Chapter Twenty-Four
Selina showered, ate, then took a heaping dose of painkillers. She was ready in forty minutes.
Rion packed their things and shouldered both their satchels. He’d asked for transportation and the innkeeper had found a merchant already heading for Nàdair. A wagon pulled by a pair of horses was outside the inn in record time.
Rion tossed the male a small bag of coins and told him to head north. Selina could direct him from there.
The male didn’t ask questions, he only nodded. Rion shifted the male’s cargo to make room for pillows and blankets. He helped Selina settle in, then they were off.
The morning sun beat down on them, but Selina tilted her face toward the sun’s rays to soak them in.
The little village faded with the distance and a vast countryside spread out before them. Thick grasses waved in the cool breeze and the narrow dirt road was the only thing Rion could see for miles.
The male didn’t speak, but it didn’t take long before Selina filled the silence.
It started with the weather, then drifted to the Fairy Folk and all the deep philosophies surrounding the Fae and their relationship with the tiny creatures.
Rion mostly nodded while she prattled on, switching topics effortlessly. Weapons, food, past confrontations.
Even the merchant providing transportation seemed intrigued, if cautious.
Rion inquired about her family and she said they’d once grown produce and raised animals as a source of income, but a great grandfather had rebelled against such a simple life and in doing so had made them rich beyond measure. Her eyes almost sparkled as she told him about the diaries she’d found in her mother’s attic. Rion wondered if Selina’s rebellious streak stemmed from that very ancestor. Perhaps that’s why her reputation was so important. Maybe she felt she had something to prove.
When they approached a fork in the road, Selina pointed the driver west. She took more pain relievers, and Rion handed her a sandwich from their packed satchel.
Selina dozed afterward and slept the afternoon away. Rion watched over her, and the merchant didn’t speak.
Night descended and they paused by a river. Rion helped the driver lead the horses to water and brush them down for the night. He massaged their legs and the male watched Rion curiously. He bowed and constantly moved out of Rion’s way and kept far, far away from Selina. The innkeeper must have warned him not to venture too close.
Rion wrapped them both in his sand and scattered it around the camp before settling for the night. He needed at least a few hours of sleep.
The male cleared his throat. “I can take first watch if you like, My Lord.”
Rion shook his head. “Sleep.” He didn’t want the male awake while he tried to doze.
The male didn’t argue. He bowed and unrolled his bedding near the horses.
Selina eased herself onto the makeshift bed and hissed when she laid back.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
“Not unless you can pull a mattress out of the ground.”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid I’m all out of mattresses.”
She didn’t smile. Selina only watched the stars. She hadn’t been as talkative when she’d awoken that afternoon.
“Are you okay?” he ventured to ask.
“No.” Rion waited, but she only sighed and turned her head to the side. “Go to sleep, we have another long day tomorrow.”
He opened his mouth to speak again, but closed it instead. Perhaps the weight of her failure was getting to her. He’d never seen her brood before, but then again, Rion still had a lot to learn about the female who called him a friend.
Rion let himself relax and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
With morning, they ate, strapped up the horses, and were off again. Rion had tried to reassure Selina that everything would be fine, but she’d only grunted at him and settled into her blankets before reaching for more medicine.
She told the male they’d arrive well before sundown.
Rion eyed Selina again. He hated seeing her like this. He’d paint that city in blood and bring Foley’s head back as a trophy if that’s what it took to make her happy. Maybe they could play the whole thing off as her commanding him while she sat back and watched. She was his commander, after all. If the strategy was her idea, then she wouldn’t be forced to lose face.
He’d tell her as much after she reunited with her team. He’d give her the chance to explain to them first.
It wasn’t until they entered the cover of a thinly wooded area that Selina announced their arrival. Rion helped Selina out of the wagon, then once again, took both their packs and slung them over his shoulders.
She was a bit steadier on her feet now. The limp was nearly gone. He’d overheard the healer mention something about a strained hip. It sent a fresh bout of fire through his veins.
The male stared at them with his brow raised, a question on his lips that he wouldn’t ask. Rion merely handed him a few more coins and the male bowed before snapping the reins.
Rion waited until the male was out of earshot before he said, “You’re okay with just letting him go?”
