Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
T he feast was a blur of noise and light—torches flickered with flames that shimmered between sapphire and violet, casting ethereal shadows across the long oak tables. Music thrummed faintly beneath the low murmur of voices, but all I could feel was Sebastian’s gaze, burning into me like wildfire on my skin.
His eyes—molten amber, always so easy to lose myself in—held me still, as if the weight of them was a physical touch. My skin tingled with the memory of his hands, his mouth—the kiss we shared only deepening the tension between us instead of extinguishing it.
And now...
I didn’t know what to do.
I didn’t know where my heart truly lay.
With Sebastian, who knew every piece of me and kissed me like he was trying to put every fractured part back together. Not because he thought I was broken—but because he couldn’t bear the thought that I did.
Or with Maalikai, whose silence spoke in thunder, whose presence unraveled me with a single look.
Lost, I turned back to the table. Steam rose from the boar that had been roasting on the spit all day, its succulence spreading through the air making me salivate. I could barely contain my excitement; I hadn’t had fresh meat in months and hadn’t eaten anything all day.
We had animals on the farm but not in enough abundance to kill for ourselves. Although I was a wicked shot with a bow, it was broken. Even without a bow, I could hunt small rabbits and squirrels. But I hadn’t. Not since my father had gotten sick.
Uncle Thrainn helped as much as he could, but he had a family of his own he had to provide for. We couldn’t rely on him forever. I needed to somehow get a new bow. I needed to be out hunting every day and providing for my mom. I’d promised my father I’d protect her and I needed to start taking my vow more seriously.
My smile dropped, my heart squeezing impossibly tight. I wouldn’t fail, I would protect her at all costs.
I will protect her.
Taking a gulp of air, my gaze sought Maalikai. But when it landed on the place he’d been sitting only moments ago, there was nothing—just an empty chair.
My chest tightened.
I scanned the table, searching—desperate to catch a glimpse of him between bodies and flickering torchlight. But he was nowhere.
Gone.
Had he seen Sebastian and me kiss and completely lost it? So much that he would just... leave?
The soft scraping of a chair to my left cut through the noise of the feast like a blade.
I turned—instinctively, sharply—and found him.
Maalikai.
His eyes locked on mine, storm-dark and unblinking, with a quiet, consuming rage that didn’t need words. It was all there—in the rigid set of his jaw, the fire simmering beneath his skin. His presence thundered even as he moved in complete silence.
And when he took the seat beside me—his body so close I could feel the heat rolling off him—I didn’t dare breathe.
His gaze never wavered.
Not once.
Not even as Sebastian glared at him, his expression unreadable.
In a single heartbeat, their eyes met—me caught in the space between them.
Maalikai. Sebastian.
Fire and shadow. Ice and fury.
Two storms barreling toward collision.
And I was the lightning bolt hanging in the middle.
Sebastian was on his feet in an instant, the warmth of his body soaking into mine as he leaned around me, looking lethal in all his dangereous glory.
Maalikai followed suit, rising to his feet on the other side of me, his body so close it brushed against me. His shoulders squared. His hand curled into a fist atop the table, knuckles white with restraint.
The air thickened. Every eye around us seemed to fade, the noise of the feast dimming until the only sound left was the ragged breath between them.
Between us.
The carefree relationship I had witnessed earlier today had crawled up and died, replaced by malevolence.
“I thought you weren’t the jealous type,” Sebastian said, voice low—cut from smoke and steel.
Maalikai finally looked at him.
Not just looked—measured.
Weighed.
And found him lacking.
“I’m not.” The words were quiet. Controlled. Deadly. “I just don't like to share what's mine.”
Sebastian laughed once, sharp and joyless. “Then I suppose you’ll have to get used to disappointment. Because Em will never be yours”
I stood, heart hammering, the tension pressing against my ribcage like it wanted to burst out of me.
“Stop. Both of you.”
But they weren’t listening.
Sebastian leaned closer, arms braced against the table like he might launch across it. Maalikai’s gaze flicked to me for half a second, then back to him—challenging. Unmoving.
“You think just because she held your hand tonight, it means you’ve won?” Sebastian asked, a growl curling under his words.
Maalikai’s jaw ticked. “I don't lose. You'll realise that when she makes her choice”
“And what makes you think she hasn’t already? I'm pretty damn sure her lips on mine was a pretty big hint.”
That did it.
Maalikai prepared for blood.
The scrape of wood against the dirt encrusted earth billowed around him like smoke snaking through the air, as his chair hit the ground. And for a moment—just a moment—they stood face to face, breath shallow, jaws tight, both seconds from breaking.
