Black Moon Draw(72)

“Thank god. He’s a good kid. He means well, even if he can’t lift that sword of his.”

“He will learn.”

“You really want me to stay?” I venture. “Because you want to exploit my battle-witchiness?”

“’Tis needed to break the curse.”

“Yeah,” I agree, somewhat disappointed about the response. “It is.” Not that I don’t understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Sometimes when he looks at me, though, I can’t help hoping there’s something else between us, as far-fetched as it seems. Someone interested in me.

Is it wrong to want my own fairy tale happily-ever-after ending? I mean, this is a book.

I think. I’m not even certain if that’s true anymore. If this world exists, then is every book world real? Are the characters alive and living out their experiences, even after I put the book down?

I’m too tired to return to this line of thought. I rest my head on his shoulder.

There can’t be anything between us anyway. He’s got a woman and a kingdom. While he may want me to stay, I can’t see myself becoming a peasant or servant or worse – his mistress. He’s okay with that, but I’m not.

Soon after we enter the pass between mountains, our abductors lose their black cloaks and animal heads, revealing the faces of the Brown Sun Lake warriors and their cloaks. We enter a narrow pass cutting through the mountains.

I huddle against the Shadow Knight for warmth. No one speaks to us. A glance at my hand in the dim moonlight reveals the same message, and I play that scene from the movie over and over in my head.

Apparently, I have to take another dive for the Shadow Knight. Though maybe if we spend some time apart, we’ll both realize there’s nothing between us, not even basic physical attraction.

“I fear you have crossed into madness,” he murmurs.

“It can’t happen. I belong to a different world. You have a woman.”

“Aye, ‘tis complicated.”

I wait for more. Typical man. Thinks with his dick. I’ve had my fill of jerks.

“Have you tested your magic?” His tension is back.

The medallion is cool and smooth beneath my fingertips. “I don’t know how to turn it on. Aside from throwing you off a building or something.”

“Or kissing you.”

“Pretty sure it was the danger,” I say curtly. “We aren’t doing that again anyway.”

The horses in front of us draw to a halt, and I see the forms of another group of riders joining us. Two of them speak too quietly for us to hear, and I grip the medallion, willing the spark of electricity to emerge.

The two start down the column, towards us.

The Shadow Knight tightens his grip around me, his body going tense. The two are soon within speaking range but not close enough for the uber-athletic Shadow Knight to launch off the horse and collar them.

“We can do this one of two ways, Shadow,” one says. He motions to someone behind us, and horse hooves approach from my right side.

I lean over and spot the archer on horseback.

Shit. My pulse quickens and I shift in the Shadow Knight’s grip. A glance at my hand reveals the same message scrolling across it. Voluntarily going with the enemy, one who knows how to kill me? The Shadow Knight can protect me at least. If I leave him, aren’t we both at risk?

Or am I at risk, and he’ll have a shot to escape to his army and save the world?

My hands grow clammy and fear rips through me.

This world is real, and so is the chance I die for real this time. But I have to do something before they shoot him full of arrows. The original chapters I read on Wattpad are in my thoughts, reminding me that the Shadow Knight is supposed to be mortally wounded before the end of this book.

“You can release the witch to us, or we can shoot you full of arrows and take her when you’re dead.”

“Arrows,” the Shadow Knight says without hesitation.

Another archer dismounts from his horse and faces us while a third and fourth pull swords. A fifth man draws near the speaker, remaining far enough behind that their leader can’t see him, and does something peculiar.

He waves me over.

I blink, certain I’m seeing things.

When I look again, he does it once more.

Dare I trust some stranger? He’s making an effort not to be seen by the others.

The medallion isn’t coming to life again despite the Shadow Knight being in danger, and the message on my hand remains the same. The stranger waving at me is a third sign I should probably do what my gut is telling me.

Drawing a breath, I decide I don’t have much of a choice. “How about . . . I go with you guys and you let him go.”

“Nay,” the Shadow Knight snaps.

“I’m not talking to you,” I retort.

“You will come willingly?” their leader asks.

“If you let him go.” Fully aware they intend to do the opposite, I still think the Shadow Knight has a better chance to fight them off if I’m not dead weight. My alleged magic is a little too unreliable for my comfort.

The stranger is nodding his hooded head at my words.

There’s a thick silence. The Shadow Knight is growling, probably at me as much as his enemies. Every instinct in my body says this is a bad idea, but maybe if I can at least give him a fighting chance . . .