Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 80: Grace: Strawberries (I)

Giant brown eyes watch me with such suspicion, I’m pretty sure their owner thinks I’m a very hungry dragon with toddler on the menu.

I pretend not to notice the tiny human’s approach. Looking directly might spook her—or worse, encourage her to come closer. The bunny ears on her onesie bounce with each determined step, her diapered bottom swaying like a pendulum as she toddles across the uneven stone floor.

My kidnapper—can I even call him that now?—thrusts three sticks toward me. Each holds several bright red strawberries coated in a crystalline shell that catches the dim light. Tanghulu. I’d seen pictures of it before; fruit skewers dipped in sugar syrup that hardens into a candy coating.

The man’s face remains impassive, nearly hostile, as if handing me this sweet treat is equivalent to passing over the keys to his entire fortune.

I accept them cautiously.

Not a word has been spoken in the ten minutes since I regained consciousness, lying on a pile of thin fleece blankets.

My kidnapper (?) grunts at me before shuffling back to his boiling pot, dipping yet another stick of strawberries in it.

"Uh... thank you," I offer, though I’m not sure why I’m thanking someone who drugged me and stole me from a hospital.

The cave—or whatever this place is—stretches around me in a peculiar mix of primitive and modern. Natural stone walls curve overhead, but someone’s strung LED light chains across them, the wires draped between wooden beams jammed into terracotta pots. The effect is oddly... homey.

A few other children sit cross-legged on mismatched rugs and pillows scattered across the floor. They crunch on their own tanghulu, sugar crystals catching in the corners of their mouths. They don’t seem concerned about being here. None look malnourished or scared.

What kind of kidnapping operation is this?

The toddler’s eyes remain locked on my untouched treats, a thin line of drool escaping the corner of her mouth. Her own tanghulu casualties lie scattered on the floor beneath her—strawberries separated from the stick, their sugar coating cracked and sticky against the stone floor.

Someone should probably clean that up.

Not me, but... someone.

No one seems to care, though.

her any if you don’t want to." The oldest kid—maybe fifteen—squints at me. "She’s just a glutton.

lip quivers

woozy from whatever drug I was given, but clear-headed enough to

I’m contemplating sharing candy with a drooling toddler and

testing its stickiness. "Is this place... where you all

dark hair falling across one eye. "Sometimes. Depends on

eight, strawberry juice staining his chin. "It’s one

"Safe houses?" I repeat.

a crown says this

can smell the strawberry on her breath. Her

hold out one of my sticks, and she snatches it

name?" I

talk," the oldest says. "We

right next to me, examining her

are?" I direct this question

He gestures at the other two. "That’s Jer

offer, though nobody

Sara says, as if I’m

I blink.

I think. Wait, am

Sara blinks.

did he bring me here?" I change the subject, pointing to my

back of his hand

hospital isn’t safe," Sara agrees.

shatters between my teeth, sweet and crisp

man might have a sour

"What’s a blood witch?"

more meaningful glances.