A crack split through the air. The flames in the sconces exploded upward, roaring with unnatural life, casting wild shadows across the oak tables. Every cup on the table shuddered. A wine goblet cracked clean in half. The ground beneath my feet throbbed—like something ancient had stirred awake.
“Enough!” My voice cracked through the tension like lightning. Neither flinched, but now I had both of their attention.
“Enough!” My hand slammed the table, and this time—something answered.
The flames in the sconces flared again. The magik in the air coiled, alive and electric, like the world itself was holding its breath. And then—my hand hit the table. Hard.
Both of them froze. Maalikai’s eyes widened a fraction, jaw tightening—not in fear, but in recognition. Sebastian’s hand was on mine in an instant, a ghost of familiarity, but it wasn't enough to pull me out of whatever consumed me.
The air around me hummed, thick and electric, the scent of scorched earth curling at the edges of the feast.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t move.
It wasn’t just rage pulsing through me—it was something deeper, wilder. A well of emotion so long buried it had festered into power. I didn’t mean to call it—but it had come anyway.
Because I was angry.
Broken.
Sick of being torn in two.
Their faces blurred at the edges of my vision, distorted by the shimmering heat rising off my skin. My fingertips crackled faintly with light—white-gold arcs flickered across my palms like they couldn’t decide whether they wanted to burn the world to the ground, or were grateful to finally be free.
Even though they were pulsing with commanding energy, they were barely visible, I doubted anyone else would notice.
And then—it stopped.
The flames returned to normal. The tremble in the earth stilled. All eyes at the table were on me. Not because they thought the power came from me but because they didn’t know where else to look.
It was easier to focus on our conflict than admit what they had seen and felt. Even Thrainn had turned from across the table, his eyes narrowed. His face unreadable.
My chest heaved. Yet, no one spoke.
Until Sebastian whispered—barely audible. “Shit, Em.”
And Maalikai, quieter still, so his voice only reached me. “Beautifully unapologetic."
But neither of them moved further, just stared at me with awe, or something more dangerous.
Lust.
And Gods, I didn’t know whether I wanted to run—or burn the whole place down.
At the head of the table, Thrainn rose to his feet. Everyone grew deadly quiet, all eyes fixed on him. Thrainn cleared his throat, not that he needed to, his voice could never be anything but a loud rumble like thunder, commanding everyone’s attention.
Thrainn cleared his voice. "Seems like the Goddess approves of the feast."
A nervous laugh spread through the crowd, as though they didn't know what else to do. I didn't blame them. If I hadn't felt the power inside me, I may also think it was a sign of the Gods.
“It is my honor to welcome you all to the festival of the Goddess Elessandria. Tonight, we honor her with a feast, and a mighty feast at that.”
A roar of approval shook the table.
“Tonight, we eat, drink, and dance to thank the Goddess for all the gifts she bestows upon us.”
The ground trembled beneath a sea of stamping feet, wild appreciation thundered through the crowd, their cheers rising to the heavens like an offering to the Goddess.
“In her quest to find her soulmate, Elessandria breathed life into a worthy race. In her longing to protect us, she sacrificed her own freedom. And in her unwavering devotion to the race she created, she ensured the survival of the long-lost princess, so the rightful heir could one day reclaim her place on the throne of Agertheria.”
The crowd was riveted by Thrainn, hanging onto every single word from the oversized brute of a leader.
“But we cannot forget the one who lies in wait in the dark. We must always be on our guard against the winter shadows and the opportunists.”
The crowd murmured with agreement. As honorable as Elessandria was, there was always the trickster Ezekial lying in wait.
“Praise to Elessandria, the most radiant and gracious of Goddesses! May her light shine upon us forever. To the Goddess!” Uncle Thrainn lifted his glass.
“To the Goddess.”
Mugs were raised in the air, golden liquid sloshing over the sides, seemingly unnoticed.
“It is tradition that the winner of the sword fighting contest calves the boar, if we are lucky to have one, which this year we are.” Another exuberant cheer almost deafened me. “However, because the battle was so fierce and we owe the boar to the man’s skill, I invite Maalikai to do the honors.”
A rumble of appreciation erupted around the table; I wasn’t among them.
I glanced beside me, stealing a glimpse of the young man who had somehow started to unravel the fortress surrounding my heart. I moved with extra care, each action calculated, every glance measured—acutely aware of Sebastian’s presence beside me. Of how it might make him feel if he saw me risking glances at Maalikai.
