CHAPTER 9 #2
“She should be warned about the troubles of the Realms then, brother.” Koen locks eyes with Florian.
“It's a long story…” Florian tries to speak.
“Centuries ago, a war broke out.” Koen walks over to the stable, grabbing reins and saddles for the two of them. Utterly ignoring his brother. “One day, darkness covered the skies and sea once the last Deskyiara bloodline was swept dry from the lands of Azure.”
Florian grabs the pearl-white saddle, tossing it on his horse’s back. “Should we really be telling her this? How are we sure she’s not from…”
A deep bellow escapes Koen’s lip. As if the thought of me being someone Florian thinks I am is a hilarious thought. “Do you truly believe she is from Edrelas, the Darklands? I mean…” he takes a dragged out pause, his eyes tracing every detail of my body, “look at her.”
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
My eyes narrow into thin, sharp slits, a clear reflection of my growing irritation.
I want him to know, to feel my annoyance of his aggravating presence.
I can’t believe I thought he could be charming.
Just moments ago, his words bit at my nerves, setting the initial spark of frustration.
Now, with each passing second, his obnoxious behavior is fueling the fire that is burning inside me.
I should have trusted my gut from the start and not let that moment of weakness cloud my judgment.
“Oh, now what does that mean?” I hiss.
His eyes widen as he straps on his black leather saddle, licking his bottom lip before his eyes lock onto mine. “You don’t look like any warrior I’ve seen in the Darklands. Let alone, a spy. You're weak. Fragile. The women there are…”
He drags out the words, but before he can finish ,Florian steps in. “They are ruthless, killing machines. Something we haven’t seen in you, which is what Koen is trying to say.” He growls at Koen before throwing a sack into his chest.
Koen chuckles, grabbing it before it falls to the ground. “Yeah, sure, brother.” Koen shrugs one of his shoulders, tying the leather sack to his saddle. “That’s what I was going to say.”
“You are right. I am certainly no spy or a killer.” I give Koen a death stare as finds this whole situation amusing. “But I am curious about what you were trying to say. What about the gifts from the Gods?”
Florian hops on his horse, the silver reins sparkling like the ice wall behind them. “We have a long journey. Koen can explain everything then.” He tugs his horse to the side, prancing towards the main gates of the castle walls.
My body turns, watching Florian leave me with… Koen.
“Absolutely not.” I cross my arms with furrowed brows. “I am not riding with you.”
“Florian cannot be seen with another woman, Skie would lose her shit.” He hops on Zeei with grace and offers his hand, the markings on his arm peeking through his shirt once again. “You are stuck with me, Serene.”
My jaw clenches as my leg taps the ground with irritation. I toss my head back to the sky that begins to darken with the oncoming night and let out a huge annoyed sigh.
“After you tell me the story of what happened when the Deskyiara bloodline vanished,” I grab his hand, “you'll be officially on mute for the rest of this trip. Understand?”
An impressive huff escapes from his lush, full lips as if the command I have given him is both unexpected and mildly entertaining. His brows lift. “You have my word, little Spark, and I never go back on my word.”
My hand tightens around his, lifting myself up on my toes as I hiss. “My name is Serene.”
“Whatever you say, but the rage I see in your eyes lights a spark I have never seen before with any woman.” With a single, powerful tug, he hoists me up onto the horse.
My thighs slide smoothly across the horse's broad, muscular back, before I finally settle into a comfortable position.
As my hand glides along the horse, I notice there is no chill radiating off of his body.
A spark in my eyes? What does that even mean?
“Zeei doesn’t produce the cold, his armor just represents the God of ice.
The God of our realm here in Nilak, which you will hear all about on our voyage to the Queen.
Only if he is threatened will he freeze another.
” Koen glances over his shoulder at me, his dark, chestnut hair swaying perfectly around his sharp jawline.
I rip my gaze away from him within seconds.
“Tell Zeei to ride,” I grunt as I hesitantly wrap my arms around his broad, solid frame.
Pausing before touching him, I glide my fingers across his stomach, the fabric of his suit straining against the muscles beneath, which I can feel flexing under my fingertips.
He places his hand over mine, his hand warm and firm, yet gentle, guiding mine to pull me even closer against him.
“He goes fast,” he warns, his voice dropping to a low growl. “No matter how much I might infuriate you on this journey, no matter how much you want to scream or push me away as you hold on to me… whatever happens…” his eyes soften as they lock on to mine, “do not let go.”