Page 18

Chapter eleven

I hurriedly dressed in warm clothes and a large pelt that I had previously made into a cloak. Grabbing a spare pelt, I handed it to Nickolai, who tied it over his broad shoulders. It was small on him, but it worked to give him warmth while not touching his wounds.

The snow had thankfully stopped falling, leaving behind a white canvas with small touches of green from the underside of the trees.

We walked peacefully around the cottage while I checked each snare.

Only catching each other staring a few times.

The pull between us was almost magnetic.

I lost myself in my thoughts of what would happen once he was fully healed.

Other than our names and the admittance that we had a connection, we hardly knew anything about each other.

There was a muffled voice inside me trying to warn me of the heartbreak that this was likely to end in. Yet, with each glance or brush of our knuckles as we walked, that voice quieted.

Too distracted by my inner turmoil, I quit paying attention to the terrain around me and tripped on a root that only barely stuck out of the ground.

Instinctively, my hands shot out before me to catch the impact of the fall, but the weightlessness was stopped as Nickolai caught me with his forearm around my waist.

He helped me stand upright once more, fixing a lock of my hair back behind my ear. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, thank you,” I said, breathless, looking up at him through my lashes. His face studied mine, with the action feeling too endearing for my heart to handle. “We should get back soon. I’m starting to not be able to feel my toes.”

It wasn’t necessarily a lie, but it was an excuse.

“Need me to carry you?” he joked, but his face looked hopeful that I would say yes.

“Maybe another time,” I countered, the corner of my mouth lifting in a small grin.

We circled back toward the cabin—this time picking up my feet better so as not to trip again. I have always been a clumsy person, except for when I fight. Hugh tried to train me out of it, but I only succeeded in moving in smooth, quick movements when a sword was in my hands.

Back at the cabin, the bread was finished baking, and soon the flavors were mixing together in my mouth, making me moan at the beautiful blend.

I opened my eyes to find Nickolai staring at me, mouth gaping in anticipation of the bread that had yet to make it to his lips.

My eyes dropped to the table, feeling the heat rising from the base of my neck.

I swallowed. “This is really good.”

He cleared his throat, finally putting the bread in his mouth and my gaze became trapped, watching each muscle within his jaw move as he chewed.

We quickly finished the bread, leaving our bellies well and truly satisfied.

As I swallowed my last bite, Nickolai broke the silence, “So you said you were held captive, how did you escape?” His forwardness made me flinch, which he corrected as soon as he noticed.

“I’m sorry, I have a tendency to abruptly ask questions without thinking them through. I can ask something else — ”

I cut him off, “No, it’s okay.” I began messing with my nails, blowing out a breath before continuing, “I was captured by this group as an infant, and one of the men there took care of me and practically raised me. He. . . he helped me.” I took a deep breath to settle the feeling that the memory brought forth, “We were ambushed during our escape, and while I fought one, he became cornered and was stabbed with a steel blade.”

Nickolai winced.

“We killed those men, but Hugh was too gravely wounded, and since he couldn’t heal. . .” I cleared my throat, “he gave me his sword and told me to run.” I finished—tapping the sheathed blade at my hip.

He tilted his head. “May I look at it?”

I pulled out Airmathair and handed it to him, his eyes widening as he took in the rare Damascus steel. “Wow, this is beautiful. . . Was he related to a royal?” he asked, eyebrows coming together as his eyes met mine.

“I don’t think so. He might have taken it from someone,” I shrugged.

Handing the sword back, “He is lucky to have come across something so rare. I haven’t seen one like that since the war.”

War? That was over five centuries ago. The realization that I was sitting across from an immortal fae hit me, now more than ever before.

But surprisingly, it didn’t change the way I looked at him.

Except now I wondered how a five-hundred-plus-year-old fae had nearly gotten himself killed by a beast.

“My turn for a question,” I said, letting a playful mood replace the sadness that had returned at the discussion of Hugh. He waved his hands, allowing me to proceed, “Why were you fighting that beast?”

Nickolai rubbed at the back of his neck, hesitating before finally admitting, “I got into a fight with my father and thought it would be a good idea to go on a hunt for a few days to clear my head. I’m not too sure what happened, but somehow the bear nicked me.”

I chuckled, “Nicked you?”

His face split into a wide smile, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “Allow me to keep some of my dignity, please.” A full-body laugh took hold of me, which widened his smile as he stared.

I finally collected myself, but I was left with a large smile of my own to match his. “I haven’t laughed in years, and you have me laughing twice in one day,” I admitted.

His hand found my cheek. “I hope to make you laugh more. It’s a sound I may very well be addicted to already.”

—

After we reached the wall that protected the city, it was only a few hours before we arrived at a river that was almost wide enough to sail a ship through. The water was softly flowing to the east, in the direction of the border with Arklas, reflecting the sky and sun off the surface.

We traveled along it until we found a bridge, which luckily wasn’t far off, going in teams of two to cross since it was still made of wood.

Not long after that we found a clearing at what seemed to be the edge of where the trees transitioned from being a combination of pine, cedar, and elm to giant sequoias.

My legs nearly gave out as I climbed off of Blue for the first time since we left this morning. Rita was fortunately next to me and was able to place a steadying hand on my arm.

I gave her a partial smile, “Thanks.” She didn’t say anything in response, only nodded.

Once the muscles in my legs stopped shaking, we got to work setting up camp.

Between Loughlan and Calin, the tents were set up in no time, each one apparently enchanted to be larger on the inside with all the luxurious amenities one could need.

I found myself thinking about what I would’ve given to have had such a thing when I was younger.

