UnSeelie Dreams Chapter One Page 3

“Good rest, Lady Lily.”

This thought brought her back to the knight who lay on the other side of the fire. She owed him for his kindness.

“Good rest.” Lily stretched out on the ground and closed her eyes even though sleep was far from coming. She would remain as long as possible; soon she would have to use the night to open a portal home.

Time was of no consequence and slipped by fast. She could feel the shift in the night as the dawn approached. It was still dark and she still had enough time. Lily got to her feet and moved toward the sleeping knight. She studied the way an errant black curl rested along the strong column of his throat, the bristle of the dark stubble framing his full lips. His lean cheek bones, straight nose, brow, the laugh lines about his eyes, he had been happy once, she thought; all these she cataloged into memory as she traced his face as lightly as a feather.

Her cool lips brushed his as he grabbed her wrist. Eye to eye, their souls met and she knew him. Lily pulled back at the first cry of the dove. Dawn would move fast now and she had to hurry or be caught by the sun.

She could hear the approaching of horses from afar as she tugged at her captured wrist.

“What did you do to me?”

She could smell the fear in him.

“Tell me, woman.” He demanded hoarsely.

She had no time to explain. Her teeth sank into the edge of his hand and he let go. Lily ran into the woods, her body melting into the dark as she pulled it around her. She knew he was following, heard his shouts as the portal burst open and she disappeared from sight.

Suddenly the earth gave away under Thomas and he tumbled down. Ancient roots grabbed at him as he dropped landing hard enough to knock the wind out of him. Time passed as he lay there in stagnate dark. The musty smell of decay filled his senses as he attempted to remain calm. He listened to his own ragged gasps as he struggled through the panic.

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