Page 8

Chapter

Five

EZABELL

T he campfire was a small circle of light in the otherwise pitch-black forest.

“Do you think this is safe?” I asked, looking around from my perch on a fallen log. Helios hovered beside me, his body casting an echo of the fire’s light.

Nikolas looked up from turning one of the rabbits he roasted over the flames. He occupied the log directly across from me. Dain sat on a third log to my right.

“It’s safe,” Dain rumbled.

Nikolas offered me a reassuring look. “If you’re worried about the villagers, don’t be. They’re not the type to wander far from their homes.”

He had a point. We’d walked for close to an hour before he and Dain declared the campsite “a good spot.” Dain had gathered firewood while Nikolas hunted.

The latter had returned with a self-satisfied smile and half a dozen rabbits, which he skinned with deft movements.

While I was still marveling at how quickly he’d caught our dinner, he pulled a handful of herbs from his pocket and crushed them between his fingers.

“Got lucky in the woods,” he’d said with a wink.

The fragrant smell of herbs—and the memory of that wink—reached me now, setting my mouth watering.

Tearing my gaze from Nikolas’s, I gripped the log.

Pain shot through my palm, and I glanced at the scrape I’d earned as I ran from the villagers.

The bleeding had stopped, but the wound hadn’t closed.

Maybe I’d heal as slowly as a human now that I was without my magic.

It was another complication I didn’t need. Another risk.

Nikolas plucked the roasted rabbit from the fire, set it on a nearby rock, and placed a second rabbit over the flames. Standing, he tore a thigh from the first rabbit and extended it to me.

“Careful,” he said, “it’s hot.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, blowing at the steam that drifted from the meat.

Nikolas offered Helios a portion of rabbit. “Ladies and sunsprites first,” he said, lazy smile in place.

Helios made a face. “I eat sunlight.”

“Of course,” Nikolas said, resuming his seat. He scooped the rest of the rabbit from the rock and tossed it to Dain, who caught it easily. “One or two?” Nikolas asked him.

Dain paused in the act of lifting the whole rabbit to his mouth. “Two.”

“I thought so.” Nikolas smiled at me across the fire. He went back to turning the spit. “Takes a lot to keep these big boys fed.”

My cheeks heated. Which was ridiculous. There was nothing suggestive about his comment. Dain was big. Of course it took a lot to satisfy his appetite.

Ducking my head, I bit into my rabbit.

“Good?” Nikolas asked.

Helios huffed. “She hasn’t even chewed it yet.”

“It’s great,” I mumbled around a mouthful of cooked meat. As I swallowed, I realize it was true. The rabbit was tender and flavorful, the minty herbs a perfect complement to the smoky meat. My stomach rumbled, and I took another bite.

Nikolas beamed at me. Helios made a low, disgruntled sound. He hadn’t stopped giving me sidelong looks since I decided to spend the night in Saldu Kuum. If he had his way, we’d be safely ensconced in Ishulum, my magic intact and Nikolas and Dain nothing but memories.

But I couldn’t deny the pull I felt around Dain. When I’d attempted to walk away earlier, the Dokimasi had yanked me back like I was a puppet on a string. The insistent tugging only settled down when I was near Dain.

Helios hated it. What if they discover who you are? he’d demanded, flames shooting from the top of his head.

They wouldn’t. I’d withheld my name as long as I could. But the men would have grown suspicious if I insisted on remaining anonymous. The shortened version of my real name was a good compromise. It concealed my true identity without risking that I’d fail to respond when the men used it.

“So, Bel,” Nikolas said, turning the spit. “Are you looking for a family heirloom or something?”

I swallowed hastily. “No. Not really.”

Helios turned his head and stared at me.

Nikolas and Dain gazed at me, the fire crackling between us. Nikolas pulled the second rabbit from the fire.

“No?” he repeated, his tone casual as he worked. He glanced up, his brown eyes crinkled at the corners. “Or not really?”

“Just no,” I said, my voice sharper than I’d intended. My palm stung, and I wiped my hand on a fold of my cloak.

Nikolas smiled, seemingly unbothered by my tone. “Dain and I can help you find it.” He looked at the larger man. “Can’t we, Dain?”

Dain tore a hearty strip of meat from a bone.

Firelight danced in his blue eyes and gilded his blond hair.

He’d tucked the errant strands behind his ears.

The rest remained in its knot, which was secured with a strip of leather.

Loose, his hair probably fell past his shoulders.

