Chapter 8 Lyra
Lyra
“This is ridiculous,” Eres runs a hand through his hair for the fourth time in as many minutes, explaining the riotous curls. He gestures at me. “She’s not a threat. She can barely walk.”
“We have no idea if it’s a threat or not,” Duskbane counters, his voice level. “I’m not taking it through the castle without precautions.”
He steps closer to Eres, but the other male turns away, storming out through the door. Duskbane’s eyes flicker before he follows, yanking me behind him. “Keep up, or I’ll drag you.”
My cheeks burn as I stumble. Duskbane uses his erevas as easily as I use my own luminth, it appears. Dark ropes of shadow form a link between us, wrapping around my ankles, binding my wrists, looping my neck and even my mouth, acting as a gag.
Ass.
Another phantom tug at my wrists pulls me forward as he stalks away without bothering to look at me. My hands burn as I try to follow without falling, each step sending a pulse of pain through my stomach.
Eres reappears a moment later, pushing past Duskbane and reaching for my elbow. His lips press together as he grabs it, steadying me.
“Slower,” Eres snaps at the male stalking down the hall ahead of us. “Fucking hell, Kae.”
Kae stops. Turns, and we pause as he raises his finger to point at Eres. “You are pushing on my last damn nerve. You brought one of them—a Lightbringer, into the castle without telling me. You put yourself an—at risk, Eres. No more. Do not test my fucking patience anymore today.”
“There wasn’t time.” Eres stands his ground. “I told you.”
Silver eyes sweep over my body. “It seemed more than warm enough when I walked in on the three of you.”
Oh. Oh.
Eres chokes. “You can’t think—”
“I’m not thinking anything.” Duskbane turns once more, striding away. “But I’m telling you that I am done talking.”
Eres sighs, but he doesn’t say anything else as he takes my arm again. My thoughts churn.
Kaelen Duskbane and the healer. That’s a complication I hadn’t considered. It wasn’t in any of the notes I received on him. Not that there were many, aside from physical details and his gifts on the battlefield.
We follow Kaelen Duskbane down a long, dark passage.
Each side holds tall, intricately carved pillars that stretch to the ceiling, leading to similarly carved arches that appear at regular intervals above our heads.
Torches set against the wall flicker with light every few feet in between narrow, arched windows that blast cold air across my face and let in just a little of the grey, murky light from outside.
“Damn it,” Eres mutters. “Kae, wait a minute. And take that gag out.”
I’m shaking again. Umbraxis is much, much colder than I expected—almost as cold as the Veilspire. The pressure against my mouth vanishes as quickly as it appeared. “Why is it so c-cold?”
Eres isn’t wearing a cloak. The shirt he gave me is thick, but not thick enough to stop the chill. He frowns. “You’ll adjust, but you’ve just woken up. You’ll likely feel the effects for a while. Kae, I need your cloak.”
Silence. “Absolutely fucking not.”
I would rather freeze than accept any help from him. I’m about to snap it before I remember that I’m supposed to be attempting to charm him. I force a half-smile. “I’m fine. Thank you, Eres.”
The effect is somewhat ruined by my teeth chattering. Ahead of us, Duskbane snorts.
My face flames, and I raise my voice to address him. “You clearly don’t want to offer your cloak. What else should I say?”
His brow raises, and I press my lips together, squeezing my eyes shut.
My stomach is aching, my fingers are burning as if someone is holding them to the fire, and yet the shaking doesn’t ease.
Warmth settles around my shoulders. Deep, silver eyes glimmer at me when my eyes open. “You can keep it. I prefer my clothes untouched by witch-filth.”
He turns without another word, yanking on his shadow-leash and pulling me forward. “They’ve been waiting long enough.”