“I want to speak with him.”
“And you will.” He stood and stretched, his cream shirt riding up a little. “Once it’s time.”
“I want to speak with him now.”
His expression sobered, lips pressing in a thin line. “You don’t make the rules here, Leela. He does. This is his domain. You’re a guest.”
“A guest? Yeah, right. A prisoner more like.”
“Goodness, so dramatic,” he drawled. “But if that’s what you wish to call it, then yes, I suppose you are. But you’re a prisoner who’s about to get a guided tour of her prison by yours truly.”
“What are you? His lap dog?”
C’ael pressed a hand to his chest as if wounded by my words. “Goodness, you have a mean streak, don’t you?”
I was in no mood to tolerate his playful attitude. “Answer me. What are you, C’ael? A messenger boy? His little servant?”
He dropped his hand with a sigh. “I’m a companion that he called forth.”
I sat up, intrigued. “What do you mean?”
“I mean when you speak to nothingness long enough, sometimes it answers back. Now, are you hungry?”
I shook my head even as my stomach growled.
He arched a brow. “How about this. You come for a walk with me. Take a look at the camp. Meet some of the others?—”
“The devouring force, you mean?” My mouth curved in a wry smile. “It’s an army, isn’t it? His army made up of all his monsters. Why the fuck would I want to hang out with those beasts?”
“You havenoidea. But if youwantto know the truth, then maybe come with me.” He held out his hand, but I ignored it, throwing back the furs to swing my feet out of the bed to stand unassisted.
My knees buckled, and he moved fast to wrap an arm around my waist, pulling me against his body. Warmth wrapped around me, cocooning me, and for a moment I was tempted to lean into it.
Only for a moment, though. “Get off me!” I shoved at his taut chest. He released me immediately, and I plopped back down onto the bed. “Fuck.”
“Your body is still adjusting to the transference.”
A wave of fuzziness washed over my mind. “What is transference?”
“The method by whichhebrought you here.”
The cotton wool sensation ebbed, my mind clearing. “You mean…like teleportation?”
He frowned down at me. “I have no idea what that is. But he moved you through space in a blink to bring you here. It takes a toll, which is why food is important.”
Dammit. “Fine. Give me some food.”
“Please?” he crooned.
“What?”
He shook his head and tutted. “Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?”
“No, she died when I was a baby.”
He sobered. “I’m sorry.”
He sounded genuine, and my anger melted a little. I wasn’t sure what he was, but I was pretty sure he just did what he was told. In this case, feed me and show me around. He wasn’t the one in charge, but he could take me to the primordial evil. Maybe…Maybe I could make an ally out of him. Being difficult would serve no purpose. I needed to get my strength up, get the lay of the land, and then figure out a way to get the fuck out of here.
