I snatched it back and covered the gentle gesture with harsh words. “Too much will only make you sick again.”
Then, I straightened and hopped down, needing to put space between us. Thankfully, the horses had calmed as I worked. I found their reins and untangled them, speaking in soothing tones to ensure they wouldn’t bolt forward once I gave the order for them to move along again. As I settled in the driver’s seat, the barricade on our connection eased. I glanced behind me, finding Sylaira’s eyes closed, her hands resting on her stomach. I prodded further, realizing she was slightly drunk.
“You know, I always wanted someone to protect me. Always from you, though,” she whispered, so low I was certain I’d imagined it.
I faced forward again, clucking at the horses.
“From my very first vision, I knew you’d ruin my life. Now I know how.”
Her words were a hurricane in my mind for the remainder of our afternoon drive.
22
Avillage emerged around the next bend, pressed between the tall trees like something carved from the forest itself. Unlike Sivy, no canopy walks connected houses built around the massive trunks. Here, wealth was measured in time and laughter, not gems and silk. It was why I’d always loved stopping here on my journeys to and from the capital.
We rolled up to the front of the single inn, a two-story construction with only a handful of rooms. Not like we’d need more than one. Sylaira was not sleeping alone. I was not risking someone else trying to steal her away in the night. Or her trying to escape after I slaughtered seven people in front of her.
Not like it would matter. The magic chaining us together would always lead me straight to her. Even she knew that. Butescaping me, over and over, felt like something she would do out of pure spite.
She tested my patience and self-control daily, if not hourly, and tonight would be no different. My mate had an uncanny ability to notice the smallest shifts in me. No one ever saw me unless I wanted them to, and that was a rare, rare offering, even for Maelsar.
Earlier she’d tossed one of her best lines yet.
“You don’t scare me, Issaraeth. You are under the illusion that you are making your own choices. It’s cute really. But I know your duty is a shackle you are too scared to break.”
The barbs stung, and yet I found myself waiting for the next one like a masochist who craved her bite. She needed reminding who was in fucking charge here.
I hopped down from the seat. But not without a glance behind me at Sylaira. Her eyes closed, hands draped across her stomach, she appeared to be asleep.
But I knew better.
The bond lashed me like a relentless whip as I put space between us. Every day with her in the cart behind me was worse. So close, yet so far. The distance wasnecessary. Yet it protested more and more, punishing me for not claiming her. For not taking care of her as a mate should have.
Not like she would fucking let me, even if I wanted to.
I lowered my hood as I pushed inside, the scent of sweet peaches enveloping me.
And reminding me far too much of the ghostflower that exuded from my captive Seer.
“Herr Räviel, it is so lovely to see you again,” the innkeeper greeted me, tossing her rag onto the pristinely polished bar.
At least someone showed me the proper respect. “You as well. I’ll need one room today.”
She wiped her hands on her apron and opened hernotebook. “How many are traveling with you? I’m afraid I’ve only got the one in the attic at the moment.”
Fuck.
The stairs to reach it would be impossible with Sylaira’s crutches, which meant I would have to carry her. And also that the two of us would be confined to a room that was scarcely big enough for me by myself.
“Two, unfortunately,” I sighed, mind working over any other solutions. The next town would be impossible to reach before nightfall, and we’d camped the last few nights under a drizzle. We were both soaked and miserable.
She tapped a pen on the open page. “Hmm. I could make up a cot for one of you down here once we close for the night? The attic only has one bed. I know you lads don’t mind sharing though.”
I raked a hand through my hair, landing on the back of my neck. “I have a female with me this time.”
She was familiar with my duty at this point, so I didn’t need to explain further that Sylaira was essentially my prisoner. That word, in my mind, felt so wrong—even if I’d called her that to her face before. Our situation was…complicated to say the least.
Days of driving, staring into the trees, hadn’t aided in sorting through the events that had wholly upended the path I had been on. That had shattered the tomb over my emotions and allowed ones long-buried to creep free.
