I woke sore, my body aching. My eyes still closed, I started to call to Muriel to check the chickens for eggs, and my throat screamed for water. Head pounding, I reached for the herbs I kept near our bed for Fleur’s sickness. Nothing.
I opened my eyes. Instead of the hut, I lay on the ground of a great cave, wrapped in a fur robe. The morning air felt cool on my face. Had I lain outside all night?
Last night’s terror came flooding back. The deep voice growling my name, the hand around my throat. As I glanced around the wide mouth of the cave and the wilderness beyond, I realized my nightmare was real.
Fear shot through me and I came to my feet, lunging for the forest. My escape was cut short when my leg pulled out from under me. I looked back and saw the chain around my ankle.
“No,” I
