Page 32 of Ashes of Betrayal

Bree nodded. “I will … thank you.”

He cut his attention away, focusing on feeding a branch to the flames. In the ruddy firelight, his face looked tired—a sign that he’d drawn too deeply on his magic during the attack earlier.

“Will you tell me where you’re heading?” she asked after a spell. Aye, she risked angering him again, but she didn’t want to pass the evening in silence.

He hesitated a moment, his eyes dark in the firelight as he looked at her, before replying, “Morae.”

“Will the man you’re looking for be there?”

His mouth pursed.

Bree huffed a deep sigh, her frustration spilling over. The man could be as immovable as a mountain when he wanted to be. “Shades, Cailean. I know you don’t believe it, but I’m on your side.”

His mouth twisted, a dark brow rising. “Really?”

“Aye.” Bree leaned forward, her gaze never leaving his. “Really.”

They stared at each other for a moment longer before he reached for another stick for the fire. Adding it, he glanced up at her once more. “The fight master’s name is Eilig.”

“And why are you searching for him?”

“We have an old … debt … that must be settled.”

Bree frowned. She hated it when others spoke in riddles. “What did he do?”

Cailean’s face hardened, and for a few moments, she was sure she’d pushed things too far. However, after a moment he replied, “he destroyed my family.”

A long silence pulsed between them before Bree cleared her throat. “He killed them?”

His mouth twisted. “As good as.”

“Will you tell me what happened?”

Cailean glanced away, dragging a hand down his face. He had the look of a man who was about to have a rotten tooth extracted.

Bree decided to be patient.

She’d asked him about his past before, at Duncrag, but it had been like butting heads with a stone wall. No, she couldn’t force this out of him.

She needed to wait until he was ready to speak.

The fire crackled, and a large shadow appeared between two oaks a few feet away.

Bree tensed, her hand straying to the grip of the knife strapped to her thigh. However, a massive dog with a shaggy moss-green coat and glowing golden eyes padded across the sodden ground to the fire, sinking down next to Cailean.

Have you two made it up, yet?Skaal’s mind touched hers.

Bree stilled in surprise before her mouth curved into a smile. It was a relief to be able to communicate with the fae hound like this; in her Marav form, it had felt as if she’d had a limb cut off.Not quite. Give me time, and I will.

Fear not, he’ll forgive you … eventually.

“Are you two having a private conversation?” Cailean interrupted them, his gaze narrowed.

“Aye,” Bree replied, her smile turning rueful as their gazes met. “What’s wrong … were your ears burning?”

His frown deepened, his lips parting as he started to respond. However, Skaal nudged Cailean in the ribs with her nose and gave a low whine, as if apologizing for her howls earlier.

Sighing, he reached out and put his arm around her neck. “I’m all right, lass,” he said roughly. “Bree shielded me from the worst of it.” His attention flicked once more to where Bree sat observing them.