Chapter 17 #2
When we stopped after the sun went down, Vaelor continued to maintain his distance. I heard him offering to keep watch all night, considering a spirit didn’t need sleep. It didn’t matter, I told myself. I ate and then rolled out my mat.
I covered up in my bedroll and tried to watch the fire and not search for him.
It was the excitement of finally finding Gerand that kept me awake, not the thought of Vaelor’s justified annoyance, my guilt, and the twinge of fear at the idea of setting him free.
Sometime, when the flames had faded and those around me were long asleep, I managed to slip off into slumber.
When I awoke, I found Vaelor huddled close, watching me.
I stretched, enjoying his nearness and being the center of his gaze.
I took in the way his shirt tightened over his massive shoulders and how the muscles in his legs bulged when he squatted.
My fingers itched, wanting to run my hands over those muscles to feel their hardness under my hand.
Shit. Was I allowed to have these thoughts of the demon who had been my captor only a couple of days before?
I rubbed my eyes, drowsy and unwilling to lay claim to my normal inhibitions.
My thoughts wandered to the daydream I’d had of him the other day—me on top of him, completely bare, and I was annoyed that clothes were such an inconvenient barrier between us.
“Do you enjoy watching me sleep?” I asked in a sultrier voice than intended.
He leaned close, his glowing gaze sparking to life with a dark heat. “You certainly are needy when you wake, aren’t you?”
I squeezed my legs together, realizing he was scenting my desire. Fuck. “I hate demons.”
A slow smile curled up his lips. “I was going to tell you it was time to rise. Half the camp is already cleaning up, but if you had something else in mind, I can oblige.” He reached out and stroked my cheek with his icy touch.
Gods, the ache between my legs only intensified. I pictured him taking me into the woods where we’d be alone. I imagined the feel of his hands on my body, his lips caressing my most forbidden spots, granting me all the pleasure that a tavern boy couldn’t.
“Time to get up, Denara. We’ll be leaving soon,” Mother called from across the camp.
Vaelor retracted his hand, straightening.
I blinked hard and rubbed the sleep from my eyes one more time.
A hollow ache in my chest threatened to surface, but I shoved it aside, kicked free of my blankets, and hurried out of my bedroll before I could dwell on it.
After a quick breakfast and a brief trip into the forest to relieve myself, I rolled up my bedroll and tied it to my horse, ready to leave.
It was nearly a half-day’s trek by the time we arrived outside Mirvarax’s domain. We huddled at the forest’s edge on a hill that overlooked the valley where the massive walled estate spread. Two burly demons guarded the front gate.
“The servants will be within the compound, near the back,” Vaelor said. “There is the official entrance around the front that I’ll go in and a smaller, guarded rear entrance that allows servants out to work in the fields.”
“There’s a chance Gerand might be in the fields,” Bargoth said.
“We can’t expect that,” Mother countered.
I nodded in agreement with her. “How can we sneak in if guards stand at both entrances?” I asked.
“Distraction,” Vaelor said. “I’ll enter at the front.
Once I meet with Mirvarax and make my request, then I assume he’ll pull those two brutish guards along with others to the manor.
Two smaller guards will replace them. That is when Bargoth will lead a small skirmish on the south fields and draw any remaining guards away. ”
“Hopefully, leaving the compound clear for us to search among the servants for Gerand,” I said.
There were six of us that would enter in pairs, searching for Gerand.
Another six would search the fields. We had half an hour to look, and then we’d meet behind the barn.
If we hadn’t found Gerand, we’d hope that the field searchers had located him.
I’d given a detailed report of what he looked like, but it was dangerous.
Who knew how many human boys worked on the estate?
“I’ll go in first,” said Vaelor. “Give me about twenty minutes. Feron will keep watch in the trees above, and when he sees demons moving toward the manor house, that is your cue.” As if he sensed my mounting worry, he stroked a finger across my face. “Watch out for each other and be careful.”
I leaned into him, enjoying his touch. My anxiety ebbed and my fierceness grew. “We will.”
He turned and spread his wings, launching into the sky, circling the estate until he came to the front side before dropping to the ground.
“The rest of us should get into position,” Bargoth said. He and the others left along with the six that were to search the fields.
“We should also get into a better position,” Mother said. We climbed down the hill and made our way through the forest.
As we walked, Erlinen fell into step beside me.
“He cares for you,” she said. “More than he should.”
Warmth curled in my chest at the thought of Vaelor having feelings for me. No one had ever said it aloud before, but hearing it spoken made me realize it was probably true. Yet there was something in Erlinen’s tone that made it sound too much like a warning.
“I’m sorry if you disapprove of your master caring for a lowly human,” I said.
“It’s not that.” She slowed her steps until we were at the rear of the group. “The master has lost too much already.”
A chill swept through me. “You mean his wife and his sister?”
“And his people.”
“His people?”
“Yes, the ones that lived on his land. A neighboring landholder named Creedan.” She spat out the name. “He came in and abducted them into captivity. Vaelor has felt responsible ever since. He’s always trying to free them, to no avail.”
My brow furrowed as I considered what she’d said. “Vaelor has lost quite a bit.”
“He has.” Her gaze was earnest. “So you see why you need to let him go.”
I clutched the finger around my neck as something inside automatically threw a wall up against her words. “No, I don’t see.”
The others had gathered ahead of us, and I realized we were in position. “We are here. Keep it down,” Mother said.
I moved closer, but Erlinen caught my arm. “You can’t be with him in the end. If the master loses someone else, I—I am unsure of what he will do.”
Gods, she was talking about my death if I chose to stay with Vaelor. But was staying with Vaelor even an option?
And yet, deep down, every part of me rebelled at her words. I bit my lip, my own pain magnifying. “There has to be a way to save his people.”
Erlinen’s eyes grew wider. “But there is more you don’t under?—”
I extricated myself from her grip and moved up next to my mother, if only to keep Erlinen from insisting again that leaving Vaelor was the only way. I refused to hear any more of her explanations.
“Is everything all right, dear?” Mother asked.
“Everything is fine,” I lied.
We waited quietly until one of the others pointed out, “There is Feron. He is giving the signal.”