“Where are you going?” I propped fisted hands on my hips.
Without even slowing, he tossed the words over his shoulder. “I’m going to take a look myself.”
I let out a little growl and strode after him.
“Come on,” I said, practically running to catch up. “It’s late, and I’m tired, and I’ve already searched these tunnels five million times.”
“Then go on home,” he practically sang. “I think I can manage on my own from now on.”
“Absolutely bloomin’ not.”
He kept walking. “You worried I’ll find something?”
“No.”
Yes, actually. He seemed destined to have every little thing fall right into his lap. I never should have brought him here. If that other Everstone was a fake, I had very little doubt Tormund would find the real one if he put even a flicker of effort into it.
As he moved around the next bend, I grabbed his arm. He tensed against my fingers, but he came to a stop. His eyes dropped to meet mine, his shadows whorling around him,bigger and quicker now that we were leaving the sunstone-laden section behind.
He arched a single brow, those midnight eyes burrowing into me. “Yes, Astrid?”
There was something about the way he said my name…
I cleared my throat and dropped my hand. “You shouldn’t go further, at least not alone.”
“And why ever not?”
“It’s dangerous.”
“I’m a shadow demon. I know how to move around in the dark,” he said, his voice near a purr now.
“Maybe so, but not in mines. It’s different here than in your caves back home.”
“And you’ve visited Azraak, have you?” His eyes dipped to my chest, and when he dragged them back up to my face, there was a different sort of spark there. And that was when I remembered other stories I’d been told. Shadow demons fed upon darkness. It made them powerful and strong, but also somethingelse.
“No,” I breathed. “I’ve never visited your homeland, but I know you don’t mine there. You don’t need sunstones.”
“Ah, but we do need gold.” He took a step closer to me. I backed up and hit the slick stone wall. “And there are caverns near Azraak full of it.”
“Wait…so you mine? None of the other shadow demons have ever mentioned it.”
He winked. “Only a few of us know where the caverns are. And we don’t like to share.”
Suddenly, his overbearing confidence made a lot more sense. If Tormund was a miner, of course he’d come prepared. He likely spent every day working the pickaxe, hauling rocks, and even scaling ropes. And everyone here was none the wiser.
“I still don’t think you should go further alone,” I said. “Just because you mine for gold doesn’t mean you know anything about dwarven tunnels.”
“You’re welcome to come along.” He smiled and motioned toward the distant, raucous singing. “Or you can relax, put up your feet, and have an ale. Up to you.”
“I was going to have a cup of tea, thanks, but that’s not what I meant. It’s time for you to return to camp, Tormund.”
“No, thank you,” he said, then took off down the tunnel again.
I fisted my hands and groaned.
“That little growl is almost as cute as your nose scrunch. Almost,” he called out. “Now you go have a good night. I’ll tell you tomorrow if I find the Everstone.”
“You’re bloomin’ mad if you think I’m going to let you do that.” And then I took off after him, following the shadow demon into the darkness.