The last thing I wanted to do was upset Sebastian. But pretending the pull between Maalakai and me didn’t exist was like trying to catch a bolt of lightning.
Impossible.
Magnetic.
All-consuming.
And it was getting harder to ignore.
Smiling sheepishly, Maalikai scratched the back of his neck, his bicep bulging in the most luxurious way. I wasn’t sure what was more surprising. That his bicep actually bulged—I didn’t realize that was even possible—or that he looked embarrassed.
Was he shy? Surely, he was used to getting a bucket load of attention. How could he not when he looked like that?
So why did he look so uncomfortable?
“No, Thrainn, the honor is all yours. You beat me fair and square. Plus, I couldn’t take the honor that is rightfully yours. You are the chief after all.”
Thrainn beamed back at him, his chest puffing in pride as he gave Maalikai a respectful nod.
A mischievous smile highlighted Maalikai’s perfectly defined features. “Especially when you could rip me in half without breaking a sweat.”
Thrainn’s booming laugh drowned everyone else out, but I noticed Josephine and Evie giggling, now positioned on the other side of Maalikai.
Gag.
The entire town seemed taken with Maalikai. The old men saw themselves in him, the young men were jealous of him. The older women saw a marriageable male for their daughters, and the young women saw their future husband.
Double gag.
“I like this lad; he has balls.”
Thrainn was right, I wasn’t sure anyone else would dare talk to the chief like that. Not that Thrainn would actually hurt anyone–unless they deserved it. He might’ve looked terrifying–like a Cindralyx preying on its next kill–but deep down, he was just a grizzly with a soft spot. More bark than bite, and mostly just a glorified security blanket.
Maalikai had already worked him out, and Thrainn obviously had developed a soft spot for him too—no wonder Sebastian had his panties in a twist.
“Right, who’s ready for the main course?” Thrainn boomed as he sliced through the boar, another thunderous cheer drowning everything else out.
I didn’t realize I was still watching Maalikai until our eyes met. The flutter in my heart was instant. Consuming. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. His eyes darkened, swimming with shadows; there was something in them that I didn’t recognize. Intrigue? No, it was more than that.
Desire?
Lust?
What the heck was wrong with me? Maalikai may have some weird, inexplicable interest in me but anything other than random curiosity seemed unlikely. And this wasn’t the moment to get caught up in fantasies of what potentially could manifest between us.
Things between Sebastian and I were fragile in ways I couldn’t ignore. There was too much unspoken between us, too much uncertainty. Small fissures had started to crack the foundations of our relationship, unless we found our way through those obstacles, it would break wide open, sealing a fate that neither one of us could repair. Bringing Maalikai into that mess would only complicate everything further—it would only turn uncertainty into chaos.
Yet my skin was feverish under Maalikai’s stare, my cheeks blossoming in the brightest shade of scarlet.
Sebastian had always felt like my perfect half, like we were destined for each other. A prophecy not bound to parchment—it was scattered in stardust, scribed in the wind and built of blood and ash, carried on the breath of the forgotten Gods.
This thing between Maalikai and I, was different.
Maalikai didn’t see me for who I was, he saw me for the person I could be if I believed in myself. He found the ember buried deep within my soul and fed it with something wild. And just like that, I was no longer a spark. I was a storm of flame. I was an inferno. With him, I knew I would be impossible to stop.
How could I choose between them?
And why would I want to?
And most importantly why was I flirting with the idea that any of this was plausible?
I was eighteen, and I had only just received my first kiss.
I was pathetic.
Beyond pathetic.
Afraid Maalikai would see straight through me, I couldn’t hold his stare. My dark lashes swept down, hiding my eyes from his gaze. Heat spread down my neck, and I knew the color of freshly spilled blood stained my cheeks, only embarrassing me further. I forced myself to take a deep breath and began to count to ten.
It could’ve just been a coincidental lock of eyes, absolutely meaningless. By the time I’d reached the count of six, I couldn’t take the suspense any longer. Peeking through my lashes, I stole a quick glimpse at him.
Oh, crap .
He was looking directly at me in that sultry, ‘I know you want to kiss me’ kind of way. The side of his lip twitched into an amused smile; he was taking every ounce of satisfaction from my obvious awkwardness.
A scream broke my trance. My eyes snapped up as another scream reverberated in my ears. Everyone froze, the entire town square coming to a complete stop as people tried to figure out where the chaos was coming from. I saw my uncle looking around, vigorously scanning the crowd for the source of the commotion.
