Bodin took the seat across from the young maid with hollow eyes. "You understand we do have a serious problem?"

"I killed a man."

"One who was nothing but kind to you."

"I know." She sobbed into her hands. "I was so unfeeling. I thought they didn't truly care a wit for me. So, I should not them. I was so stupid."

Bodin reached across the table and pushed her hands aside to lift her chin with his fingertips. "You were trying to survive."

She nodded sadly. Shame written over her face.

"But here is my problem." He sighed. Deciding he'd be frank. "You've endangered Belle. Connived against her. And me."

"I know."

"You murdered the lord of your house for no reason other than because someone asked you. I could not even recommend you to another household without wondering if you might turn on them."

"So, I am to be tossed to the streets." Her face scrunched in pain. Tears streaming freely. "No, I'm not as cruel to that. But even my forgiveness does have limits. You still must face a consequence for your actions."

"The stocks?"

"That would require turning you over to the magistrate, who'd require far more than the stocks for murdering your lord."

She nodded. Chewing her lip until it bled.

"I condemn you to the fey."

"What does that mean?" She shot him an astonished look. "Is that some term for something lords do?"

"No." He said flatly. Giving her a long look.

"My father has a kingdom, in which if you partake of the best food you've ever tasted you will have to remain in the elven realm eternally."

"Food?" She asked hopefully.

"Good food." She nodded.

"You will tonight and tomorrow to send farewells to any you love."

Her gaze fell. "There is no one."

She paused a long moment. "But My Lady, Belle."

"Talk to her." He urged.

"Yes, My Lord." She nodded.

Bodin rose from the table. "I bid you good eve. Get some rest before your journey tomorrow eve. But I do warn you, should you try to leave, I've instructed my friend to put an arrow in you."

"I won't, My Lord." She said sincerely.

Bodin believed her.

But if he was wrong, Ena would shoot her without blinking.

***

Bodin went back upstairs. Going to his chamber and collecting a dark blanket from his armoire, he rolled it into a ball in his arms before returning to stand outside that chamber door he'd paused near, earlier.

Belle's door.

He slowly opened it. Seeing her asleep in the bed. His eyes flickered yellow to see her in the pitch night.

No candles burned in here.

Bodin had put them out, to keep from attracting Randall's attention.

Belle's wavy brown hair was stretched out on the pillow framing her face. Her soft nightdress, a glowing beacon in the blackness. Her lips were parted slightly in her sleep and her long curling lashes rested along her cheeks.

Looking far more peaceful than she had since she'd arrived here.

Bodin blew a long breath. Kicking off his boots he crawled into bed beside her.

She rolled to her side reflexively, to make room for him. Giving him her back.

He followed her movement, to fold around her. Fully clothed, because he anticipated an immediate fight.

As he nestled against her, she murmured his name in the sweetest voice he'd ever heard. "Bodin..."

"Yes, Sweetheart." He murmured. Already sad and anxious for what would come.

"Where were you?"

He wondered if that meant she now expected him to join her in bed. His hopeful heart swelled some. But the cold, logical voice in his head reminded him she was mostly asleep.

"Dealing with a minor issue. It's over now."

"Is Ginny home? I've been worried." She asked groggily.

"She is."

"Oh, good."

That made him somewhat bitter against the girl. Sweet Belle was worrying for her while she'd been in a midnight run to tell Randall that Belle was here alone.

Vulnerable.

***

I vaguely registered that Bodin was telling me Ginny was safe. It appeased some of my worry. I told myself that tomorrow I would find out where she'd been.

And if she's capable of harming my father.

"Belle?"

"Yes, Din?" I adjusted my face on the pillow. Feeling infinitely comfortable nestled in the crook of his body.

"You're going to have to stop stalling and wed me."

"What?" I blinked fully awake and launched to a sitting position. Twisting to blink at him in shock.

He drew a long breath. His brown eyes focused on me in the dimness. Though I couldn't see them, I could feel them.

"I won't!"

"You will, Honey." He said patiently. "I'm afraid we're out of time. I can't be patient much longer."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Please, Belle." He pleaded in an utterly uncharacteristic way. "Don't press me."

"To do what?" I asked outraged. Scooting further from him and eyeing him as a potential enemy. "What have you done, Din?"

Sighing, he rolled to his feet and wandered over to light the candle. "You're going to marry me, Belle. If I have to carry you screaming to the alter."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, you'll be banished to the fey realm."

"To your f-f-father?" I studied in shock. Trying to decide if I was having some weird nightmare.

"Yes."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll be removed from our world to his castle."

Removed! I was appalled at the use of that word.

"No one is removing me anywhere."

"Trust me, Belle." He lit a candle with the tinderbox. The dancing flame illuminating his solemn face. Indicating he was very serious. "You will go."

"Why are you threatening me?" I rolled to the other side of the bed and launched to my feet, easing backward. Wanting further away from him then I felt like I could get.

"I'm not." He deflated. "I'm trying to warn you."

"Why?" I eyed him askance.

"Because I don't want you to hate me."

***

I softened some. Hearing the unusual vulnerability in his voice. "What's wrong?"

"I'm telling you, you don't have a choice anymore, Belle. You will wed me."

"I'm not going to belong to you, Bodin!"

"Oh?" I saw a brief flash of anger on his face. "You'll creep into my bed. Come with the dark of night and let me have you in the most intimate of ways. But when I want to make it an honest act, you'll deny me?"

I glared at him. Feeling somewhat betrayed that he'd mention the acts we'd committed. Something I had thought were somehow...Sacred. Something I could trust him to know.

But to never speak.

Well, he was speaking it now.

"I want you, Belle. I always have. From the moment you looked at me over a chessboard and carefully began to teach me. Willing to patiently walk me, as you perceived me, through a game you favored. To spend time with me when other boys were vying for your attention."

She rolled her eyes. "You mean Randy. Always Randy. Why do you keep bringing him up? He's nothing more than an annoyance. He isn't going to hurt me Bodin."

"Not now." Bodin said ominously.