At least she didn’t have to worry about one of them killing her during the day. They’d burn to ash if they stepped foot in the light.
She followed Keegan to a tent set up away from the others.
“Here.” He lifted the flap, gesturing for her to enter.
Thalia didn’t want to consider how fast this had all been set up as she glanced at the two cots in the tent.
“Who is—”
Her words died as Keegan disappeared, leaving her alone.
Thalia swallowed, glancing at one of the cots. She didn’t want to admit that, after everything that’d happened in less than twenty-four hours, her body was drained.
She whirled as the tent flap opened and Cassius strode in, carrying a tray of food and a glass of water.
“What are you doing?” Thalia got out, hand going to her knife at her thigh—hisknife. She hadn’t given it back, and she wasn’t inclined to either.
Cassius aimed for the empty cot and set the tray on the small stool between the beds. “Bringing you food.”
“Why are you in my tent?”
“It’s my tent too.”
Thalia barked out a laugh until Cassius turned to her, face hard. “You can’t be serious?”
“We are bound together, and as such, we are meant to go with each other everywhere until you’re delivered safely to the prince.”
“Get out,” Thalia hissed.
Cassius raised a brow, sinking onto his cot. He pulled off his boots, a too-human movement. “Trust me, this is not ideal for me either. But the prince would have my head if he knew I wasn’t following tradition.”
“You didn’t drink my blood; isn’t that tradition?”
Cassius froze, blue eyes flicking up. “That’s different.”
Thalia crossed her arms over her chest. The tent began to glow faintly, a sure sign that the sun was finally rising.
“You should eat before it gets cold.” He jerked his head to the tray of food, which was a simple beef stew and a hard roll. At least it wasn’t blood.
Thalia knew she should eat. Because if she didn’t have her strength, she stood no chance against him.
She took a sip of the soup. Cassius watched her intently as she drained the bowl, then ate the bread.
She took a long chug from the water glass—
She made a face, the liquid bitter on her tongue. Heat flooded Thalia’s senses, making her lightheaded.
Something wasn’t right.
Her eyes blurred, the walls of the tent shaking as the glass crashed to the ground.
“This was just to ensure you wouldn’t kill us in our sleep.” Cassius’s voice went in and out, and she almost thought he sounded sorry.
“You prick—” Thalia couldn’t finish her sentence as unconsciousness swept over her, blotting out the day.
Chapter Five
Thalia came to on the back of a horse.