A third scream drew everyone’s attention to the road leading toward the town square from the north. It was on the opposite side of the tables from me. I peeked over people’s heads to see what the ruckus was and saw flashes of clothes saturated in thick, red blood.
My uncle swept up from his chair, and all Nexus broke loose; it was a mottled mess of chaos. I was on my feet in seconds, and so was everyone else.
It was pandemonium.
Women screamed, men shouted, and children were being picked up and taken into homes. Chairs were being pushed back and dropped; food was spilling off the tables.
What the heck was going on?
I hadn’t moved, still trying to make sense of what had caused the panic. The crowd moved without rhyme or reason, everyone frantic to feel safe. Sebastian stood beside me also trying to figure out what was happening before moving from my side. A sword was already in his hand, like he was ready to fight to the death.
Finally, in a break of the masses, I saw him properly. Scarlet stained his body, soaking what must have been taupe clothing before his injuries. His hair was matted around his face, and it looked like tar dripped down his head, but I knew it was blood.
The man stood between two buildings, leading into the center of the town. He took an unsteady step forward, swaying on his feet, like he struggled to stand. His hand clutched his side, and I saw it bulging out as if his insides were about to fall outside his body.
My jaw clenched. Fear flickered–but I smothered it. Panic might’ve broken others, but I refused to let it claim me. My hand went absently to my thighs, trying to grasp a dagger that was hidden beneath my skirts, before Sebastian stopped me
“Here, take mine, but keep it out of sight,” Sebastian whispered, handing me a short dagger. I pocketed it in my dress, still holding the hilt, thanking my mother for the foresight of creating pockets in the dress.
“Come on,” I told Sebastian, already pushing through the crowd.
We moved in unison across the town square toward my family. I kept a close eye on my mom as we jostled our way through the people to get to the other side. Many were already surrounding the injured male, and my uncle worked his way through the crowd to the stranger’s side.
My eyes snapped to my uncle’s and my stomach dropped, chilled to the bone by the fierceness in his gaze. When he saw us, he didn’t take his eyes off mine for a single moment.
Then he started barking orders, “Sebastian, take Triska, Ari, my daughters and Emylia back to my house; don’t let them leave until I tell you it’s safe.”
My mother’s eyes swept over me as she nodded, acknowledging and agreeing with Thrainn’s orders.
The ferocity in Sebastian’s amber eyes chilled me to the core. “Let’s go.”
Surely, Thrainn couldn’t have been talking about me. I was the least vulnerable woman in Ophelia. I’d spent my whole life training to become a badass warrior. I could cause more damage than most of the men.
I was an asset, not a liability.
Sebastian’s hands dug into my arm as he began to drag me back to their house. I dug my heels in, looking back over my shoulder at my uncle. However, he’d already left the area, cradling the injured man in his arms and carrying him away like he weighed nothing.
Sebastian’s teeth clenched as he spit one word at me. “NOW.”
I shook my head. “No, I can help.”
My mother and Sebastian exchanged a look, while Aunty Triska and Evie worked to keep the twins close, as they jogged forward toward safety. Before I had a chance to argue, Sebastian swept me into his arms, carrying me through the streets of Ophelia like I was a damn damsel in distress.
“Put me the fuck down.” I seethed.
Sebastian ignored me, following quickly behind my mother as she opened the door to Uncle Thrainn’s house.
His home sat on an incline, just above the rest of town–not by accident, but by design. As chief, the position carried weight, and so did the structure itself. It was larger than most, more refined, a quiet declaration of the role he held and the respect he commanded.
The stone entry floor met my feet as Sebastian gently set me down, giving me a wide berth like I was a wild beast.
And at the moment, I was.
“ What the fuck?” Rage consumed me, becoming a living, breathing entity.
“Emylia!” I ignored my mother’s outrage as I squared up against Sebastian, rising to my full height and staring him down like I could rip flesh from bone.
Sebastian slowly raised his hands in surrender. “I was only doing what the chief asked.”
“Looks like I have a bone to pick with him then.”
I tried sidestepping Sebastian, who had placed himself between me and the door, but he was too fast, moving his enormous frame so it completely blocked my path.
“I can’t let you do that,” he said.
I resisted the urge to take a running start at him and take him to the ground. “Why. The. FUCK. Not?”
Sebastian took a step forward, leveling his gaze with mine, imploring me to listen to reason.
“He’s the chief, Emylia. What would you have me do?” My gaze softened, but only marginally. “And if you haven’t noticed, you’re not the only one missing out on all the action. I’m confined here too. I had orders.”
