Every step away from Fie Eoin slashed Kaye’s heart. By the time she made it to Fie Obsid, her heart would look like Kindra’s back after the whipping ceremony.

The small group of Obsidians walked north with an Aledan guard so no warriors on patrol would attack. They passed Fie Ronna, the tribe of artists and practical goods; Fie Layton, the tribe of healers and herb lore; and Fie Deorsa, the tribe of farming and feasts. Sheep jumped out of the group’s way as they ascended the pass, and then they were in Deer Valley. It would take half a day to traverse the valley before they made it through the northern pass to Fie Obsid.

By the time they arrived in Fie Obsid, the sun hid behind the mountain to the west, casting long shadows through the trees. The great house was hidden in the forest—difficult to see as it blended in. It was made of tree trunks placed next to each other, the cracks plastered with mud, so it looked like it grew straight up from the ground. The roof was beams and branches—an unnatural canopy in an unnatural forest.

Dark eyes watched in silence as the group made its way through the village. The guards at the entrance of the great house stood aside, and Kaye took a deep breath before she stepped within.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Next to her, Loria coughed at the smell of too many bodies in too small a space. Curtains separated the living spaces of two dozen families, and at the end, in a carved wood chair before his curtained rooms, sat chief Devon Obsid.

He was a tall man, lean and grey, with sharp black eyes and no smile. Kaye had met him several times when she came to Fie Obsid with the High Priestess. She had always feared him.

Kaye bowed when they reached the chair. “Chief Obsid.”

He looked from her to Loria, then Corbin. When he spoke it was in Aledan. “They are both witches?”

“That is her mother.”

Obsid’s face darkened. “I don’t need her mother.”

Loria stood. “I will see my daughter wed and settled before I go.”

Chief Obsid studied her with a frown. “You are the Fox’s wife?”

“I am.”

He considered for a moment. “You may stay. Don’t interfere.”

Loria bowed, then helped Kaye stand. “Then I present to you my daughter, Kaye Odion of Fie Eoin.”

Kaye swayed as his gaze roamed over her. She didn’t know what beauty standards were in the Nation, but she had a feeling golden hair and hazel eyes weren’t desirable. Then again, he’d met her before and still sent his men to retrieve her. He must not find her too repulsive.

“Take off your cloak,” he said. She untied it and folded it in her arms. He twirled his finger in the air and she turned so he could see the firelight refract off her wings.

“Can you fly?” He asked.

She faced him and nodded. “I’ve learned, although I’m out of practice.” The last time she’d flown was before her father’s death. He admonished her for not wearing her cloak during an unusually hot summer, and in her anger she’d jumped off the cliff and glided above the warriors as they practiced. When Fennec yelled at her afterwards, Kindra took Kaye’s side. It was the only time Kindra had ever talked back to their father. She received a red handprint on her cheek, but Kaye was allowed to go without her cloak until it cooled.

Obsid circled her like a predator. He ran his fingertips over her wings, and she flinched back. That was much too intimate for a man who was not yet her husband. Even Kindra didn’t touch Kaye’s wings.

He stopped before her. “Yes, I think you’ll do.”

Tears burned at her eyes as her hands folded into fists, nails biting into the flesh of her palm. She’d do? She left her home, friends and sister because she’d do? He didn’t even ask if her family was proven to be good birthers. In fact, the three main families were poor in sons—that’s why Kindra had become a warrior and Monk had so many sisters. The stronger the Faye blood, the more a family was plagued with daughters. Kaye had a good idea what the chief would do to her if she only bore him daughters.

Obsid waved them away, disinterested. “Show them where to stay the night. We’ll hold the ceremony in the morning.”

Kaye grabbed her mother’s hand, and Loria squeezed it, hard. Her face was stone, her eyes sharp with hatred, but she merely nodded. Kaye thought they’d be given some time to get their bearings before she was married and trying for sons. A wedding tomorrow morning meant he’d be climbing on top of her tomorrow night. She pressed her lips together to hold back a sob.

The small space they were given was hardly private. She could hear the discussion of the family on the other side of the curtain. They spoke of the strange-looking witch, and the wedding tomorrow. Kaye turned her focus from them to the pallet along the wall where her mother sat like she was made of wood. This would be Loria’s room until she decided to go home.

Kaye lay down with her head in Loria’s lap, like she used to when she was young, and cried silent tears while her mother ran her fingers through Kaye’s long hair. Eventually she gathered the courage to ask what had plagued her since the Obsidians showed up that morning.

“Do you really think father traded me to the Obsidians?”

Loria’s fingers stilled, and she turned Kaye’s head until they could see each other. “Absolutely not. I know he and Kindra had a special bond, but he loved you, and would never have traded you. Not for all the deer in the Valley.”

Kaye’s heart knew it to be true, but sank at what it meant. There was only one other person at the time who could have promised her to the Obsidians, but she was afraid to even think it. “Who then? Who would do such a thing?”

Loria brushed the hair from Kaye’s face. “It could only be Oak. He was obsessed with making peace. I don’t think he did it for any dislike of you.”

“Is this…” Kaye swallowed. “Is this why I was never confirmed as priestess?”

Loria stiffened. It was clear she hadn’t considered what it meant before this. “It would certainly be difficult to give you to the Obsidians if you were.”

All of Kaye’s worst fears were true. The High Priestess knew.

That hurt more than being promised to the enemy. The High Priestess had known and complied with the trade. Warm tears leaked out of the corners of Kaye’s eyes and dampened the hair at her temples. She had given her life to the priestesses, but was never going to be confirmed herself. What a cruel joke to play.