Page 220 of The Chains You Defy

“They left. Good for them. Disposing of loyal allies would have been painful, even for me.”

“Dion.”

“Did you slap my shoulder?”

“How could I not, when you’re spouting stupid nonsense?”

Dion’s chest vibrated, but the growl was accompanied by a playful twinkle in his eyes, and I laughed.

“But seriously, didn’t we plan to have a conversation with them?”

“I heard everything I needed to hear.”

“Ireas’ confirmation that I’m fine?”

“Yes.”

“So, where are we going from here?” Just the thought of traveling somewhere, anywhere, made me feel sick.

“Oh, that was never up for discussion. We’re leaving for Seascann in Tocsaineach as soon as the others finally remember who’s the authority around here.”

“Why?”

“The Seadan is mostly found in the swampy areas, so the Ainmhi have some experience with the treatment, according to Ireas.”

“We have more important things to do than that.”

“No.”

“Dion, I mean it.”

“No.”

“Overbearing fae brute.”

“Love you, Nayana.”

That shut me up faster than any ordered silence could have done, and instead of a reply, I nuzzled my face into his chest.

“I’m tired,” I mumbled, and as Dion’s arms tightened around me, a contented sigh slipped from my lips.

He might be annoying when he used his one-word answers and overwhelmed me with his constant confessions, but his embrace never failed to calm me with its promise of safety.

As I drifted off, his breath tickled the shell of my ear, and his voice was a mere whisper.

“And that’s why I have to convince the Ainmhi to treat you. I need you to survive. Nayana, I simply need you.”

My feet scuffed over the floor as I paced up and down the camp, my head angled to the gathering of trees around the small stream behind the greenery. Only when the compulsion to account for all my fellow soldiers overtook me did I grant myself an interruption in my attention.

If I caught one of them peeping, I’d gouge their eyes out, feed the offending parts to them before ending their life. Resorting to a minimum of torture despite the seriousness of the crime would be enough to express my gratitude for theirprolonged camaraderie.

For the hundredth time, I made an inventory of the situation.

Nayana was bathing. In the stream. Alone.

When I’d voiced the demand to accompany her—she was infected by a deadly parasite and dependent on my energy, godsdammit—she simply scoffed and left me standing.

This stubborn woman would be my undoing—quite literally.