A breath of hot air escaped my lungs before I could stop it–fast, uncontrolled–heat curling off my skin like steam.
“Fuck this.” I tried to sidestep Sebastian again but with an ease that sent my stomach on fire, he stopped me a second time.
With infinite patience, he took my hand in his, cupping my fingers. His eyes were all-consuming, but his voice was soft. “He promised your dad he would protect you. That’s what he’s doing. That’s what I’m doing.”
I heard a soft sob from my mother, who stood behind me. Realizing that I was being unreasonable, I took a long breath in and tried to rationalize my need to go and see what was happening outside.
I will protect her.
“I can help.” The words whooshed from me with a weight that would crush bone.
My need to take action demanded me to listen, this is why I trained so damn hard. So, I could protect the people I loved. What was the point if my uncle forbade me?
Before I had a chance to argue, my mother’s frantic voice silenced us. “There’s someone here.”
Sebastian and I both stopped moving, stopped breathing. We stood still, listening to the silence beyond the walls–ears straining for something, anything.
Every creak, every shift in the wind felt like a warning. We weren’t just waiting for noise–we were waiting for the kind that meant danger. That something didn’t belong.
Something… wrong.
The dagger was in my hand in a heartbeat, but I wasn’t sure it would be enough. I swept my gaze across the entryway, not for comfort–but for something sharp, heavy, or breakable. Anything I could use as a weapon, if it came to that.
There was a wooden table on one side with a bronze figurine of Ryker, the Goddess of the rivers and the winding paths of this world. If I had to, I’d make the Goddess into a lethal weapon.
My eyes drifted further, catching sight of a dagger mounted on the wall, another weapon in my arsenal, if I needed. Both weapons were within reach if necessary, at least for someone with my skillset.
A hallway led out from one side of the room, but it was dark, and no candles were lit anywhere else in the house save the entry. If luck was on our side we would only be attacked from the front door, but if we were ambushed from the back as well, I’d be ready.
Without asking, Sebastian stepped in front of me, protecting me with his entire being.
Jackass .
“I can look after myself.” I spat.
“Not going to happen.”
Graceful steps carried my mother to the front window; judiciously, she peered through the window before taking a relieved breath. “It’s fine. It’s Thrainn.”
Sebastian visibly relaxed, crossing his arms over his chest as Thrainn stormed inside.
My uncle was a broody force, all dark, lugubrious features as he studied his wife, his daughters and finally me—making sure there wasn’t a single scratch on us.
I stepped forward, fixing him with a gaze that could melt stone. “Seriously?”
He ignored my comment. “The man is a wounded villager from Mera. They were attacked.”
My blood ran cold. “What?”
“I’ve sent out scouts. No one leaves this room until I know it’s safe.” Thrainn exchanged a look with my mother. “Triska and the girls will stay here with you, Sebastian. I’ve assembled an entourage to keep you safe. Do not leave the house.” Thrainn turned, not bothering to cast me a second glance.
“I can help,” I said again.
He ignored me, making his way to the door.
Sprinting to catch up, I grabbed his hand. “Please,” I implored.
Thrainn whipped on me so fast, I stumbled backward. Thick hands grasped my shoulders, his eyes leveling with mine; I could see frustration and weariness in the dark depths of his eyes.
“And what are you going to do, Emylia? Break the law in front of a search party? Show the entire town that I do not respect our laws, even with my own kin? It is time to stop being a child and start understanding your role in this world .” He let out a harsh breath, realizing that his words would wound me deeply.
“ I promised I’d protect you .” Obsidian eyes swam with grief so deep that it caressed the wound he opened in me. “Do not make me break my promise.” His voice was a low growl. The venom in his eyes sent a chill through me.
Frozen by the weight of his stare, I caved. “Fine, I’ll stay here.” I seethed.
“Sebastian, show Maalikai around, he’s going to help you in here.” With that, he stepped to the side, allowing entrance to someone else.
The man in question stepped inside.
Time slowed as my gaze caught Maalikai’s. His black shirt clung to him, now adorned with a symphony of daggers strapped across his frame–each one glinting in unapologetic glory, like they weren’t just weapons, but my own personal challenge. Daring me to steal one.
“ Him ?” Sebastian seethed, commanding my attention.
It was my mother who answered him , resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine, Sebastian.” The look exchanged between them made my stomach twist uncomfortably.
What in Nexus was going on here?