Nickolai caught the look on my face as I stepped out of my tent. “These are a new invention to try to make traveling more comfortable.”

“They could still make the lives of those who are without a home now more comfortable,” I retorted, with an attitude finding my tone once more.

He thought about what I said for a moment, and the complete seriousness of a leader took over him, “When we get back, you should present a plan to me on how to better help those who are struggling.”

His words shocked me, but I tried not to let it show. Part of me knew that he was just saying it to get back in my good graces, which had the other part of me wondering to what extent he was willing to go to.

“I’ll think about it,” I conceded, walking away from him and the camp to scout for any tracks or signs of monsters.

Hurried footsteps and rattling armor followed me, and I turned to find Nessy trying to catch up.

She wore dark green clothing under black armor with little silver metal leaves lying over the smooth curves of the plate that covered her from chest to navel.

Matching armor pieces were attached to her shoulders, which her hair swept across as she came to a stop.

“Hey—we shouldn’t leave on our own,” she said, not at all out of breath from the run, even with the fifteen pounds of metal weighing her down.

I looked down at my feet, answering, “You’re probably right, I’m just used to roaming these forests alone.”Plus it didn't help that every time I was around Nickolai he made me be completely reckless.

She nodded in understanding, “You lived in the forest for a long time then, huh?”

“A little over five years. I found the cottage while out foraging for some food a few weeks before I turned eighteen. At the time, I was still sneaking into barns at night for shelter and warmth, but when I got caught, I had no other place to go.”

I’d never shared so much about myself in all my life, but between Nessy, Loughlan, and Ysabel, I was starting to feel a sense of family.

Their warm and humorous personalities immediately clung to me, and I could feel the cage I had locked myself in starting to open.

Bringing with it a fear that the dam I have built inside me will soon break.

“Is that when you met my brother?”

I knew it was a question that was eating away at her. “No, that wasn’t until months later. But if you don’t mind—I would like to not talk about that.”

“Sure,” she said while helping me over one of the large trees that laid across our path.

Changing the subject, I stated, “I’ve never heard of a woman becoming the commander of the royal army.” While women weren’t usually looked down on, that was a position that was still typically reserved for men.

She chuckled, “That actually has to do with my seals.”

“Seals? Plural?”

She nodded, “Those of royal blood receive two seals.” I wondered if she would finally tell me what they were, but she answered my question before I could voice it and held up her hand in front of us as we continued to walk.

Flame danced above her hand, changing shapes from a bow that she shot an arrow from, to a bird that she sent flying around a tree.

It was effortless, like drinking a glass of water on a warm summer's day.

The familiar smell of magic filled my nose—the false scent of rain nearly ensnaring my senses as I watched.

Her eyes lit with joy and were the same color as the flame as she watched her creation dance in the air.

“Fire is the strongest element seal, but it comes at a cost, making me more hot-headed and warm-blooded. I’ve had to learn over time how to manage that side of myself and release the built-up anger in battle instead of at my friends.

” She blew out a sigh, as if the admittance took a toll on her as well.

“And while that is a good power for a commander, my other seal is what solidified my place even more. I have the ability to sense the location of other beings, like my enemies—which is why I’m surprised I couldn’t sense these beasts. ”

“Even if you did know, it’s hard to get others to listen. I have been trying for months and was only believed when someone lost their loved one.” I couldn’t stop the sadness that slipped over me as the image of Rexina, after hearing the news about Silvia, played in my mind.

Nessy gave me a worried look, “I’m sorry for all you have had to go through. Whenever you need to talk about it—”

“I appreciate it.”

We continued our patrol of the perimeter, only finding tracks appeared to be from a bear before heading back to the camp.

Upon arrival, we found out that Nickolai and Calin went to do a perimeter check as well, leaving Loughlan and Rita to prepare the fire and food.

Nessy pitched in while I retrieved some of the glass bottles and string I’d packed.

As I worked to tie the string securely around the last bottle, Loughlan appeared next to me—the smell of smoke following him from the fire. “Need any help?” he asked, his voice gravelly.

“I might need some help hanging them up.”

“Are we decorating the camp now?”

I rolled my eyes, stating, “It’s an alarm system. These will clink together from the constant slight breeze of the forest. But if the stilling presence of one of the beasts is near, they will stop.”

“Good thinking,” he said, taking some of the bottles and following me to the spot I picked out for them.

We hung the bottles on the low hanging branches, and I added, “I also have more string to use as a tripwire around the perimeter with loud metal to warn us of any wild animals that decide to visit.”

“You came prepared,” he smirked at me with a sideways glance.

Shrugging, I admitted, “I would prefer not to die at the teeth of these beasts.”

“Don’t worry, we've camped in the forest before.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell him that this forest wasn’t the same as it used to be. I couldn’t allow him to be filled with fear as well. Although I doubt that if I told him he would be as fearful as he should be.

By the time we finished setting up all the alarm systems, the sun began to set and everyone had returned to eat around the fire.

We each had a bowl of Rita’s homemade soup and some fresh bread from the castle.

No one said much as we stuffed our faces with the liquid.

I kept my eyes either scanning the darkening area around us or on my food, trying to ignore the stares from Nickolai.

He was going to infuriate me if this entire trip was spent with him staring at me.

We finished eating, and it was decided that Calin and Nessy would keep watch over the tents and horses overnight.

As they prepared for a long night, the rest of us went into our tents.

The sounds of the glass bottles clinking and the fire crackling, filled the air with a lullaby.

I laid down on the large bed inside the tent, still fully dressed with my new dagger in hand.

It was a struggle, but eventually, sleep came to me.