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Calysian shrugs one shoulder, wrapping the arrow entirely in his tunic as he moves toward the horses.

“We’ll see if they can still weaken me with this once I have my grimoire.”

Madinia

We travel through the disputed territory for three days. The evidence of death and pain is everywhere—from the destroyed, abandoned villages, to the children who stare at us as we ride by, eyes hollow, limbs thin.

We grab a few hours of sleep each night, both of us committed to closing the distance between us and Kyldare’s soldiers.

“I want to renegotiate,” I say on the third day, after we’ve passed through a village where only the dead remain, corpses picked clean by the animals. Eamonn disappeared yesterday, but Calysian doesn’t seem at all worried. Apparently, he comes and goes as he pleases.

Calysian shifts in the saddle. “And what is it you want, beautiful woman?”

Something about his tone sparks a memory. My mind twists.

Calysian leads me through the slums, his expression relaxed, even as his eyes scan the streets relentlessly.

By the time we arrive at the abandoned building, smoke is curling from my hands. Calysian sends me an amused look. “Scared?”

I ignore him, but he nods anyway. “That’s good. Only an idiot wouldn’t be scared. You’re smarter than you’ve demonstrated so far.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You shouldn’t have come here alone. I could have killed you nine times already.”

My hands fire. “Try.”

His eyes glitter. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To be able to kill something? Or for someone to finally kill you and put you out of your misery?”

My spine tingles with fury. “You don’t know me.”

“I’ve seen everything I need to know.”

It doesn’t sound like a compliment.

“You believe you’re invulnerable,” Calysian murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “So, go on. Wander into that building alone.”

I shrug, stalking toward the dilapidated excuse for a door. My heart may be thundering in my chest, but I’ll never allow this bastard to see it.

It’s a test—only I’m not sure if he wants to see if I’m a coward or to prove I’m reckless. Either way, I’m going into that building. Hesitating will simply make this take longer or confirm to whoever is watching me from inside that I’m afraid.

Only idiots allow predators to see their terror.

Calysian lets out a choked laugh behind me. “Gods, woman. Do you have no fear?”

I glance over my shoulder. “Yes. I fear that you’ll continue to draw this interaction out even longer. Leave.”

His expression turns flat. “The debt has not been satisfied.”

“It has.”

“Weren’t you listening? I decide. One day, I will find you, Madinia Farrow. When you’re ready to be the woman I think you are.”

Cold fury slides through my veins. “If I see you again, you’ll regret it.”

He chuckles “Likely, I will. But I’ll still find you.” Turning, he strolls away.

“Madinia.” My horse pulls to a stop, and I slowly meet his gaze. He’s holding my reins, his expression tight. “What is it?”