The tall Dreadfae stood at the doorway, his face wrinkling with discomfort.
“Do I make you nervous, Torvin?”
He grunted, straightening. “Not at all.”
I watched him, wondering how many fae in this castle were secretly disturbed by my gift. Some of them, I’d noticed, skirted me in the halls. Gave me long looks.
I frowned. “I mean you no harm, you know.”
His red gaze eyed me uneasily.
I sighed. “Are you going to talk or…?”
He huffed and shook his head.
I brushed past him on my way out, and his armor clinked behind me. I glanced over my shoulder. “Do you know where Elwen is?”
“Yes.”
“Can you take me to her?”
“No,” Torvin said. “She’s occupied.”
I stopped, almost colliding with him. “With what?”
“The Master Healer gave orders not to be interrupted.”
I whirled around. “Is Kai—is the warband back?”
Torvin’s brow furrowed. “Yes, this morning.”
“And you let me sit in there all day?” A slip of warmth ran down my throat. “Where is he?”
Torvin’s frown deepened. “I can’t tell you.”
“I want to see him right?—”
I clutched at my chest. A clammy feeling crept over my skin as fear swooped in my belly. Gods, what was that?
Hurt.
The word kept echoing in my head. My heartbeat slammed into my ribs, and I ran, following a tug low in my navel.
Torvin jogged after me. “Come back!”
I hurtled downstairs, narrowly avoiding a warrior who bumped into Torvin. Their armor crashed between the stone walls, but I flew down, now in a blind panic.
I burst into the mess hall. “Kairos?”
The air mixed with food and the sharp scent of unwashed bodies. His warriors tore into bread and meat at the long tables, armor spattered with blood.
“Runebreaker!” one of them called, lifting his cup.
I searched the room for a broad back and silver hair. A female with a scarred jaw jerked her chin outside.
“He’s down the hall.”
I bolted out as Torvin clanked to my side, swearing. Warriors moved aside. Someone even dipped his head. The tether in my heart yanked hard, and I staggered to the left.
