I faced him. “Then what do you want?”
“You’re a weapon. If I don’t keep you close, someone else will.”
Like Vaeris?He’d promised to help me, but where was he? Grieving over his parents? Had he even noticed I was gone? Was he too busy searching for Rheya?
“Let’s go, human.”
I bristled. “I have a name. Aelie.”
He shook his head. “You just offer it up to a stranger?”
My stomach sank. “I thought that was a superstition.”
“A full name given willingly is powerful, yes, but if a rune is tied to it? If it’s etched into flesh or stone? Then the name is yours no longer. It belongs to him.”
Good thing I'd only given him the short version.
Standing, I glared at him. “Give me your name.”
He turned slowly, a shaft of sunlight highlighting the blade of his nose. His skin was flawless and cold, just like the rest of him.
“You want my name? How charming.”
My face heated. “You have mine. It’s only fair I know yours. Or do fae only care about fairness when it benefits them?”
“Nothing in this world is fair, least of all between us.”
I swallowed hard. “Still. What is it?”
His mouth twitched. “Kairos.”
“Kairos. Is that your real name?”
“Close enough.”
“Then why bother telling me at all?”
“Because we’ll be spending a lot of time together, and I’d rather you call me something other thanexecutioner.Come along.”
A fresh wave of fury surged through me as Kairos moved ahead on the path leading away from the pond, his long strides devouring the distance. He didn’t glance back. The sheer arrogance, assuming I’d fall in line like an obedient pet.
I needed to get away from him.
Tension coiled in my chest, tighter and tighter. I bowed my head as I followed him, pretending to focus on the uneven path. I stole glances at the thick undergrowth. There were narrow spaces between the trees where the brush thinned out. If I were fast, I could slip through before he noticed.
Do it. Now.
I bolted between two trees, branches clawing at my dress. I stumbled, caught myself, kept running. No footsteps behind me. Was he following?
I risked a glance—nothing but mist. When I turned forward, he stood in front of me, smirking. I slammed into him, knocking a gasp from my lungs.
I shuffled back, spun, and took off again. Branches whipped across my face, but I tore through them like a wild animal. My foot snagged on a root, and I went down hard, moss cushioning the fall but not enough. Pain shot through my palms.
“You’re starting to slow,” he taunted.
I scrambled upright, panting. I whirled around, scanning the trees.
“Giving up already?” His voice echoed everywhere. “Or waiting for me to catch you?”
