He dropped his hand and turned her around to face him. “Once they are distracted, get them on their knees. I believe youhave already proven you can successfully do that.” He smirked, then gently held her manacled wrists in his hands.
Her wrist still throbbed, but the adrenaline racing through her blood dulled the pain. They were frighteningly close, her chest shuddering with each breath. She could smell pine and wood smoke from his skin, could feel the warmth of his body against hers, could hear the thundering of his heart matching hers beat for beat. The entire forest blurred around her. She was hopelessly adrift in the essence of the bounty hunter.
“Now you can use the chains or your arms to choke them out from behind.” His hands lingered on her wrists. “Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered, afraid if she spoke any louder, the forest floor might collapse beneath her.
“You are stronger than your bonds. Use that strength. Never hesitate. Your opponent will not offer you the same mercy.”
Then Draven released his hands and stepped backward. A rush of cool air passed between them, cutting through the tension. Astraia was not sure if she wanted to sigh in relief or scream in frustration.
“May I?” He gestured toward the chain around her neck, holding the key to the manacles.
She nodded, remaining motionless as he reached for the chain. The tenderness of his fingers skimming over her exposed skin above her chest made her breath hitch. Time slowed—and there was no bond to blame. Just the slightest touch of his hand made her skin sing, her head spin, and her heart open a little more.
The chain came over her head and passed through her dark hair. She heard a soft click, and the manacles gave way. Emotions burst into her mind, pounding against every corner until spots danced before her eyes. Blinking, she watched asDraven tucked the key under his tunic and stored the shackles in his saddlebag once again.
“You should rest and heal. I’ll start a fire,” he said, walking away from her toward the stream without a second glance.
Sacrifice bloomed in her core and coolness wrapped around her wrist, the broken bones sliding into their proper place. At that moment, Astraia realized there was, in fact, something more dangerous than manacles. More consuming than her bonds.
And it had captured her with golden pools of amber.
Chapter 17
Gold. Gold conquers. Gold topples nations. Gold brings about ruin. Gold forces Kings to their knees. Gold once glittered in the Empyrean. Gold now paid with Starborne blood.
Starless Night
Neither of them spoke as they set off down the road, the horses’ hooves the only sound to break the tension. She was still processing her reactions during the training sessions and did not trust her tongue to be bridled this early in the morning. Her bonds had been muted, and still she felt warmth and electrifying energy whenever he got near her.
Yet dark thoughts managed to taint those feelings. She stood once more on the edge of her mind, peering down into an endless black void. A dark, ominous voice rose from the depths, weaving discord. Anyone who she had valued in life, who brought her joy, had been destroyed or betrayed her. True happiness was not a luxury life afforded her. Not after what she had done.
You deserve your reward, the darkness snarled, vibrating the walls of her mind.
Letting the cold reality settle over her, she straightened in the saddle, taking a deep breath, and tried focusing on theroad before her. The landscape was changing as they neared the center of Virellia and the city of Volpes. Trees became thicker, flowers bloomed in abundance, and all manner of shrubs and plant life coated the roadside. With the morning sun peeking through the trees, a golden glow blanketed the road and covered the plants, making it look ethereal.
Since the Shattering, most of the realm was cloaked in dark, cloudy days and dying lands. The entire center of Astradeon, where the stewards fought in the final battle of the Celestial War and where the Stars collided with the earth after their fall, was the Shardlands. A dark, rolling desert of black Starshards, rocks, and barren lands. Only the Shardborne and Tredecim zealots ventured into those regions, in search of Starshard fragments for unnatural bonding.
The only part of Astradeon that recovered after the Shattering was Virellia. Some texts claimed that Desire placed a mythical shield around her favorite place in the realm, preventing the fallout that destroyed the rest of Astradeon from scorching the gardens. Whatever the reason, Astraia was thankful some piece of the realm could experience rebirth and growth. Although she could not help but pity the rest of the citizens, scrounging for food while Volpes basked in excess. She blamed the regent king and his ruthless regime.
A small flicker of her bonds licked her spine. This was not the usual warmth she felt around a certain bounty hunter. It was a warning.
Astraia smelled death before she saw it.
Sacrifice rose to the surface of her skin as the smell of wood smoke mixed with iron coated her nose and throat. Her bond pulsed stronger as the stench intensified.
“Do you smell that?” Astraia asked, glancing at Draven.
His eyes were fixed ahead, trying to see between the trees for the source. “There’s a town. Just ahead.”
His shoulders tightened. But Astraia already knew.
“Maybe we should—” He began to slow his horse when the sounds of shouting and screaming broke through the trees.
She kicked Orion into a gallop, not waiting to see if Draven followed.
Her bond screamed. Her pulse roared.