I didn’t know what, but I could feel it in my very core, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Uncle Thrainn nodded once in my mother’s direction; his eyes darkened, wrinkles etching around the creases of his eyes.
“Ari, I need your skills as a healer; can you come with me?” he addressed my mother in an authoritative cadence. She nodded, and without another word he left, my mother following behind.
As soon as the door closed behind them, I whipped on Sebastian. “What the fuck was that?” I thundered.
“I was protecting you,” Sebastian shot back.
“I don’t need your Gods-damned protection.” Being shut down by Sebastian and my uncle had wounded me more deeply than I could express.
“Em…” Sebastian gave me a piercing look, but I ignored him.
“I’m going to bed.” I had no intention of sleeping, but he didn’t need to know that.
The look he gave me sliced me to the core. “You don’t want to stay up and wait for information?”
I glared at him and he didn’t argue further. “It’s not like there’s much else to do being imprisoned in here,” I shot over my shoulder as I headed to one of the spare rooms down the hall that had officially become my own.
“The knife, Emylia.”
Crap.
I’d hoped he’d forgotten that he’d given it to me, but I guess I wasn’t that lucky. Without tearing my eyes from his, I slammed it hard against the wooden tabletop, sticking my finger up at him as I backed away.
With a huff, I slammed my door behind me, hoping it would deter Sebastian from coming and checking on me anytime soon. Truthfully, I needed him to stay away. It was the only way I would get a chance to sneak out and find out what was really going on.
Shrugging out of the extravagant dress that still encumbered my body, I riffled through the bag my mom had stored for me at the house. A metallic gleam of a buckle clasp, caught my eye. A shirt I shouldn’t even own stared up at me—a corset sewn full of blade sheaths—daring me to wear it. What had inspired me to put that in the bag this morning?
A burning desire to wear it consumed me. I had to remind myself that it was forbidden; I would be banished and branded if anyone were to find out. The other option was an emerald dress. There was no way I could wear it, not when I needed to be stealth on speed. The dress would only slow me down and get me caught.
Fuck it.
Two minutes later, I sheathed the four knives I’d packed, into the tight, black corset along with the two knives at my hips. Luckily, Sebastian had forgotten about them.
I wove my hair into a tight braid, fingers moving fast. The last thing I needed was for it to unravel mid-fight–and get me killed.
As silently as possible I cracked open the window. The sound ricocheted through the room loudly enough that I knew someone had to have heard it down the hall. Before I could be caught, I dived onto my bed, chucking the sheets over me.
I listened, counting to fifty, as I waited for Sebastian to bust into the room.
He didn’t come.
Lifting the window until it was open just enough for me to fit out, I maneuvered myself outside, landing silently on my feet.
It was pitch-black outside, and I blended into the shadows. Darting between the houses, I used the darkness to hide my silhouette. Quietly, I made my way through town until I came to the healer’s quarters where I assumed they had taken the injured man and my mother. She would have all the supplies she needed there.
It was a large wooden building near the center of town. All four corner posts had individually been carved with depictions of the Goddess of healing, Callisto.
A concoction of herbs carried on the breeze; the earthy yet sweet aroma of willow bark used for pain relief. Devil’s claw, which also had a subtle woodsy smell. Then there were the more potent herbs like tea tree, which was great for infections, or thyme, which could be used for coughs, or congestion.
The copious hours listening to my father and uncle retelling their ‘battle’ days and defense strategies, were invaluable. Having prior knowledge of where my uncle would position his guards, made it easy to slip in and out of blind spots without getting caught.
Pressing myself hard against the wall, I kept close to the building until I made my way around to the window, which was conveniently set at my eye-level.
The window was cracked ajar, open enough so the voices inside carried to me with ease.
“Ari,” I heard my uncle say softly.
I sneaked a peek through the sheer curtains, watching my mother step forward and examine the injured man’s wounds. Afraid I would be caught, I retreated to the shadows, hoping I wasn’t too late to hear crucial information.
The man lay on the clean bed and looked just as bad as when I had seen him in the town square. Although he still looked rough, the pain appeared more manageable now–my mother must’ve already started healing him.
“Can you tell us what happened?” my mother asked with a gentleness I envied.
The man gave a watery cough, but answered, “We had our scouts surrounding us north, south, and west. The mountains barricade us from the east, so we didn’t bother having many sentries on that side.” Another coughing fit rocked through his body before he continued. “Not a murmur of warning was heard before we were under attack as if we had no sentries at all. It was like they appeared from thin air. One second, there was no one, the next, everyone was slaughtered.”
