3. Chapter 3 #2
“I see that,” he says quietly, stepping away from me. “Save your energy. You’re going to need it where we’re going.”
“And where might that be?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “Ready to turn me in? Cash in on whatever ransom there might be?”
Our breaths mingle in the cold air, and we're close enough to feel the warmth radiating from each other's skin. For a heartbeat, neither of us moves. Then Onyx's voice drops.
“Not that it's any of your concern, but there is no ransom for me doing my duty as Captain of the Shadow Guard.
And even if there were, I wouldn't have taken it.” His gaze settles on me.
“I've watched you for days. It would've hardly been a challenge to catch you while you wandered aimlessly through that rubble you call home.”
That arrogant smirk appears again and I immediately want to punch him. Partly for insulting my village. Partly for pointing out that I never noticed him watching me.
“And now that you've proven your point,” he continues, “we're going to finish this conversation without stabbing each other.” He arches a brow and the smirk remains.
Gods help me. The man is infuriating.
I hesitate before sliding my dagger back into its sheath. My heart is still hammering, half from rage and half from the thrill of proving him wrong, but I decide to hear him out. Not because I trust him, but because I want answers.
Onyx watches me for a moment longer before speaking again. “As I was about to explain,” he says, dragging a hand through his hair, “my mission was to find you first. To bring you to the palace alive.”
I stare him down, refusing to look away. “You’re a monster, you know that?”
His jaw tightens. “I never said I wasn’t a monster. Only that I’m not your monster.”
“That doesn’t really mean anything, now does it?”
“I saved you.” His voice is low but firm. “Those soldiers at the cottage were not ordinary guards. One of the king’s Acolytes was with them. If he’d touched you—if he’d sensed even a flicker of the power you used on that boy … ” He shakes his head. “You would not be as safe as you are right now.”
Something in his expression darkens. “His name is Gavin.” He pauses, blowing out a frustrated breath. “And he is extremely creative with his methods of torture.”
By now my hands are trembling, but I keep my face stoic and do my best to hide the storm raging inside me.
I’m feeling entirely too many things. Anger.
Confusion. Fear. All of them battle for control, each one demanding to be heard louder than the last. On the one hand, Onyx is right.
A far worse fate may have awaited me had the Acolytes found me first.
But the lie—the omission, whatever he wants to call it—is inexcusable.
“So instead I’m supposed to thank you for kidnapping me?” I place my hands on my hips and cock my head to the side.
“I didn’t kidnap you,” he shoots back immediately. “I’m escorting you.”
“That does not make this any better!” I throw my arms into the air.
Onyx sighs through his nose, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“Listen to me. You know the king placed a bounty on anyone with unregistered gifts. Acolytes have the right to kill on sight, and despite his orders to bring you to the palace alive, some of his guards are less morally restrained than me. If you had stayed in that village, you would be chained—or worse—before you ever reached the capital.”
My pulse hammers against my throat. “You realize that doesn’t make you my savior, right?”
“Yes,” Onyx says with a shrug. “I never claimed I was one.”
He lifts his hands again, giving me every opportunity to attack him.
“My orders were to find you and bring you to the capital alive, alone, and unharmed. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
“Bring me to the palace,” I repeat bitterly. “To the very man hunting me.”
“That is no business of mine.” His gaze drifts away.
Interesting. He can't seem to look me in the eye when he says it.
A shadow crosses his expression. “The king is the only man who won’t harm you the moment he sees what you are. He’s obsessed with people who possess gifts like yours.” His face settles into something unreadable. “More specifically, he’s obsessed with finding you.”
Wonderful. Exactly what every woman dreams of.
“I don’t want to be the Shadow King’s obsession.”
“Well,” Onyx says with a heavy sigh, “you don’t get a choice.”
My breath catches. White-hot anger flares through me as I drag a hand through my hair. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Onyx tracking the movement.
“You tricked me,” I say, shaking my head. Somehow that hurts more than everything else. “You made me think I was escaping the guards.” I begin pacing. Do I run? Do I keep traveling with him? Neither option appeals to me.
“You’re an insufferable ass.”
“I did what I had to do to bring you to the king, unharmed.”
The ease with which he says it makes me want to throw a particularly large rock at his head.
“What if I had told you who I was?” he asks. “Would you have come?”
My jaw clenches. “Never. I would never have followed you.”
The answer leaves my mouth instantly because it’s the truth. I would have run. Probably straight into those guards or the Acolytes. Onyx had, in all honesty, probably saved my life. Unfortunately, rational thought is not on the agenda. I want to stay upset. I need to stay upset with him.
“Exactly,” Onyx says quietly.
An uncomfortable silence settles between us. Neither of us seems particularly pleased with how the afternoon has unfolded. Finally, Onyx stands and adjusts his cloak.
“We’ll ride to the next village and stop for the night.” He pauses. “Hate me all you want, but I am your safest monster.”
My stomach twists as I contemplate his words.
“And Lyra?”
I look up, noticing for once, there is no smirk, nor sarcasm. Not even a faint trace of amusement. Only seriousness.
“Your life truly depends on it.”
Then he turns and walks away. I want to fire back a retort. I want to tell him exactly what he can do with his concern. But the words die before they reach my lips. What am I even supposed to say?
My fury is still there, sharp and raw, but fear has wrapped itself around it now, cold and heavy. I draw several slow breaths. Gods, I need a strong drink.
If I’m honest with myself, deep down, I know Onyx isn’t lying. And I’m not sure which truth bothers me more: That Onyx serves the king. Or that, against all reason, he may actually be trying to save my life.