Those words were hard to hear.

Your innocence is well and gone?

He said it so coldly. As if discussing the weather.

When in reality, he was responsible for changing my life.

It truly set in for the first time, that if he wished to pursue it now, society could declare me ruined and demand he marry me.

Which he's offered.

Which means, that in reality, they'd be demanding I concede to him.

Or was he right? Had I already?

Even I could tell that I was overthinking things just now. And it was making my head hurt and my hands shake.

"It's time you come to terms with a few things, Belle." Bodin said a bit more coldly. "You're mine. And you always have been."

"The hell I am." But my voice was tenuous. Wondering if I could really hold to that, when I became so weak the moment he touched me.

Or even when I simply think of him.

***

"Is your father really the Fey King?"

Bodin's lips whitened, and his jaw ticked as he decided how much he'd confide in me.

"You best tell me. Since you just declared you were tired of keeping things from me." I pointed out.

"Fine."

"Fine." I nodded decisively. My arms still crossed over my chest as I suddenly missed my clothes. Wishing they were between us, so I didn't feel quite so vulnerable. "So, is he?"

"Yes."

"How is that even possible."

"That, My Dear, is a tale for another day."

I eyed him but could tell this was something he'd not relent on. "Did you really already know how to play chess or were you just bluffing when you told me that?"

His gaze was unblinking. "I really did."

I deflated. "That was a dirty trick, you know?"

"It was. But the one I'm going to play is going to be even dirtier."

"What game?" I queried.

***

"Ginny!" Bodin was calling.

The girl hesitantly emerged from Belle's chambers. Slightly dirtied and with her hair tucked into a mob cap which was pulled low along her forehead and close to her eyes. Though he'd have sworn there was deep purple bruising along the edges and branching out toward her temple. Though she'd hidden it well.

She glanced at him and for a moment, her dark eyes appeared nearly gray. She was turning her head in the hall as if struggling to keep him in view.

"Yes, Me Lord?"

"Please ensure Ms. Belle has everything she'll need for the next few days and let my housemaid know I'll be returning shortly."

"You're leaving, My Lord?"

"Today. I have an urgent shipment. I'll be back in less than a sevennight. Please let Belle know."

She nodded her head demurely.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I-I hurt my eye, My Lord." She gestured dismissively toward her face. "I-I'm certain I'll be quite fine very soon."

She turned abruptly and began walking back into the chamber but had to turn herself at the doorframe and drag her hand along the wall to find her way back toward Belle's Dressing Table.

Bodin followed her a few steps and saw the maid had returned to pouring some scented oils in the bottles. Refilling them. She glanced around the room and over her shoulder but seemed not to see him.

She's partly blind? He frowned. He didn't recall her being so.

Belle had never mentioned that.

Bodin was off in his carriage by that afternoon.

And Ginny was on the fastest horse in the stables aimed for Demetrius House.

***

"My Lord!" She called after having ridden nearly an entire day and night. She pressed past the Demetrius House butler to get inside. Yelling again in her urgency.

Randall Demetrius appeared at the top of the stairs. "What is it?"

"You said to let you know immediately if he left her there alone."

"And is she?"

"She is now. For a few days."

"Wilhelm!" Randy barked at his footman. "Have the stable boys get my fastest carriage ready for an immediate venture."

The footman nodded and headed out the door.

Ginny was beaming. Quite proud of herself. But she was balanced against the doorframe and seemed to be swinging her head side to side to keep him in view.

"You look terrible, Woman." Randy Demetrius' face crumpled in contempt. "What is wrong with your eyes?"

"I spilled some acid." She explained. Looking away and dipping her head to hide her injury.

"You're lying."

She looked up. Her mouth opening. She started to say something, but he lifted his hand to stop her.

"It's fine. I care not a whit. Get back before someone notices you're missing.

"But I just got here! I rode...I'm exhausted."

"I haven't time for your excuses." He waved her away. "Get back and ready things for my arrival."

Ginny stared at him in astonishment. Slowly turning to do as he bid. Wondering how she could possibly make it back without falling off her horse. And then to ready things for him. For she'd certainly have to get to work right away upon returning.

"And-" His voice stopped her. "Make sure it's done in secrecy."

"How can I-"

"No whining tonight." He shook his head. Pressing his fingers to his temple. "I've a dreadful headache. Skip along, Girl."

Ginny gaped at his blatant rudeness. Shaking her head as she walked back out. Mounting her horse to head back.

"Don't forget." He called after her. "Secrecy. No one knows I'm coming. Especially not Belle."

Ginny climbed onto her mount on shaking legs. Already weak from hunger and thirst.

***

Several hours later and well into the evening, Ginny was swaying on the horse, who was himself tired enough he was walking slowly.

"Ginny..." A haunting voice rose from the trees parallel to them. Making her horse rear and bringing her to full wakefulness.

She squinted into the dark trees trying to see if someone was there.

"Ginny..." She heard the rumbling male voice. And then a disapproving cluck.

She lifted the lantern which she'd had dangling against the horse's shoulder because she was too weak to hold it up any longer.

A man stood in the road, and she recognized him instantly despite her poor vision and aching eyes. Even in the dark. He stood straight with his hands behind his back and his head lowered ominously. His dark hair and intense gaze making her feel as though he saw into her soul. And her mind. As though he could sense every crime she'd ever committed and knew her deepest thoughts.

"Fey King." She pulled the horse to a stop.

And her lantern flickered.

In that brief moment he'd closed the distance. Now standing just in-front of her.

Making her horse neigh uncomfortably.

He caught its reign before it could rear again. The movement too fast for her to catch. He just suddenly gripped the side of it. "Now what are you doing all the way out here?"

She blinked at him. Struggling even harder to see through her bleary eyes.

He patted the beast's neck and it calmed instantly. Stilling and lowering its head to press the top of it against his chest. Showing its submission, despite that he was a stranger to it. He absentmindedly stroked it's hard, flat cheeks. Still looking at Ginny.

"I see Vix was less than forgiving once her brother was returned to her."

"How do you know that?"

"I know many things."

"Come down here." He lifted a hand.

She stared at it blankly.

"You misunderstand." He said. "That wasn't a question."

Grimacing. She took it.

He pulled her down. Unsympathetic to her clumsy landing. But watching as she strained to right herself. "At what point do you begin to view yourself as anything more than his simple pawn."

She sobbed. Shocked at the striking pointedness of the words. And exhausted from her long ride.

He circled the horse which swung its head to keep near him. "Starving and dehydrating yourself is one thing but your horse quite another."

He rounded its backside. Stroking along the horse's back.

She peered at him over the creature's high back. Watching his slow, precise movements fearfully.

"But this animal, much like the girl you used to be, deserves your sympathy."

"I don't know what you mean."

He scoffed. "I had considered punishing you. But I realized that nothing I could do to you would be worse than what you continue to do to yourself. The longer I let you live the more damage you'll do to your person and your mind. But understand, I'll not let you harm others in the wake of your flooding disasters."