Page 54 of Dance of Kings and Thieves

To his obvious discontent, his growl did not have the same impact on me as it did on those he tormented.

I laughed. “And I likely will fall again in my lifetime.”

I gripped the back of a chair, finding my balance on my feet, and met his gaze. Eyes black, he looked practically murderous. I loved him for it. The man had hardly left my side in four days, but I knew where the nerves came from. In the places deep in his heart that belonged to me, in the irrational fears only I understood.

He was this way because he loved me, because he feared losing me. He was this way because too many times we’d faced the notion of being ripped away from each other. If it were him struggling to find his footing, I would not be more than two paces away either.

“Ready to catch me?” I tried to make light of it, but Kase only frowned.

“Always.”

I released the chair. The muscles in my legs behaved as if they were made of damp clay. A bit of substance, but hardly any strength when pressure was applied. The tingle of numbness shot up to my hip when I took a slow, tiny step.

“Mal.” Nerves broke through Kase’s voice.

I held up my hand. “I’m fine. It feels strange is all.”

Kase dragged his fingers through his hair. He was a killer and a thief, but if he’d not been born the Nightrender, he would make a skilled Mediski. Attentive, able to predict needs before I knew them.

He’d helped Hagen and Bard brace me as I tried to stand the day after the warding elixir poisoned my blood. He’d made me laugh when I cried from the strange sparks of pain shooting up my spine as feeling returned.

But our time of occupying the Vill homestead in peace was coming to an end. Already the Kryv and warriors had captured five skydguard coming to check on the welfare of their two brothers who never showed to their posts.

More skyds would come. Soon word would fall to Ivar or Niall, and we would be cornered.

Ineededto move.

In this moment, I’d become the invalid of our war, and I detested every moment of it.

For days I’d worn nothing but a nightdress we found in one of the chests in the longhouse. Kase had spent countless clock tolls rubbing my limbs, helping me sit and stand only to fall back into his arms time and again.

Finally, I had a bit of energy and managed to slip on some cutoff trousers, braid my hair over my shoulder, and attempt to walk.

Niklas had spent the days sewing in herbs on the underside of everyone’s arm. A concoction that would protect us all from poisons like the wards against memory mesmer. Small, but it felt like a bit of armor that eased a bit of our worries.

I looked like I was withering to bones, and Kase looked like a bleeding warrior. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his tunic, revealing his delightfully toned arms. Tousled hair, a bit of scruff on his chin, his thick black belt around his waist with knives and daggers at the ready.

I gave him a coy smile. “You are a delightful motivation, Nightrender. You look rather handsome this morning, and I would very much like to devour you.”

“Stop distracting me. I know what you’re doing, and it isn’t going to get my mind off this moment.” He said the words, but the new green in his eyes sparked with a bit of warmth.

“You don’t want me to devour you?”

“Malin,” he warned. “We’re walking right now. Conquer that, then I promise you, these hands will spread those beautiful legs, and my tongue will show you what it means to devour another.”

All gods.

I blinked for a moment, not realizing I’d taken another step.

“Oh! You’re doing it!” Herja stepped into the longhouse with Elise and a tray of chopped roots and vegetables.

Elise beamed as I turned around without stumbling.

My cheeks heated under their scrutiny. “It’s coming. Let me try to take that.”

“Malin.” Kase came to my side, exasperated.

I swatted my hand in the air, waving him off. “Ignore him. He’s grown too fond of carrying me everywhere.”