“Unfortunately not,” she mutters, annoyance flickering across her face.
Dimitri’s voice is smooth as velvet, his every word soaked with self-satisfaction. “So, what brings our little shadow princess all the way to the edge of the world? You never leave your palace walls anymore. I thought you’d grown too delicate.”
Her glare could cut stone. “What do you want, Dimitri?”
His smile falters just a breath, like there’s weight beneath the performance. “We’re running out of time. You know it, and you can’t keep pretending otherwise.”
Her jaw tightens, and she flicks a glance at me—quick,guarded once again. “Not now. Not here.”
My brow furrows, but before I can react, Dimitri steps forward and plucks the map from Serenya’s hand. I clench my fists in silent frustration.
“Hmm.” He scans it lazily. “Ruins, flooded paths. Charmed waterskins. Delightfully archaic.” His silver eyes glint as they cut back to Serenya. “Where are we going?”
She narrows her eyes. “What do you mean?”
He tilts the map toward her, head cocked. “This is one of the Trials of the Fated, yes? Since I know you so well, I can only assume you’re here because you’re trying to save them all. How noble.” His tone drips mockery. “I merely thought if I helped, it would all go faster.”
“Oh, no, no, no. You’re not helping.”
“I insist. Besides, when this little game is done, you can turn your attention back to what really matters.” A pause, his smile softening just enough to needle me. “Like me.”
Serenya reaches for the map, but he only lifts it higher, teasing as he chuckles. “Tell me where you’re going first.”
“Dimitri—”
He throws an arm over her shoulder. “Come on, Princess. I’ll be good,” he promises, tone light but his eyes impenetrable. “Scout ahead, maybe clear a few of the nastier things. Make myself useful.”
Her shadows flare. “Get. Your arm. Off of me. Before I break it,” she says through clenched teeth.
He removes his arm, hurt flashing in his eyes before he quickly masks it. “Fine. But I’m not leaving.”
My grip on the blade doesn’t ease. “We don’t even knowyou.”
He spares me a pitying look, like I’m some child speaking out of turn. “Youdon’t know me. I have known Serenya longer than you have been alive, human. You’ve known her for what? A couple ofweeks? And yet she’s bleeding and running across cursed marshes for you.”
The words hit their mark. I bristle, heat rushing to my face. “That’s different.”
“It always is.” He turns back to her smoothly, dismissing me as though I were nothing. “So? Do I join your charming little rescue mission?”
Serenya gives him a flat stare, every word clipped with warning. “If you so much as breathe wrong, vampire, I will turn your lungs inside out.”
She grabs the map from him, walking away without waiting for a response.
Dimitri’s grin returns, but this time it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He follows after her. “That’s the Serenya I missed.”
What just happened?
The water sloshes softly around our ankles as we move single file through a marshy corridor. Serenya leads the way, quiet and purposeful, keeping watch for danger. I walk behind her, putting myself between her and the vampire.
Dimitri follows behind me like a shadow while he hums under his breath. A cheerful, obnoxious hum.
My teeth grind. I can’t understand how she doesn’t seem more bothered. The King of Noctheron is walking next to us with the ease of a predator on familiar ground, his boots barely rippling the water. Fae and vampires hate each other. Everyoneknows that. It was burned into their histories by blood and fire.
Yet here she is, walking with the vampire like they are allies. Friends. Maybe more?
I shut that thought down fast.
I clench my fists. It isn’t my business. She can do whatever she wants.