There was a question in the man’s voice as if he had no idea how the army had been eviscerated.
“I was lucky; I must’ve passed out after I was wounded, and they thought I was dead. When I awoke, the army was gone.”
“Is there any way to tell which way they retreated?” my uncle asked.
His voice was somber. “No, but I walked south from Mera, and I didn’t see anyone between there and here.”
So absorbed in the conversation inside that I didn’t sense another presence until a hand pressed firmly against my mouth, blocking any sound from escaping.
My eyes snapped to the glacial depths of Maalikai’s eyes, barely visible from the candlelight shining from inside the building.
He towered above me, his obsidian hair falling over his eyes, shadowing their depths. “What do you think you’re doing?” he growled through gritted teeth.
I lifted my head in defiance, my eyes scorching his, unafraid of his wrath, even though he had me pinned. I wasn’t sure what was worse–the icy wood at my back, or the sinful press of muscle against me, so taut it felt like a punishment.
One I wasn’t entirely mad about.
It was madding–feeling this much of him and not being able to do a damn thing about it. The way my body responded, just from his nearness, the weight of him pressed against me–was its own kind of betrayal. A surrender I hadn’t agreed to.
Slowly, he released my mouth so I could answer.
“Finding out what the fuck is going on since no one is going to tell me,” I hissed back, careful not to raise my voice above a whisper.
“This is your grand plan? Sneak off by yourself where you can easily get yourself killed or caught?”
My eyes narrowed. “You assume I would be killed.”
“Or caught,” he added. Without warning, a glacial blade pressed against the base of my throat. “See how easy it is for me to break through your defenses?”
I raised one single brow and moved without warning. “See how easy it is for me to break through yours,” I spat back.
His eyes dropped between us, where my hand tightly grasped a blade that was pressed uncomfortably close to a region I assumed he would love to stay intact.
His lips twitched as though he was trying hard not to smile. “Touche.”
“I’d rather be a warrior who defies the rules than a girl who cannot fight.” My words were coated in a layer of venom that prickled goosebumps along my skin.
“Am I interrupting?” I almost jumped at the soft sound of Sebastian’s voice.
A wave of guilt spread through me so quickly that my limbs filled with ice. Somehow, I’d forgotten all about Sebastian.
How long had he been searching for me?
“Sebastian, I um…" A pang of guilt rendered me speechless.
Furrowing his brows, Sebastian’s mouth formed a thin line, only enhancing his disapproval. “Didn’t stay in the Gods-damned house!”
Acid churned in the base of my stomach, reacting to the hysteria in his voice. “I suppose you could say that.”
His mouth pursed. “You suppose I could say that? I’ve been worried sick that something happened to you and here you are with your big-shot boyfriend without a care in the world. I should’ve known you would do something idiotic,” he whisper-shouted at me, his hands gesticulating in anger.
I was speechless; Maalikai was not. With a hand protectively remaining on my arm, he squared up against Sebastian.
“It’s fine; I kept an eye on her,” he growled, primitive rage barely harnessed.
“I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on me.” I spat back, but they both ignored me.
Hatred ignited in Sebastian’s eyes, glowing the darkest shade of scarlet. Power crackled through him, the pulse a magnetic pull as if it beckoned me, his eyes imbuing frozen rage that was akin to my own. Nostrils flared as he turned his barely restrained wrath on Maalikai. Lips curled back in rage, teeth bared—feral, furious, and barely controlled.
“Was I talking to you, bud?”
My stomach balked at the sheer intensity of Sebastian’s voice, but Maalikai didn’t falter. “She was never in any real danger.”
The look in Sebastian’s eyes chilled me to the bone. “You’ve known her for all of two damn seconds. She deserves way more than anything you’ve to give, so I’ll give you a hot tip. Back the fuck away.”
Whoa.
“Sebastian!”
Never, not even once, had I heard Sebastian talk like that.
His eyes were on me in a heartbeat. “Don’t let me get started on you. I expected more from you . You’re better than this.”
What. The. Heck.
My eyes betrayed my hurt. Pushing myself past Maalikai, I rose to my full height, standing my ground against my best friend.
“You don’t mean that.” For a second, I swear I saw a flicker of remorse. “Take it back.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to say something, but before he had the chance, a shadow cast over all three of us, rendering us speechless. Tearing my eyes from Sebastian’s, I looked up to see my uncle.
Maalikai moved defensively to my side, his fingers brushing against mine.
Protectively.
The way it made me feel was a sin in itself.
Damn. Him.
