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At this I pulled my hand from my mouth and faced him.

“Trying to what, Jared? Steal me away…? Do you really think so little of the love I have for you, that all it would take is a handsome man to…”

“Not helping,”he growled, and I promptly ignored that, with nothing more than a warning finger pointed his way.

“…to take me from you. You think I am that weak? That my words mean nothing?” I threw at him, making him stumble for a response.

“No, I… I just…”

“You just didn’t trust me,”I snapped, turning to walk away again, only for him to grab my hand to stop me.

“That’s not true.”

“Then prove it,” I stated, snatching my hand back and folding my arms across my chest.

“How?” he asked with a shake of his head.

“By watching me handle it and not saying a fucking word or taking one step to do anything,” I tested.

“Ella.”

“No, Jared, which is it…? Because you either trust me, or you don’t?” I asked, pushing him for an answer.

“Fine,” he gritted out.

“Fine,” I repeated, now walking back over to the group of men who looked as if they had just finished tying up the prisoner and getting ready to integrate him.

“Hi, me again. Sorry to interrupt,” I said, even nodding to the prisoner who shrugged against the pole he was tied against. Then I walked straight to Tyr and said, “Can I have a word?”

Tyr gave me a smug grin, that I had to say wasn’t helping matters.

“Sure, Bál Ásynja.”

Jared didn’t let the endearment slide, and he yelled,

“Fire Goddess, really, Ella?!” To which I shot him a look and drew a finger across my lips, telling him to be quiet. Something he, again, gritted his teeth at. Then once we were out of earshot of the others and within ear shot of Jared, I turned to Tyr and said,

“This should work.”

We were next to a ruined house that was in too bad of a shape to use for anything. The dead charred tree leaning against it, told me that it had been set on fire at one point.

“What do you wish to talk to me about, little…?”

“Yeah yeah, little human, mortal, princess… whatever. Listen, Tyr, I really appreciate you protecting me and saving my life,” I said, making him grin.

“You are welcome, for it became my vow and I will continue to do so.”

“Great, thank you, that’s erm, nice of you.”

He winked, making me shake my head to get myself back on track.

“The thing is, you’re a nice guy and all, but I am not interested.”

“Excuse me?” he asked, clearly surprised because obviously his ego hadn’t expected this.

“Being as honest as I can be, it’s not you, it’s me,” I said, and I swear it was like this was the first time he had ever heard these words uttered from a girl… and well, to look at him, I couldn’t say I was all that surprised.

“I’m afraid I am not following.”