Page 14
She’s going pale, her lips thinning.
“Little dragonfly,” Lian begins. “As much as I hate to admit it, Corvin’s right. You terrified those men.” He points at them standing at least fifteen feet from us. “They’re petty and scared, so they won’t let you remain here. They’ll find another way to destroy you, and I’m sure you know this.”
Adorable thing still thinks this is about the Choosing.
“Don’t call me that. That’s not—” Her words vanish as she stares at her bare feet sticking out from under my coat. “You don’t need to take me. I’m broken anyway. Go choose someone else.”
Lian glances at me, cocking his head to the side. “Your way isn’t working. We do it my way and just take her already.”
I’m starting to agree, but it’s at this moment that she runs away from us and toward the village, holding my coat bunched up in her fists, taking fast strides.
The human guards sweep after her, except Lian’s already on her heels. He grabs her arm, but she leans down, scooping up a shard of broken wood at her feet. Then, with a sharp twist, she jams the weapon into Lian’s ribs, the pointy end pushed in against his leather jerkin deep enough to draw a dark spot of blood.
“Please just leave me alone,” she pleads.
My admiration for her deepens, especially seeing as she’s hurt Lian. That’s always a reason to celebrate. Lian hasn’t released his hand but presses into the weapon, grinning. The fucker is enjoying himself.
“You want to hurt me?” he murmurs. “I might take it personally.”
Her eyes flare open, her chin trembling. She pulls back, dropping the weapon, and Lian presses a palm to the wound.
“Enough of these games. I’m tired of them,” I state, marching after them.
“Jealous already, brother?”
I sneer. “Don’t fucking call me that.” We share the same mother, and her death only drew a wedge deeper between our families. He’ll never be anything but an enemy in my eyes.
“Dawn, listen to me. There’s no way out for you, and we’re leaving with you. You can hate and threaten us all you want. Go ahead and stab Lian some more, but nothing changes.”
I pause, and she says nothing as Lian plays with his wound.
“Aren’t you curious to discover why you’re different? Why you don’t belong here?” I continue, and her mouth falls open. “Thought so. It’s time to leave.”
“Dawn!” a male calls calls from the direction of the village, and we all lift our gazes to a large man in a dark green jacket and black pants, charging toward us like a storm. He’s built like a mountain, and fuck, I recognize him instantly. Hell!
Lian leans in closer. “Friend of yours?”
“Fuck no!” I blurt out, keeping my attention on the man.
Dawn’s already rushing to him, and for a moment, it appears she’ll trip over my coat. But once she reaches him, she crashes into his side, and he catches her as if he’s done it many times before. He drags her closer, whispering something, guarding her.
So, she’s found love with the wrong person.
Lian’s staring at me, way too close for my liking, grinning. “That explains the jealous face you’re making.”
I shove him away. “Fuck off, Lian.”
Chapter
Four
KAZAK
For fuck’s sake!
Two Grimvale royals are standing in Moonstone Village, barely fifteen feet away, and Dawn clings to me, the poor thing terrified. I should have known they’d eventually find her, so staying here as long as we had was a huge mistake on my part.
Obsidian Sun and Gold Ember heirs standing alongside one another is almost unheard of back home. Yet here they fucking are.
