“You’re free!”
He buried his face in her neck and breathed her in. “Gods, it feels so good to be able to do whatever I want.” He chuckled. “I almost don’t know what to do now.” He set her on the ground and smiled down at her.
“I could think of something,” Orelia drawled.
“I’m sure you could, but first, let’s eat. I’m starving, and now that I’m poor, this may be my last good meal.”
She laughed at the absurdity of it.
Vade slipped an arm around her waist. “Come, my love. Let’s go sink our teeth into something delicious.” He winked. “Then I can have you for dessert.”
After their bellies were full and they’d topped off their waterskins outside the tavern, the pair left Axelton and ventured into the woods. The pines welcomed them back and offered bountiful shade.
In the beginning, Orelia’s legs had barked in pain from hours of walking, despite her natural healing. Now, she tromped through the forest at Vade’s pace and her breathing came easier. Every muscle in her body was stronger and she no longer felt like the weak little lamb he’d first called her.
Looking at him now, she found it almost impossible to remember how brutish he’d seemed when she’d first met him. Orelia knew his cruelty was a reaction to never having been shown love, and shehadn’t been sure he’d ever accept hers. But the man beside her was changed, as was she, and both for the better.
After hearing Elshar talk about how fae claimed their companions, Orelia had tried to work up the courage to tell Vade she wanted him to claim her. She debated waiting until they reached Minro, but her eagerness had her grabbing his arm and stopping him.
“Can I ask you something?”
Vade wiped his sweaty brow. “Of course.”
“I was just wondering if—”
His eyes went over her shoulder and blew wide. Vade tackled her to the ground, his wings shielding her in an instant.
As quickly as he had covered her, he was up, running away.
Orelia scrambled to stand, but she was thrown against a tree by an invisible force. Bands of white light pinned her against a tree, wrapping around her. Her eyes darted around, landing on Vade who was shooting shadows across the clearing.
The recipient of his shadows was bathed in bright light, so much so that Orelia couldn’t see who it was. She squirmed, trying to get free, but she was stuck to the tree. The seidr bands began to burn, not harshly enough to melt her skin, but causing enough discomfort for her healing to nullify.
An agonized bellow pierced the air. Beams of light punctured Vade’s wings, tearing them to pieces.
“Vade!” she screamed.
He threw an arm out, and shadows shot from his fingers, but a band of seidr light coiled around his neck and pushed him to the ground.
The glowing entity Orelia strained to see came into view as the light dimmed, revealing Marquin holding a gnarled staff with an orb of seidr light suspended atop it. Just looking at it felt wrong. Felt evil.
Vade knelt, panting like each breath physically pained him. His tattered wings had gone limp.
Marquin stalked toward him.
Orelia struggled in her bindings. “Vade, get up!”
He lifted his head, hair shielding his face, but he didn’t get up.
Orelia kept wiggling, but the magical binding was too tight. “Vade!”
Marquin reached over his shoulder and pulled an arrow out of the quiver on his back. A bow magically formed in his hand and he nocked the arrow, its tip swirling in white light.
Orelia thrashed.
The guard paid her no mind as he loosed the arrow.
Vade threw out a hand, his shadows catching the arrow, acting as an arm on his behalf. He groaned, body trembling. Vade threw the arrow to the side, and even from across the clearing, she could see burns on his hand.
