He’s not as tall as me and definitely not as quick, but he’s stocky and built like a laborer if I’d ever seen one..
A sigh escapes my lips and I answer. “You know, Caym, I’m not sure what to say to you. What do you want from me?”
“I know not your intentions, but I am still suspicious of you, Devourer.” His eyebrows pin together with an angry expression. “I want you to know that I see through deception, not by magic, but by reading enough damned people to know. If you trick us, Devourer, I’ll take great pleasure in watching your skin peel when I throw you off the cliffs and into the sea, even if you saved my life in the sinking sand.”
I like this man. He’s a protector by nature and cares deeply for Alora.
“I won’t harm her, if that’s what you’re meaning.”
Caym glares at me, continuing with almost whispered threats. “You say you won’t, but you can’t promise that. Her finding you worth redeeming is dangerous enough to her. Sooner or later, you or your position will hurt her, and Leeson and I will be left picking up her broken bits again.”
An admirable threat.
The seconds pass between us while I study his demeanor. I let out a heavy sigh. “I had what you have now. Anaymeih. I watched her get taken from this life because of what I am. Thelast thing I want to do is watch Alora suffer a fate worse than death because of me.”
He ponders over my admittance. I can practically see him rolling it around in his head and testing for faults.
After he’s satisfied with my answer, he clears his throat and says, “So be it.”
A small, feline smile forms on his lips.
“I’ll take your word, Kassiel, if you’ll accept mine.”
I nod and wait for him to continue.
“If you chase her to the veil early because you can’t figure out your shit, I’ll bring the wrath of the gods down on you. Even if it means killing you in the process.”
If I had friends, aside from Rune, I realize I’d want Caym as one.
“Fair enough.” I reply and we grasp each other's arms and shake.
Chapter 23
Alora
Leeson has her apprehensions, that much is sure.
Her eyebrows are pulled up, causing her forehead to wrinkle with deep lines and her jaw is set like stone. The fawn colored eyes harden on me, giving me a look almost as cold as the stream we both kneel in. Her gaze is so frightful that I begin to scrub my hands in the frosty water in an attempt to ignore her disapproval.
“Alora, gods…” she starts but then snaps her mouth closed.
I continue to wash the grime from my hands before cupping water in my palms and bring it to my neck that’s suddenly gottentoo sweaty. The chilled water drips down the column of my throat, the little beads absorbing in my dress collar.
Swallowing, I begin in a whisper, “I didn’t want this to happen, you have to believe me.”
I dare not look up, I can’t bear to look into her face and see disappointment.
She moves towards me, her skirts shuffling against the sandy shore.
I keep my head down and my stomach feels uneasy, worry riddling my bones. Her opinion means more to me than most realize, and at this moment I’m unsure of what she’s thinking. Gods I wish I had been a mindpath. Then I could read her thoughts and not have to sit here guessing.
Suddenly, I feel her warm hand cover mine. She rests it there a moment before squeezing it. I drag my gaze to hers and notice her softened gaze.
I squeeze her hand back and wait for her to begin speaking again.
“I’m just surprised. It was easy to see that he was attracted to you the way his eyes would linger, but…” she swallows before continuing, “I didn’t realize that things had changed for you.”
The brown orbs bounce back and forth across my face as she watches me.
