24. Mare #2
The large Solheart's gaze settled on Liam. "You're with a foul-blood?" He stalked around us. "Isn't this place a little too nice for you?"
"Isn't it too paltry for you?" Liam snapped. "What are Solhearts even doing here?"
Before I could blink, the larger Solheart shoved past me. He grabbed Liam by the collar and slammed him against the wall. A lantern fell from its hook and shattered on the floor.
I ran forward, trying to get between them. "Let's all calm down!" I pressed a hand to the large man's chest, but it was like trying to move a boulder. "This is just a misunderstanding—”
The long-haired Solheart wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to his chest. "Why trouble yourself over filth?" He whispered in my ear.
My blood turned to ice. This man gazed upon me with an expression I'd never seen before.
Like I was no more than an animal. Meat. A mere thing he had every right to take and play with. I glanced around.
The bartender stood a few paces away, arms folded tightly, watching. The last of the crowd funneled outside, averting their gaze.
Nobody would stop a Solheart. If I fought back, I'd face punishment. Liam would be killed.
A tremor rattled through the floor as the hulking Solheart threw Liam to the ground. He spat on my brother, then turned to his friend. "You and Stormborn." He clicked his tongue. "I'll never understand it."
"Says the man who'd take an unconscious woman. I like them with a bit of fight," the smaller man drawled.
They were joking with one another. Like this was routine.
"Don't worry, dear," he said to me. "I'll cover your room. You look like you have a story. And I'm dying to hear it."
My hand twitched, reaching for Cierthine. The slimy Solheart's eyes flicked down, as though noticing for the first time that the blade I wore at my belt was no ordinary sword.
He faltered. The crowd hurrying outside parted with a gasp.
A third Solheart stormed into the room. A black cloak fluttered around his dark clothes. Platinum blond hair hung messily around his face, tied in a half-bun. Yellow, cat-like eyes flicked across the scene.
"Solathair's ass. Just my fucking luck," he spat. "I hear my messengers have finally arrived, and they're already starting brawls with the locals."
The Solheart released my waist and stepped back. "Calm yourself, Seradh. This foul blood was harassing us."
The new man, Seradh, glanced down at Liam, who was still sprawled on the floor. "Harassing you? From the floor?" He stalked toward us. "Get your asses into our room, and maybe I'll pretend I didn't see this."
The slimy Solheart rolled his eyes. "As you say, my lord." Bowing his head, he stalked away.
He shot me a lingering glance, eyes studying my body.
The ring of steel drew my eyes to the broad Solheart. He drew a knife from his belt and raised it to plunge through Liam's throat.
"Don't," Seradh barked. "I'm not in the mood to clean blood up."
The hulking man scoffed. Returning his knife to its sheath, he slammed his boot into Liam's side before whirling on his heel and following his mate.
A gasp of horror escaped my lips, though I tried to strangle it. Falling to Liam's side, I checked him for injuries. Blood trailed down the side of his face, and he looked dazed.
"You're an idiot," I hissed. "Talking like that to Solhearts."
"I'm an idiot?" Liam slurred. "You shouldn't have let him touch you then."
"Asshole," I murmured, helping him to his feet.
Lord Seradh stared at me, yellow eyes narrowing. "Mare Rohan,” he said. "Cierthine's new master."
"I am," I said. Nervous flutters danced in my heart. Would this man want me dead? "I'll have you know I'm under the protection—”
"Of Paragon Tiernan, I know,” he interrupted me. "He's right behind me, but I don't think he realized that."
I stared at him, confused. Lord Seradh tapped his wrist, as though counting the ticks of a clock. On the fifth, the door burst open, and Reese ran in, golden eyes wildly searching the room.
For me.
Seeing the Solheart, Reese's demeanor shifted. I'd seen it enough to notice it, now. Whenever I was in danger, his posture straightened, his pupils narrowed, his muscles clenched. One look into my eyes lit a fire in his. He threw himself between us, sword drawn.
"For your sake," he growled, leveling the blade at Seradh's throat. "I dearly hope you didn't touch her."
"I did no such thing." Lord Seradh raised a single finger and brushed the blade away. "The culprits went through the back door, if you're in a killing mood. The smaller one had his hands all over her."
Reese's grip on his rapier faltered.
Silence hung in the room for a long moment.
"Quinn?" Reese breathed.
"Reese," Lord Seradh responded tightly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Turns out, when you take your eyes off someone long enough . . . " He paused, “They can change into someone you hardly recognize."
Reese's hand tightened on his sword again, but he said nothing.
"Do take better care of your charges," Quinn Seradh said, eyes flicking to me. "Your faith in your fellow man will get her killed." Nodding stiffly, he walked past us, following his peers into the back room.
Liam wiped the blood from his face and slipped from my grip. "Old friend of yours?"
Reese sheathed his blade. "More of a ghost." He rested his hand on my face and gently turned my head, checking for injury. "I'm so sorry. Had I known Solhearts were here, I never would have left you alone."
"What would bring them here?" I asked, staring at the floor.
Warmth caressed my cheek as Reese's fingers slid down to my jawline and then pulled away. "Two Solhearts in white, one in black. A rare, but customary group to oversee the passing of a Paragon weapon."
For a moment, I wondered if they were here for me. For Cierthine.
But they would have gone to Aenir, not Muirashi. Not Tsuyan.
“Paragon Ishii . . .” I said.
"Is dead," Reese finished. He grabbed my wrist. "We can't stay here."
No, we most certainly couldn't. The Solhearts had laid claim to this place. I followed my Paragon, painfully aware of the heat on my wrist where his fingers wrapped around me.
Liam kept close to my side. "I'm fine, by the way. Since you didn't caress my cheek."
I turned scarlet and glared at my brother. He smiled sweetly in return.
Thankfully, Reese didn't seem to hear him. The Paragon was a man possessed, eyes darting about, searching for threats both present and past.
The hostile tension between Reese and Quinn could have sliced a man in half.
Cold air blew over my face as we stepped out onto the porch. Pulling from Reese's grip, I searched the area, but didn't find what I sought.
Reese stepped in front of me. "What's wrong?"
Saints, I was a disaster—a fraud.
Not two hours ago, I'd resolved to protect my prince, and already, I'd failed.
"Ferris.” I met Reese's eye. "Where is he?"