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

quietly knelt down and held her hand out to the child. The little girl cautiously stepped forward. Ella smiled as she drew near. The small lass raised her tiny arms up and wrapped them around Ella’s neck. It was a peculiar sensation, warm and loving. Picking up the wee lass, Ella held her in her arms. Looking down at the child, she wondered why the lass was not afraid of her. Ella brought danger, not comfort. As the little girl smiled up at her, it warmed Ella’s heart. For such unpredictable wretched beings, it was strange how innocent their children were.
    “Ginny! What are ye doing?” a woman yelled as she frantically ran around the cluster of trees. Seeing the little girl in Ella’s embrace, the woman ripped the child from Ella’s arms. “Who are ye, and what are ye doing wit’ my child?” the woman demanded.
    Startled, Ella froze. The expression in the woman’s eyes was like a wolf protecting her young, though Ella would never have harmed the child. The best course of action in this instance would be to remove herself from the situation before the others became aware of her presence. She would just have to find warmth and shelter elsewhere.
    Ella opened her mouth and moved her lips to speak but no words came out. Clearing her throat, she tried again but still nothing. Instinctively, Ella placed her hands on her throat. My voice ! Why can I not speak? Trying to speak again was yet another failed attempt. Ella quickly became distressed, nervously pacing back and forth. I don’t understand.
    Was this her punishment for crossing into this forbidden world? Was this what Baudi was trying to warn her about? Without her voice, how could she tell this woman that she meant no harm to the child? It did not take long for Ella to realize how grave a mistake coming here was. With no voice, no weapons and no magic, she was completely vulnerable.
    Ella could tell that her actions were starting to frighten the women though she could care less.   
    “Stay back! Help! Help!” the woman frantically yelled out, clutching her daughter tighter in her arms.
    Before Ella had time to run, three men came running from their tents circling around her.
    “Are ye alright, Mairi? What is it?” a man asked as he stood in between Ella and the woman.
    His raven black hair, slick with sweat, hung like wet moss off a dead tree branch. A long, grotesque scar marked the right side of his face.
    “This woman! She tried to take my daughter.”
    Ella shot a wicked look at the woman for her blatant accusation. She would never have hurt or taken the child, but the way the men looked at her told her that they would never have believed her. Like hunters circling their prey, their eyes watched her every move.
    The look in their eyes and snarls on their faces caused Ella’s stomach to turn as she drew a shaky breath. These men meant her harm. 
    “Take the wee lassie back to the tent, Mairi. We will handle this.” Before questioning Ella, he waited for the woman and child to leave. “Is what she said true? Were ye trying to take the child?”
    Knowing she could not answer, Ella continued to stare, her eyes falling upon each man. She wondered at her ability to understand what they were saying. She was fairly certain they were not of the Fae. Was it possible that the Fae could understand any species but could only speak their own language? Could this be the reason she was mute?
    “I demand ye to tell me who ye are,” he demanded again, more loudly this time.
    Ella could feel the beat of her heart pounding harder against her rib cage. Her breathing became labored and her body tense. It was as if time had simply slowed. Even though, the sound was faint and muffled, as if someone had covered her ears, she could hear her assailant’s hoarse, heaving breath, and from above, the humming sound of feathers flicking up and down as birds swarmed the skies.
    Ella’s only hope was to escape. Even if the cold snowy air killed her, she would run until she