“Haven’t you bedded everyone here already?” Vero quipped.
Her face went red when Ivren turned his bright grin her way.
“Not you,” he said in a low, seductive tone.
My lips pulled as I let Ivren drag me onto Darcke’s ship, but as I touched the bog oak, my back shot straight. There was a gut-wrenching grief in the wood that clawed itself into my chest, and as my breathing stuttered, I whipped my head over my shoulder.
Darcke’s eyes collided with mine, and it was like being struck by lightning. None of the anger I felt from him played across his face. Instead, there was so much sadness darkening his face as his gaze moved to the man behind me. When Ivren released me as I was safely on the other side, the strain from the bond faded.
“You’re finally going to join us mortals?” Geord waved his cup from where he was perched on a wooden barrel, his eyes bloodshot and clothing rumpled.
I ignored him as I accepted a cup of wine from Fedic while Ivren poured one for Vero.
“Thanks,” I said.
“You’re most welcome.” Fedic grinned. “I heard you need it.”
I took a long sip. “You heard right.”
A twinge of worry filled his eyes. “I’m sorry it’s been so hard for you. Ivren told me of the trial. It sounded awful.”
I fought turning around when another onslaught of emotions barreled into me.
“It’s fine.” I clinked my cup against his. “I should have listened to you and Ivren, shouldn’t I?”
The sadness in my voice made the last of Fedic’s smile vanish.
“I can’t tell you if that’s true or not,” he said. “Only you know that.”
“Already regretting your choices?” Kilia taunted as he came to my side. “Not so brave anymore when you nearly let your second die in the trial? I heard he almost got crushed by a tree.”
I whirled to Ottoh. “You’ve been having fun spreading that around? Is that why you saved us? So that you could look like the hero?”
“I haven’t said anything,” Ottoh snarled as he swiped a cup from his sister’s hands. He started walking off before he turned his head over his shoulder. “I saved you because I heard what you said about your people. But perhaps I was wrong in my assumptions.”
It was like swallowing a gallon of ice.
Vero winced. “He’s been with me the entire time. He didn’t say anything.”
Then who? It had only been us four there.
“Great job creating more enemies.” Kilia shoved a finger so hard into my chest I stumbled backward. “I am truly sogratefulto be part of your iron-bound so that I have to watch my back day and night for the rest of my life for everyone who hates you.”
“It’s not like they’d hurt me by killing you,” I mumbled.
“What did you say?” Kilia’s smirk slipped off his face as he cornered me against another barrel, eliciting a drunken laugh from Geord while Ivren and Fedic stormed up, ready to get my third off me.
“Stay back,” I ordered.
Fedic shook his head. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this.” He placed a hand on Kilia’s arm. “You should treat her withrespect. She is your heir, and she offered you the honor of becoming an iron-bound for one of the strongest families in Skagerik.”
“Is that so?” Kilia asked, his smile making goose bumps erupt over my skin.
“I said stay back.” I jerked my head when Ivren slipped a dagger that had laid on one of the barrels into his palm at the viciousness radiating off Kilia. “Kilia is my iron-bound, and I will deal with him.”
“Elvara—”
“Ivren,” I ordered.