“My house. Now.” There was no room in Thrainn’s voice for argument. It was an order of the highest decree.
Without a word of complaint, the three of us walked silently through the streets until we were safely back inside Thrainn’s house. Sebastian ushered me inside my room, closing the door behind us, waiting for Thrainn to arrive.
Only two minutes passed before Thrainn stormed in, his features curled into a furious grimace.
“What in Nexus do you think you were doing?” he shouted without preamble.
If he thought he could intimidate me, he was sorely mistaken. I knew I’d stuffed up, but he had started it.
“You want to treat me like a damn child, then I’ll act like one.”
He took a threatening step forward. “It’s your life we’re talking about.”
“Then next time, be transparent with me. And let me help instead of sending guard dogs to protect me.”
“You li-” Suddenly, my uncle stopped. He stared at me with shock and then let out a low chuckle, rubbing a massive hand down his face, a breath of exasperation escaping him.
“You are so much like my brother, Gods rest his soul. And instead of teaching it out of you, he encouraged you to see yourself as invincible. But mark my words, lass, someday your recklessness will get someone hurt, or worse.” He opened his palms as if deciding to move on from a teenager’s angst and poor choices. “Fine, I’ll keep you informed, if you promise to do as you're told.”
I nodded, finally feeling comfortable with the agreement. But before I could utter the words, my uncle continued.
“But listen well; you want the responsibility of a warrior, aye?”
I nodded again, wondering where he was going with this. Uncle Thrainn stepped closer and stopped trying to soften his words or make himself more gentle. He leaned down so that his face was inches from mine, and he spoke without inflection, the strength in his words no longer that of a loving uncle but of a brutal commander.
“If you want to be a warrior, then you will be punished for insubordination like a warrior. You pull a stunt like that again, and disrespect my order, I will brand you myself and make sure you never touch another weapon as long as you live. Do I make myself clear?”
I swallowed, fear coating my tongue. He had never spoken to me like that. Ever. For the first time in my life, I saw him as the commander he was—the chief he was. And I realized how gentle he had been with me my entire life.
I glanced at Sebastian.
“Don’t look at him. He cannot save you.” He moved closer, stealing my air without apology. “Do I make myself clear?” he asked again.
My uncle was giving me the opportunity to be respected, if not by the town as a warrior, then by him.
I cleared my throat and met his gaze head-on, my emerald eyes unwavering, burning with sheer resolve. “Yes, you are clear.”
He took a moment to watch me closely, then nodded, stepping back. “Fine. We have scouts patrolling our perimeter tonight. I have already sent men to Mera to gather information. They should arrive back with word by morning.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. He was going to keep his end of the bargain as long as I kept mine. I could be respectful and follow the rules.
I could.
I knew I could.
“Okay, what do you want me to do?”
“Where is your bow?”
Confusion shadowed my face, but I didn’t question him. “It’s broken.”
“Can you make one yourself?”
I shook my head. My father had never taught me. He had gone over the basics, but I was more interested in the active training that involved fighting and hunting than sitting and carving.
“Fine. Once I know it’s safe, Sebastian and Maalikai will train you. They will teach you to make a bow in case you are ever separated from anyone. Until then, you will remain here, in the safety of my home or with armed guards while inside Ophelia.” A smile hitched my lips but the look on his face made it falter. “You must promise.”
I nodded enthusiastically. “What about everyone else? If anyone finds out I’ve been touching weapons and training, they’ll want retribution. I’ll be banished and branded.”
“Only guards that have sworn their fealty to me directly and have my complete trust will be allowed to watch over you. They will take this secret to their grave. Not a single word to anyone else.”
I nodded.
An exasperated sigh escaped him as he ran a hand over his face. “Times like this call for desperate measures. Let me deal with anyone who would demand your punishment.”
My heart swelled at the sentiment. Uncle Thrainn would defy every single rule to protect me—this was the uncle I knew and loved.
“Off to bed, you’ll need rest if you want to become a ‘badass warrior.’” A twitch of a smile lifted the side of his lips.
Only a second passed before I was in my uncle’s embrace, his behemoth arms wrapping around me, squeezing me in a giant hug.
“Never scare me like that again.” His words were a soft whisper, his voice betraying just how worried he’d been. His voice muffled in my hair. “I can’t lose you too.”
“I love you,” I whispered back.
His arms grew impossibly tighter. “I love you, too.”
Without a word, he released me, retreating out of the room with Sebastian, closing the door quietly behind him.
Alone at last, a smile tugged at my lips.
I was finally going to be a warrioress.