Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
After eating the meat Corbin cooked, Frost goes back to sleep.
I cover him as best as I can in Corbin’s coat, then I head back into the forest, this time to relieve myself.
That’s one thing I can’t wait to get back to—toilets.
I never thought I’d be squatting in the forest all the time, but here we are. How the mighty have fallen.
Once I’m done, I stand and a breath blows over my neck. I roll forward when something suddenly captures me and I’m slammed into a tree. Pincers dig into my clothes, holding me above my shoulders, my shirt rising to expose my stomach as Eversor stares at me.
My heart skips a beat.
“I could kill you so easily and end this now. You know that, don’t you?” he drawls.
His pincers press harder against my throat as I nod. “When I saved you, I bound you, didn’t I? Bound us together. I wasn’t sure at first, but I tested it tonight. You can’t deny my orders, even if you want to.”
“Tricky mortal.” His pincer slides along my neck, making me shiver. “If I kill you, then that binding goes away and I am free once more.”
I watch him, my decision made. I didn’t know I did it, but I have to take responsibility for it or I am no better than those who chained me. I stormed this man’s house, forcefully bound him to me, then ordered him to follow me. If that doesn’t make me the same as them, what would?
“Then do it. Kill me. End this and free yourself. That’s what you want, isn’t it?
I’m just another form of chains for you.
I don’t want to be that for anybody,” I admit, the truth spilling out.
“I never meant to, but I understand. I would not want to be chained again, so kill me. I won’t fight or scream.
I understand. I made you a prisoner once more, whether I meant to or not.
” Tilting my chin back, I expose my throat as I brace for the pain.
He helped me feed earlier, but I think he was testing what I was willing to do. The binding must be wearing on him, just like on that island.
I do not blame him one bit.
We stare at each other for a moment. Neither of us ever wanted to be here, yet we are, and I will not fault him.
I understand him, I realise with dawning horror.
He has been chained, betrayed, and locked away.
That makes a person angry. I was, and I wasn’t imprisoned for long.
Imagine being like that for years. It would be enough to turn anyone against the world.
He had one taste of freedom and I took that from him.
I deserve this.
It wasn’t my intention, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it happened, and I have to take responsibility for it.
His pincers suddenly pull away, and I drop to the ground. “Later,” he says. “I don’t feel like killing you right now.” He disappears like he was never here, only the holes in my clothes and the slight cut on my neck a reminder of his promise. Can I free my people before he ends me?
I guess we are going to find out.
Trudging to camp, I curl up at Frost’s back and force my eyes closed. I need a moment of peace, but I slip into sleep before I can fight it off.
I wake abruptly, my heart pounding and body covered in sweat. My head swings around, and I find him already crouched at my side.
“That wasn’t a nightmare, was it?” I ask. It didn’t feel like one. It felt . . . real. I was above it, watching, and I wouldn’t dream of that.
“I tried to pull you out, but no, it was not a memory or your imagination. I think you were transported to your court. Part of you must be trapped there. What you saw is happening right now.”
The others are already awake and watching me as I stare at Luan.
“What happened?” Bellami asks.
“They are amassing an army and making the court impenetrable,” I whisper, horrified by my vision. There were so many guns and men. Do we stand a chance?
“They fear you, fear what you will do in retaliation,” Frost says in understanding. “They are preparing for war.”
“Then so are we,” I snap. “I will not leave my people there to suffer. That is my home, not theirs.” I stand before remembering Frost. “First, we will eat and come up with a plan.”
We need all our strength, but from what I saw, a full-frontal attack would not be smart. They are expecting it, which means we need to be smarter than they are.
I’m quiet as we eat the rest of the meat, but I make sure to give most of mine to Frost, holding it for him as he eats and fusses with the coat around his back. He leans into me, and I hold him up.
“Stop it,” Bellami scoffs. “You’re worrying her just so she’ll fuss over you.”
I glance at Frost, he grins, and my eyebrow arches. “I would have eventually told you I’m healed,” he mutters as he leans closer still, “but I like you caring for me.”
Pushing him away, I roll my eyes as I dust off my hands and stare at the flames. “We need a plan.”
“No, we need a way in they won’t expect,” Luan replies, no doubt seeing what I did, and his next words confirm it. “They are guarding the outside, not the inside. You are right. They have an army.”
“But so do I,” I murmur. “If I can free my people from the inside and set them loose, then the enemy won’t expect that. There is an army right there, trapped and as angry as I am, ready to defend their home. We just need to free them.”
Corbin grins. “You have an idea.”
“It’s crazy, but it might work,” I admit. “I hope you can all swim.”