Page 26

Chapter

Twenty-Five

T he following week, a fierce storm raged through Asker, and Lessia wasn’t able to go outside to gather wood, didn’t have the energy to wade through the thick snow swirling outside the door.

The ache in her stomach and the cloudiness in her mind grew every day, even with the small sips of liquor she allowed herself to try to dull them.

Venko and Craven mostly stayed in their rooms, the latter looking older and frailer every time she glimpsed him. Loche came down once in a while but didn’t bother speaking to her, and while she knew she needed to try to get closer to him, she didn’t have the energy for that either.

But today, the sun finally broke through the clouds, and as Lessia pushed the door open, the snow before the cabin sparkled where the rays hit it through the trees. Forcing herself to take a shaky step outside, she made her way to the closest copse of trees.

Her hands trembled as she pulled the dagger out and slipped off her cloak to lay it on the ground. Black spots filled her vision as she crouched, and when she reached for the first branch, she could barely grip it.

Settling onto her knees, she swore quietly and started sawing at it, every movement causing jabs of pain to radiate through her arm, her vision blurring further as dizziness consumed her.

“So even halflings are affected by starvation. I thought you were immortal.”

Slowly lifting her eyes, she met Craven’s brown gaze.

“We are, but not if we don’t eat,” she mumbled. “Do you need anything?”

Even though he was a bastard, she’d been taught to respect her elders, and Craven looked about ready to drop dead this very moment, his wrinkled skin pale and eyes watery.

He sneered at her. “The only thing I need is for you to leave. You’re not welcome here. I suggest you blow that horn and get that Fae soldier of yours to take you home. Preferably back to Vastala.”

Gripping her dagger tighter, she shook her head. “I can’t do that. I have the same right as you to be here, and I’m not leaving. Besides, Ellow is my home.”

Craven took a step closer. “I won’t tell you again, halfling. Leave.”

Rising to her feet, swaying slightly when blood rushed from her head, she narrowed her eyes. “Or what, Craven?”

Taking another step closer, he lowered his voice. “I might be old, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

He reached within his dark purple robes and pulled out twin daggers, flicking them in his hands. “Leave now, and I won’t have to do this. But be sure I will if you don’t. I love Ellow, and I won’t let trash like you try to ruin it. ”

Backing up a step, she lifted her own dagger. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Craven laughed quietly. “You don’t even know how to use that. You’re holding it completely wrong. You’ll only harm yourself, halfling.”

A warning growl left her throat when he stepped into her space. “Back off, Craven. I won’t tell you again.”

“You can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Before she understood what was happening, she slammed into the hard snow, with Craven’s surprisingly strong legs pinning her arms down, those daggers pressed against her throat.

Snarling, she glared at him as he offered her a vicious smile. “You’re no better than a wild animal. Look at those canines of yours.”

She’d need to use her magic.

Lessia closed her eyes, beginning to draw it up, when a loud thud sounded behind them.

Whipping his head around, Craven swore, and soon crunching footsteps followed. Quickly repressing the magic now glinting in her eyes, she remained still as Venko and Loche appeared, her breathing shallow as she tried to stop the magic from surfacing.

“It seems we weren’t informed we were to roll around in the snow today.” Loche’s dark hair was stark against the snow around him as he tilted his head and eyed them.

Craven growled, and the sharp blades of the daggers dug harder into her skin. The smell of iron reached her nostrils as warm blood began trickling down her neck.

“This was probably not your brightest idea, old man.” Loche’s eyes followed the blood she was sure started to stain the snow.

“You don’t want her here either. It’s not like she’ll win. Let’s get rid of her together. No one needs to know,” Craven spat.

With a snarl, she tried to shift him off but only succeeded in getting one of the daggers to jab into her shoulder.

Lessia bit her cheek not to cry out at the pain.

She refused to give him that satisfaction—would die quietly if it came to that.

“If you’re not scared of her winning, why are you trying to cut her head off?” Loche brushed some snow off his tunic, a bored expression on his face, but when his eyes flicked to hers, a dangerous flame burned in them.

“Because it’s not right,” Craven bellowed. “She is a disgrace to this election. She is Fae, for gods’ sake.”

“And you’ll be thrown out right after you finish this,” Venko said quietly, his gaze warily flitting between her and Craven. “Think about what you’re doing. It’s not worth it.”

“You’d take her side? You’re as bad as she is. You all disgust me.” Craven turned around to glare at the two men, and she didn’t hesitate when his weight shifted.

Throwing her arms up, she pushed him and scrambled away when he fell onto the snow. She used a branch to get to her feet, then bent down to clutch the dagger that had fallen out of her hand.

When Craven stumbled to his feet, she stalked up to him and pulled at his stupid robe to get his face close to hers.

“If you ever try that again, I will kill you.” Her lips curled back to show the canines he’d mocked.

“I’ll rip your throat out with these, make sure no more vile words can ever leave that wrinkled old mouth of yours. ”

He started to respond, but when she slapped him with everything in her, he lunged instead, only to grasp air as she’d anticipated, nearly falling when she jumped to the side .

A chuckle sounded before her, and she switched her glare to Loche.

A soft growl left her mouth when one corner of his mouth quirked up, gray eyes flickering with amusement.

“I am going inside. If any of you bother me again, I promise you… you will regret it.”

With that, she stalked back to the house.