Page 49 of Of Nightmares & Fire (Elusive Umbra #1)
“Take the food. Get outta here before ya find even more trouble.” Mortala claps her hands in my face, shoving a plate of fruit, cheese, and bread into my hands.
Confusion puckers at my mind as I blink out of my panic and at the multiple sets of eyes staring back at me.
Whispers hidden behind hands and looks of judgment skating over my body.
I look down at my lack of regular clothes, and heat explodes across my skin as my fingers wrap around the edges of the plate.
The man in front of me leans back, his arm slung over the back of the chair.
“Aw, come on, Mortala. Can’t you see we were getting to know each other? Someone this pretty doesn't need to be traveling alone… I just wanted—”
“I'm not.” I cut in. “Thank you for your concern, but I need to get going.”
I don’t thank the cranky old woman. Nor do I try to make eye contact with anyone else who witnessed any of the conversation with the man or Mortala shooing me out like vermin.
With my chin tucked low, I try to hurry from the tavern and make my way back into the room where Kyros sleeps.
Before I make it to the hall, though, a hand wraps around my arm, stopping me.
“Careful out there, sweetheart. You don't know what kinds of monsters lie in waiting out in the desert.” Karnnen says wickedly, as his eyes trail the length of my body and then linger on my lips. I tug my arm from his grip and pin him with an incredulous look.
“Thank you for your concern, but the monsters I travel with are far more intimidating than anything that could be lurking out there. I can promise you that,” I say with vexation bleeding into my tone.
He narrows his eyes on me, a silent smirk lifting the corner of his mouth, before I turn on my heel and storm away from him.
I’m not sure if Karnnen says anything else; my pulse is too loud in my ears to hear anything else.
I don’t know what time it is or how long I was in the dining room, but as I burst through the door of our bedchamber, Kyros hurls himself from the bed.
Shadows leaping from his skin and coiling around his arms like whips at the ready.
“What is it?” He says, eyes wild and red.
“Are you ok?” I nod but am unable to speak through my nerves.
He takes the plate of food, discarding it to the side, and with nothing left in my hands, they tremble as they drop to my sides.
I can’t steady my rampant heart. His hands press against either side of my face, the warmth matching the fire in my veins.
My eyes flick between his and his drawn brow, the stern press of his lips.
My hands cover his as I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
“Did something happen?” He asks after a moment of silence.
“I—I don’t know.” I open my eyes, and his thumbs score lines over my cheeks.
“We need to keep moving. I’m sorry I fell asleep.” He looks over to the window and how the sun is beginning its descent in the sky. “We can leave at nightfall.”
“You needed rest too. I’m fine, really,” I say, pressing my lips together and trying to shrug out from under his intense gaze.
He allows it, and I pull open the armoire and take out one of the tunics and breeches.
When I turn back toward Kyros, he is still intently studying me; I let out a shaky breath.
“I’m fine.” I say it again, and even I can’t tell if I am trying to convince him or myself that it is true.
“Tell me.” He doesn’t relent.
“It was just a strange conversation,” I say, and he closes the distance between us.
“Conversation?” He asks sharply.
“There was a man; he was very interested in who I was and where I was going. He gave me the creeps.” I admit, confused as Kyros gets up, shoving things into a canvas bag.
He pulls a tunic over his head, tying his long hair back away from his face, and continues to storm around the room.
“Kyros.” I say his name, and he doesn’t even look at me.
“I’m sure it was nothing.” I finally say, and he stops, slowly turning toward me.
“Why were you so upset?”
“I don’t know; he seemed so familiar, but I don’t know if it was what he said just as I was leaving that made me feel like he was warning me.
I’m sure it was nothing. I’m just on edge, I suppose, plus a little embarrassed.
” I gesture to the nightdress I’m wearing.
Kyros puts his hand out between us, and I place mine in his.
Even as I do, the man’s voice echoes through my mind.
“You don’t know what kinds of monsters lie in waiting out in the desert.
” I repeat the words the man said, and heat fills my body as he pulls me to my feet, wrapping one arm around my back as he pulls me into him.
“You will trust me to keep you safe?” He asks, and I agree as he tucks my hair behind my ear.
“As sunset falls, we will be leaving. I’ll go get your clothes from Mortala.
Don’t leave this room.” He says firmly. Honestly, even though this place is incredibly beautiful, I am ready to move on.
I need to see Cole with my own two eyes, and I need to decide if I will be running away with her or choosing to stay and join Queen Phaedra of Diemos against my father and what would be the end of his tyranny.
“I’ll be right back.” Kyros growls, his fingers tangling into the back of my hair as he tilts my head back so I am forced to look at him. “Stay. Fucking. Put.”