Page 38 of Ravenrose

“Captain,” Riggs corrects with venom in his tone, just barely inclining his head. I can practically smell the animosity between the two. “Nash and I were awaiting your return when your little fae whore got mouthy.” He shrugs his shoulders, a bit too casually, while throwing a flippant wave in my direction.

Ayer’s gaze flicks to mine for a fraction of a second before settling back on Riggs.

I watch the exchange with wide eyes, breathing hard as I find myself caught between two predators and still with no way to defend myself. It’s a struggle to catch my breath with the dirty cloth obstructing my mouth.

I realize Ayer already knows Riggs is lying, but the gag, still tied tight, prevents me from saying anything.

The captain tilts his head, more wolf than man in this moment, before prowling deeper into the tent. The large space abruptly feels too small in the wake of his presence.

Behind him, I notice Wyatt slip into the tent. Another soldier accompanies the younger one, both of them dressed in the same black armour that Ayer wears, different from the gleaming silver of Riggs and Nash. The two of them rest their hands casually on their scabbards as they trail Ayer in.

Riggs notices them too and clicks his jaw, eyeing Wyatt and the other newcomer before shooting an uneasy glance at Nash.

“If you’re busy, we can come back later.”

Ayer halts a few paces away, contempt written plainly across his face as his gaze settles on Riggs.

“Get out.”

Ayer’s words are quiet but lethal; violence simmers in every well-articulated consonant.

Riggs is smart enough to sense it too, and neither he nor Nash need to be told twice. He’s already moving, skirting carefully around the captain and his men, taking care to stay out of reach before making for the exit, his eyes on the captain the whole time.

But the captain isn’t watching him—he’s watching me.

It’s an effort not to squirm under the intensity of the man’s gaze.

Riggs is only inches from the exit when Ayer speaks again, his eyes never leaving mine. “And Riggs?”

The soldier stops on a dime, reluctantly turning back to face the captain while still side-eyeing escape. “Yes, sir?” he replies with venom in his tone.

“Don’t touch what’s mine.” Ayer’s warning hangs in the air, and a violent tension radiates throughout the room.

Riggs scowls at me—like all of this is somehow my fault—before giving Ayer a curt nod, then quickly disappearing between the tent flaps. Nash, along with Wyatt and his friend, follow closely behind.

As soon as Riggs disappears from sight, a breath rushes from my lungs. Only then do I realize I’d been holding it through the entire exchange.

I draw in a deep inhale, desperate to ease the ache in my chest, but it never reaches my lungs.

Ayer is watching me.

His gaze catches mine, sharp and unrelenting, and the breath stalls halfway down my throat.

My relief dies as quickly as it came. Riggs may be gone, but I’ve only traded one predator for another.

Chapter 19

AYER

We’re alone.

She knows it.

I know it.

I step forward. The princess goes rigid with the movement. Her eyes harden as I move closer, and she lifts her chin to keep my gaze, doing her best to hide the terror she must certainly feel, but her body betrays her, trembling more and more visibly at my rapid approach.

Her jaw tightens, and I catch the sound of a muffled curse.