Free Legend of the Fae: A Highland Fantasy (The Dark Fae Saga Book 1) by April Holthaus Page A

truth behind Warrick’s fate could not be determined any more than his own. Even if he kept him out of this battle, there would always be another.

~ Chapter 9 ~
     
     
    Ella woke as a chorus of morning birds sang to the beginning of a new day. Like nature’s alarm, the bittersweet melody woke the woodland creatures from their midnight slumber. Ella could hear the rustling sounds as they pranced around in the snow outside her window. As the darkness in the room began to fade away with the rising sun, a rainbow of colors shone through the frost-covered window.
    Ella sat up, using the pillow to support her back as she leaned up against the headboard. Next to her on the bedside table, Ella saw that Evelyn had left her a full glass of water. Picking up the glass, she pressed it against her parched lips and drank the entire offering. Though still sore, Ella was grateful that she felt much better than she had last night; remarkably better.
    Ella listened for sounds of Evelyn in the next room, but the place was quiet. Ella thought now would be a good time to make her exit. Shuffling her feet from under the covers, she draped her legs over the side of the bed and slid off. Immense pain from her ankle caused her to immediately jump backward onto the bed. Throwing her hands around her bandaged ankle, she held it, willing the pain away.
    How had she gotten into such a mess? She couldn’t talk, she couldn’t walk; hell, the Gods might as well take her eyesight, too, so she could conveniently stumble right off a cliff! Ella fought back a tear. Defeat was not an option, and she was not going to pity herself. With a huff, she stood up again, only this time shifting all of her weight to one side. At the bottom of the bed draped over the covers, Evelyn had left her a gown to wear. It was a deep garnet-color with lace trim and long sleeves.
    Remembering how cold it had been the night before, she twisted her lips as she considered what to do. The woman had said her own clothes were ruined. The gown she wore was thin, but would provide an extra layer of warmth against the cold. Deciding self-preservation was of the utmost importance; Ella decided to use the gown as a shift and donned the heavier gown over it. The garnet fabric was thick and warm. Perfect, if she were to brave the cold.
    Within moments of dressing, Ella heard commotion from the other room, followed by a door slamming.
    “Ye cannae go in there, ye’ll wake her,” Ella heard Evelyn say.
    “I have nay time to wait,” a man replied and swung open the door to Ella’s room. “And by the looks of it, the lass is already awake.”
    The man towering over her was a giant in both size and girth. Wide shoulders and large muscles filled his tunic, stretching the fabric taut. His cinnamon-and-spice-colored hair looked like a lion’s mane, hanging down far enough that it touched both shoulders. His piercing stormy-grey eyes matched the color of the sky after a light spring rain, and his prominent arched cheekbones were as angular as his jawline. He walked toward her with sure-footed purpose.
    Addressing Ella, he continued. “My lady, my name is Galen. I have come to take ye to the Castle. There is plenty of room there fer ye to rest and heal and I insist we leave at once before the snowfall worsens. Tis a heavy storm coming.”
    Ella had no inclinations of going anywhere but home. She stood motionless.
    “I’m afraid he is right, Lassie,” Evelyn said. “If the snow gets any deeper it will be too hard to pull the cart through it.”
    Cart? They wished her to ride in a cart like swine? Shaking her head furiously, she tucked her arms cross her front and gave them a mutinous look. Her actions were quite easy to read as Galen glared back at her. Taking a step toward her, Ella did not know what he intended. Fearing that he may harm her like the others, she moved like lightning and slipped his dagger out of its sheath where it clung to his side. With a fierce grip, she held the