“Getting a little bloodthirsty aren’t we? You shouldn’t kill people who do nice things for you.”
“He could tip someone off.”
She shrugged. “Even if he did, they wouldn’t find where we’re going. We still have a hike.” Thunder rolled overhead. “And the rain will wash away our scents within the hour.”
“Will it take an hour to get there?”
“Roughly.”
He grimaced at her limp. “Do you want me to carry you?”
Selina arched her back, stretching the muscles. “I need to walk, just to get some feeling back into my legs.”
Rion offered his arm anyway. She glanced at it, as if considering, then opted to use her magic and form a staff by braiding gnarled roots together.
Rion backed away to give her space. Maybe with the mission coming to a close, she was pulling away. Perhaps she didn’t really want to meet up in Nàdair. Or maybe it had nothing to do with him and she was simply trying to process how to break the news to her team.
Rion prayed it was the latter. The thought of her saying goodbye hit his heart far harder than he wanted to admit.
As promised, roughly an hour passed before the trees parted to reveal a small clearing. His eyes roamed over three Fae standing beside the wide mouth of a cave. One sat on the ground, whittling a chunk of wood while the other two studied the clouds.
A single drop of rain hit the ground, quickly followed by another.
Selina grunted and the three snapped their heads toward the sound. One of the triplets, the most dominant of the trio, jumped to her feet before breaking into a sprint. Another called into the cave, announcing Selina’s arrival.
The female slowed at the sight of Rion and bared her teeth at him before carefully wrapping Selina in a warm embrace.
Selina grimaced again and the female pulled back to look her over.
“What the hell happened?” An accusatory glare in his direction.
Selina patted the female’s arm. “I was outsmarted.”
“Impossible.”
Another came up to her side, the female with short black hair. “You found the rebels?”
Selina sighed. “Found, fought, failed.”
The rest of her group exited, all lining up at the entrance, but when the male saw Selina, he too, broke out into a run and skidded to a halt at her side. A murderous shadow passed over his face when he saw her wounds.
More droplets hit the ground and it was the female triplet who said, “Let’s get you inside.”
Rion followed, even though their gazes told him he wasn’t welcome. It was clear from the fires and how their packs were laid out that they’d been here a while. A week, he guessed. He was surprised they’d waited so long. He certainly wouldn’t have. Not where Selina’s safety was concerned. Selina would have probably scolded him again for not following orders, too.
Though wide at the front, the cave narrowed as they walked inside before splitting off into three separate tunnels. All were carved, he noted, though whoever had originally done so was likely lost to history.
The thirteen of them veered left, all hovering around Selina, whispering question after question. Whatever fear Selina carried about their judgement didn’t appear warranted. Her relationship with her subordinates went far beyond that of a commander. It was deeper. Stronger.
They eased Selina into a sitting position on a makeshift cot in the corner. Rion eyed the blankets and scented the space, noting the tang of spice in the air that reminded him of the eldest triplet. The female remained kneeling by the cot. Another brought Selina water while a third procured food.
The male never left her side. He sat directly beside the triplet. It was as if Rion had ceased to exist.
He leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms. He wanted to be the one fussing over her, but he couldn’t do so without drawing unwanted attention. He wouldn’t do anything to push Selina though, especially in front of her comrades.
“Tell us what happened,” the female triplet said, her voice far more gentle than Rion had ever heard it.
Selina recounted their story and didn’t leave a single piece of information out. They turned to him when Selina mentioned his name and their brows raised in surprise. The male nearly growled when Selina mentioned kissing him during their ruse, but he managed to keep himself composed. It didn’t stop him from glaring at Rion for a solid minute. Rion didn’t react; he simply met the male’s gaze and waited for him to made a decision. It hadn’t ended well the last time they’d fought. Not that he called it much of a fight.
The only thing she didn’t tell her comrades was about the moment they’d almost shared under the stars. A memory that still had his heart racing as he thought about her hands in his hair and how close he’d been to feeling her lips on his again. He still wanted to kill that blasted deer for its interruption. Then again, maybe it had been a good thing. If Selina had changed her mind afterward, the rest of mission might have proved . . . awkward.
The entire exchange forced her comrades to accept one grating truth: Rion had saved her and he wasn’t going anywhere.