I startled and glared up at the hulking form entering the tent. Sunlight spilled in around him, making him appear to be a monstrous shadow.
A gasp escaped me, not in fear, but at the warm golden beams streaming into the dark tent.Sunlight.I had been too caught up in myself to even think about that. Lumireth was not cursed in the same way the Mortal Kingdom was.
The Commander’s fists clenched at his sides, gaze raking over my body. What a weak, pathetic mess I must look like.
He was still shirtless, his powerful form on full display. Leather caps covered his broad shoulders, and a sword handle stuck up over his back, as if he needed a weapon to be deadly.
“Where are the Soul Relics located?” he demanded.
“Kill me already,” I muttered, rolling onto my side, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. “Or go find a shirt.”
“I do not typically get complaints,” he almost growled as his boots thudded closer, unhurried, as though he expected me to flinch. But I wouldn’t. I glanced up as he crossed his bouldering arms over his chest.
“Nor am I used to women crying in my bed.”
Hisbed?Thatcaused me to flinch. His gaze dragged over me, sharp and assessing as he smirked with satisfaction.
The words had slid under my skin like a blade, and every instinct I had went taut.
“Your wallowing makes you useless to me, get up,” the Commander demanded.
My spine prickled with anger.Useless. “No,” my voice rang with steel. “You promised me information,” I asked, sitting up and pushinghisblankets off me with disgust.
“Do as you are told, Little Drownling, and you will get what you want.” He nodded towards the door, black curls falling across his forehead with the motion.
“Come,” he growled. I didn’t want to listen to him. But the thought of knowing how sunlight felt against my skin made me follow him. I stepped into the blinding sunlight, squinting against the brightness. Its warmth folded over my skin like the embrace of a long-lost lover I had forgotten.Instinctively, I tilted my chin to the sky and inhaled deeply, letting the warmth sink into my frozen bones. The air here was crisp and sweet, flooding my lungs with something that made my blood sing in welcome. I had never known what warmth had felt like. A soft moan escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, drinking in the golden heat like nectar as though I was starved. I felt the heaviness of his gaze and opened my eyes.
The muscles along his shoulders bunched with tension as he turned around, expecting me to follow.
We walked a worn path between a labyrinth of tan-coloured tents, the sun casting long shadows against the soft grass that I longed to touch. It was so green. Lighter than Orin’s eyes, but my heart pinched all the same.
We came into a clearing that seemed to be in the heart of the camp. I felt so small surrounded by Fae warriors. Some sparred with steel, blades clashing in a violent rhythm, sweat covering their war hardened bodies. Others shot arrows into straw-draped targets with precise, deadly focus.
Strong aromas wafted towards me, rising from a large iron pot that simmered over an open flame. I inhaled deeply, and my stomach grumbled.
Many Fae noticed us, unfortunately. Admiration, respect, and fear followed in my captor’s wake before their gazes sharpened with disgust when they landed on me. But the Commander didn’t stop walking, leading me past the hostile creatures to the edge of the camp.
The Fae camploomed behind us as the Commander led me to the edge of the lush forest. Maybe hewas going to feed me to a beast. Maybe the blood deal was a trick, and he was going to kill me after all.
“About time!” A Fae warrior stepped out of the canopy of trees, his large strides consuming the distance between us. Even from this far away I could feel that he exuded power, but the grin on his handsome face oozed charisma. His muscular form was covered in tattoos as well, and he seemed to prefer the same shirtless armour as the other warriors. The breeze teased his auburn hair that was tied in a high, messy bun that almost hid his pointed ears. Pointed ears that had holes in his earlobes stretched by black bands. I had never seen anything like it. He extended his hand towards the Commander of Death, who returned the gesture. Their hands clasped around each other’s forearms in a greeting that looked as though they had done for a lifetime.
“Everything is prepared, except there was a complication,” the warrior said with a grimace. “One you may not be happy about.”
The Commander growled, a deep rumble of warning rolling through his chest that sent a shiver up my spine.
“It’s just me, dear brother.” Cerilla strolled into the clearing radiating grace and beauty, slapping the back of her hand against the warrior’s shoulder. She wore dark, slim-fitting pants that hugged every curve and a matching slim piece of fabric that barely contained her breasts. I had never seen people display so much skin in front of others so casually. But given the heat, I didn’t blame them.
“You wouldn’t expect me to let a fellow lady ride with twogruesomewarriors by herself now, would you? What kind of hosts would we be?”
“We are not hosts, Cerilla. That,” he grunted, gesturingover his shoulder at me, “is my prisoner.Notyour plaything.”
The warrior glanced behind the Commander, grinning down at me with glistening canines on display. “I’m Solas.”
I took a reluctant step back and his eyebrows drew together. “No need to fear me, sweetheart, I won’t bite unless you ask me to.” He winked a heavily lashed hazel eye at me.
“She may look small and breakable, but she is a volatile little thing. Drowned twelve of our brethren on dry land.”
Shame slithered into the pit of my stomach, and I cast my eyes down to my feet. I did what I needed to do to protect my people, but it still wasn’t enough. They still turned on me.
