal maiden until this journey is over. She’ll look after you, and you need to obey her every command.”

“How much longer will this ride take?” I can’t help but ask.

“As long as it takes.” He grips the reins, forcing the horse to gallop forward.

Halfway through the night, when my eyelids are drooping, and my feet are finally feeling relief, I pretend I don’t feel Gabriel securing an arm around my waist and breathing in the scent of my hair.

An Unexpected Bargain

Gabriel

Two Full Days Later

“What if he did come to see me?” Belle whispers against my chest. “Did I miss him somehow?” “Did he not want me?”

I listen as she continues to talk in her sleep, as wisps of her red hair flutter against my face.

I have no idea what the hell she’s talking about, but I much prefer these words to her earlier whispers of “Fuck Gabriel. Don’t ever drop your guard around that bastard again.”

“Please let us stop and rest, Sir Gabriel, please!” one of my men shouts from behind, interrupting my thoughts. “I know you can hear me! We need a break!”

I don’t stop or dare give in to his request.

Not now.

Not ever.

“Are you determined to drive us mad until we all drop dead?” The man is still shouting. “If so, let us know, so we can decide whether another trip with you is worth it.”

I immediately halt.

“Turn around, Mauricio,” I command, facing my men.

I’m prepared to deliver a speech about how time is of the essence and how only the weakest of soldiers would stop now, but they do look seconds away from dropping to their graves.

“Who is the one complaining about this journey?” I call out. “Show yourself.”

No one steps forward.

“Who was speaking?” I raise my voice. “Don’t make me ask again.”

Tobias, a grey-haired man at the rear, rides his black stallion closer.

“It was me, sir,” he says. “I was simply expressing how everyone else feels.”

“I see… Is there anything else I need to know about your feelings?”

“I don’t understand why the girl is here, sir.” He gestures to Belle. “If she can’t help us to break the curse, she’s just another mouth to feed, dead weight.”

“This girl is collateral for the real girl,” I say to him. “When she’s served her purpose, she’ll no longer travel with us.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.” I narrow my eyes. “Anything else we need to discuss?”

“We’re hungry and tired.” He crosses his arms. “Can we at least hunt for something to eat?”

A loud round of thunder roars in the distance before I can respond. The surrounding trees sway violently and whisper—a clear sign that someone deep in these woods is moments away from being devoured alive.