But maybe it was even longer, the golden strands descending all the way to his?—

I jerked my head down, my heart pounding faster. I had no business wondering about Dain Zostas’s hair.

“Sure,” he said, jerking my gaze back to him. Eyes on me, he sucked the last of the meat from a bone and then tossed it over his shoulder. My heart thumped harder as he braced his elbows on his spread knees and studied me. “As I said before, it would help to know what we’re looking for.”

My palm twinged. Curling my fingers over the wound, I cleared my throat. “So…what were you two doing in these woods? Are you from around here?”

The men exchanged a look, and some kind of silent communication flowed between them. Nikolas turned to me, the amused glint in his eyes telling me he and Dain had decided not to mention my clumsy change of subject.

“We’re from Saldu,” he said in his smooth voice. “If you’re unfamiliar with Andulum, it’s the capital city of Saldu Kuum.”

Helios snorted softly. “We’re well-acquainted with your human kingdoms.” He shoved his spectacles higher on his nose. “And your lack of originality when it comes to naming your cities.”

Nikolas tossed another rabbit to Dain before turning his smile on Helios. “Big fan of human geography, are you?”

Helios crossed his arms. “Hardly.”

Nikolas grinned, and a dimple appeared in his cheek. He was more traditionally handsome than Dain with his tan skin and dark eyes that gleamed in the firelight. His lashes were long and thick, and dark stubble shadowed his jaw.

I squeezed my hands together in my lap. Pain shot through my palm, and I barely smothered a yelp.

“You’re hurt,” Dain said suddenly, his eyes on my lap.

I sat up straighter. “It’s nothing.”

He frowned, clearly unconvinced. “I saw you scrape your hand earlier.” He looked up, his blue eyes locking with mine. “I have a little healing magic. I can take a look.”

Before I could decline, he moved to my side and took my hand. The moment his skin brushed mine, heat shot up my arm. As he turned my wrist, a bright golden light flickered in the scant space between us.

This time, my yelp escaped, and I yanked my hand away. “Did you see that?” I gasped, meeting Dain’s gaze.

He nodded, his expression equal parts shocked and perplexed. “Felt it, too.”

“What?” Helios demanded, hovering at my shoulder.

Nikolas stood slowly, and he cast a curious look between me and Dain. “Magic.”

My heart pounded so hard I wondered if the men could hear it.

If I’d harbored any doubts, the golden light erased them.

I had no idea how or why, but Dain Zostas was part of the Dokimasi.

If I wanted to find the sunstone, I had to remain with him.

And since Nikolas refused to leave his side, I was stuck with Nikolas too.

“May I?” Dain asked, gesturing to my hand.

Swallowing, I put my fingers in his. The light didn’t spark again, but heat blossomed in my chest. He darted a look up at me, and it was obvious he felt the same.

But he lowered his head and traced a fingertip down the center of my hand.

He closed his eyes, his lashes thick and golden on his cheeks.

Heat suffused my palm, and my heart fluttered.

Just as the sensation grew too hot, Dain released me.

“There,” he said softly.

I studied my palm, where only a faint pink line marred my skin. When I looked up, Dain watched me with steady blue eyes.

“Thank you,” I rasped.

“Any time.”

Silence stretched, even the fire’s crackle more muted than before. Eventually, Nikolas stirred.

“There’s a river not far from here,” he said. “I found it when I was hunting.” He looked at me. “I’ll take you there if you’d like to freshen up.”

My bladder chose that moment to remind me I most definitely needed running water and privacy. “All right,” I said, standing.

“I’m going too,” Helios announced, his tone leaving zero room for argument.

Moments later, I gasped with delight at the wide ribbon of water cutting through the forest. Trees rose on either side, offering privacy. Away from the campfire’s light, a crescent moon cast a silver glow over the water.

Nikolas offered me a respectful nod. “I’ll wait back at camp.” He caught Helios’s eye. “You’ll stand guard?”

Helios bobbed in place. “Yes, and far better than you could.”

Nikolas’s jaw tightened, but he merely touched his fingertips to his brow before disappearing into the trees.

I looked at Helios. “You haven’t been very nice.”

He shot toward me. “Are you serious?” Embers sifted from his arm as he stabbed a finger in the direction Nikolas had gone. “Those men are criminals .”

“They said they were framed.”

Helios made a choking sound. “Which is exactly what two hardened criminals would say.”

I gazed toward the camp. “I’m not sure about hardened …”

Helios groaned. “Ezabell, you can’t be serious about staying in Andulum. It’s absolutely full of humans.”