Even if Gisela succeeded in protecting theaþaswereor the queen found some way to attack and destroy the unicorns without incurring its wrath, Gisela knew it wouldn’t satisfy the queen.
Meara knew nothing of happiness. Only brutality and misery. The queen reveled in it, and she made sure that everyone around her was equally as miserable.
Sighing, Gisela tried to put it from her thoughts. There was no need in drifting to the past or to things she couldn’t change.
So she let her gaze wander into the thick trees around them.
Until she saw something move. “What’s that?”
“What’s…” Xaydin didn’t get to finish his words before a dark shadow rushed toward them. It moved so fast that she barely registered what it was before it engulfed him.
Cursing, Masakage attacked the shadow with fireballs. The darkness wrapped around Xaydin as if it were trying to devour him. Xaydin’s skin and eyes turned bright red.
With a vicious growl, he slung his arm out, and as he did so, the darkness burst into embers.
Gisela stared in awe. “What was that?”
“Theaþaswereknows I’m coming for him.” Xaydin’s tone was flat and emotionless.
“Does this happen often?”
Xaydin gave her a wry grin as his skin and eyes returned to normal. “Enough to keep me young and primed.”
How she hated the fact that smile made him so bloody handsome. Almost charming. How?
You need to hate him.
But that was easier said than done. He was irresistible, and she had no idea why. Was it some kind of glamour spell? A potion? She had no idea what to call it. All she knew was that she was drawn to a man she should hate.
One with unknown powers. Terrifying powers, if the truth was known.
“Do they always come at you?”
“No. Normally, they have no idea that I’m after them until I take their heads. But given all that’s transpired with Dash and your queen, I imagine our friend is very much aware of my mission and dreading the day we meet.”
“How do you intend to find him?” she asked.
“I have my ways.”
Her gaze went to Masakage. “Magic, then.”
Masakage shook his head. “Not the kind you’re thinking. Yes, I could concoct a potion for tracking, but he doesn’t need one.”
“Troll powers?” she tried again.
“You know nothing of my people, do you?”
No, not really. “There weren’t any in Thassalia, and I’ve never been sent beyond our borders before this.” Meara preferred her to kill those in their court or the nobles who angered her. All of whom were inside the queen’s kingdom.
“Then you don’t know anything about Meara, either.”
She resented Xaydin’s tone. “I beg your pardon?”
“We both lived there for a number of years.” Masakage’s voice was much kinder and lacked the venom of Xaydin’s.
But those words explained why Xaydin had become angry.
“I’m sorry.”
