The Complete Spindlewind Trilogy: A Dark Rumpelstiltskin Fairy Tale Retelling by Genevieve Raas

Author:Genevieve Raas
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Dark, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Fairy Tale Retelling
Publisher: Ravenwell Press
Published: 2020-01-21T23:00:00+00:00

HE SAT on a fallen tree staring at the scar on the palm of his hand. Unease seemed to stiffen his brow and lips as he traced the jagged outline with his finger. I shivered as the fire washed him in gold.

His gaze snapped up to me and he clasped his fist closed. His gray eyes darted from my eyes to my feet and back again. The hard lines of his face softened and his lips parted. He cleared his throat.

I braced myself expecting some kind of lewd comment. A critique of my plain chemise, or my sopping hair. Insults.

“You look well,” he stumbled. “Refreshed.”

A flash of annoyance rolled through me. What game was he playing? This was not the man I remembered. There was always some poisonous insult waiting on that sharp tongue of his. But kindness? I wanted to tell him off regardless, but my innate politeness didn’t allow it.

“Yes,” I replied, the word sounding awkward as it fought against something cruder.

He pulled out a handful hazelnuts from his inner pocket. He held them out to me. I crossed my arms and turned my gaze towards the fire, leaving his hand hovering.

“You must eat something, and I’m afraid these are all I have,” he said. “I’m sure you’re hungry.”

“Must I?” My stomach growled despite my yearning to not take any more from him.

He stretched his arm holding them out closer to me. I looked at them. Hated them. Then snatched them away. Sweetness and butter filled my mouth as I ate, their crunch satisfying my deep hunger.

I offered him none.

He grabbed a long stick and poked the fire, a wave of embers rolling up towards the sky. I sat down and placed the knife on my lap. I continued to plop the hazelnuts in my mouth.

I knew I was being petty. Foolish even. But I couldn’t act any other way towards him. I preferred focussing on the flashes of every misdeed he ever committed against me. Hear his every lie, and remember his sneering face offering me nothing but scorn. Hating him was the only way to not think on my own sins. Or worse, the love that still smoldered for him beneath every reason not to.

A rough scream echoed in the distance. The knife slid off my lap as I turned swiftly. My bones chilled and the hairs on my arms stood on end.

He looked out at the black, the thing that made that untamed cry shrouded by darkness. I wondered if it was the same thing that spoke to me at the spring.

“What’s that?” I whispered.

“I don’t know, but I’d wager it isn’t anything we want to meet,” he replied.

He stood and peered into the black. Nothing. Only silence surrounded us, except for the snap of the fire. After waiting several minutes, he relaxed his shoulders and sat back down.

Bending over he picked up my knife and held it out to me. The blade reflected prettily in the firelight. Eagerness etched every line of his face for me to take his generosity.

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