Chapter Twenty-Two Riela
Chapter Twenty-Two
Riela
Everything ached. Removing my pack felt like peeling a layer of skin from my bones. The mattress, soft and luxurious by any
standard, felt like lying on a hot stove. The only places that didn’t hurt were the ones pressed up against Garrick’s firm
back.
And we were pressed together, albeit while fully clothed. The bed was too small for anything else, and I was too tired to worry about
it. If he didn’t want me touching him, then he could sleep on the floor.
It was late into the night before I finally drifted into a fitful sleep, and when the sconces began to lighten—likely mimicking
the light outside, since this room had no windows—it felt like I hadn’t slept at all. I rubbed the grit from my eyes and took
stock of my body.
I still hurt, but it was more of a lingering throb than an acute pain. It really did feel like I’d been roasted from the inside
out, and I wondered what would’ve happened if Garrick hadn’t dragged me back into the trees.
Dying screaming wasn’t exactly high on my list of preferred ways to go.
Next to me, Garrick was still and quiet. He’d been hurt retrieving me. Had he stopped where the border was for him, or had
he intentionally stopped far enough back to give me false hope?
I mulled the answer to the sounds of his quiet breathing. I didn’t think he’d planned to trick me, which meant that where
he’d stopped was likely the boundary for his level of magic. I was far less powerful, so I’d nearly been able to slip past
the trees.
He’d said I couldn’t give my magic away, but what if he was wrong? Would I give up part of myself to be able to escape the
forest?
The answer wasn’t as clear as I’d expected. My magic might be unruly and unreliable, but it was mine. I’d saved my village with it. And if I could use it to stop the Blood King, then it might be worth more than freedom.
For a while, at least.
I wasn’t sure if I’d feel the same in two years or five or ten. How long would it be before the inability to escape chafed
me raw?
Garrick sat up an instant before the room rang like a struck gong. It was less a sound and more a vibration that rattled my
bones.
“What was that?” I asked as the sconces brightened to their full radiance.
The Etheri king slanted a glance at me, his expression unreadable. “The outermost protection charm just fell. They’ve been
working on it for most of the night.”
Adrenaline flooded my system and I jolted upright. “Are we in danger?”
His mouth twisted into an ominous smile. “No. But they are.” He stood with no indication of any lingering pain. “Stay here. I’ll be back shortly.”
I scrambled out of the bed. “Wait, you’re leaving? What if something happens?” I waved at the impenetrable stone surrounding
us. “How will I get out? I don’t want to die trapped in here. I’ll go with you.”
Moonlight magic crackled around him. “Do you think me unable to defend myself?”
I didn’t need his scowl to know that I should tread lightly. “No, of course not. That’s why I want to go with you. You left
me alone yesterday, and . . .” I trailed off as his expression turned faintly murderous.
“You will be safe here. No one will touch you,” he vowed darkly.
I did not point out that the Etheri yesterday hadn’t needed to touch me in order to hurt me. Though, to be fair, I’d mostly
hurt myself in an effort to resist his magic.
Garrick turned away, and I grabbed his arm without thinking, panic edging my thoughts. “Please,” I begged. “I’m already trapped by the forest. Please don’t trap me here. Take me with you. Or at least let me out. I’ll take my chances in the woods.”
I froze as he slowly turned back to me, but instead of the scowl I’d expected, I found his face was awash with something like
reluctant sympathy. He twisted his arm and captured my wrist, preventing me from retreating from a gaze that saw too much.
Without a word, he slashed silver claws across the back of his hand, drawing blood. I flinched, but he didn’t release my wrist.
“Hold still,” he murmured. He dipped a finger in the blood, then drew a looping symbol on the back of my hand. Moonlight magic
rose in a wave, then pulsed and the blood disappeared.
A faint tingle caused goose bumps to race up my arm, but otherwise, I felt the same. “What did you do?”
“It’s a simple protection charm. It won’t hold against strong magic, but if anything happens and we become separated, it will
give you a moment to act. Do not waste it.”
I blew out a slow breath as relief nearly buckled my knees. He wasn’t leaving me behind. I wasn’t going to be trapped in here.
I clasped my hands in front of my heart and bowed low. “Thank you.”
He grunted in acknowledgment. “Stay close. Grim will remain by your side.” He slanted a stern glance at me. “And if I tell
you to do something, don’t argue.”
“I don’t argu—” His eyebrows rose, and I bit off the words as heat flushed through my cheeks. “Fine,” I grumbled. “I will
do as you say.”
“Draw your dagger.” I pulled the short blade from the sheath and held it out to him, but he shook his head. “Hold it like
you are planning to stab me.”
He watched me with careful attention as I curled my fingers around the hilt and pointed the sharp end toward him. He nodded,
then slightly adjusted my grip. “If you put your thumb here,” he said, “then you’ll have better control.”
The heat in my cheeks curled lower as I imagined what else I could grip like this for better control. Garrick’s fingers tightened around mine. “Focus,” he demanded. “Feylan’s soldiers will exploit any opening, so don’t give them one.”
All sexy thoughts shattered as the reality of what I was about to do finally sank in. I’d been so worried about being left
behind that I hadn’t fully considered what going with Garrick really meant.
I might have to stab someone.
Someone might stab me.
Bitter adrenaline coated my tongue, but I straightened my spine and nodded once, sharply. I would not be a burden.
“The charm will help to obscure you, so don’t use your magic unless you have to,” he said. “Are you ready?”
“No, but I think this is as ready as I’m getting.”
His expression softened. “You can stay here. I will return, I swear it.”
I shuddered. I appreciated the offer, but being trapped without knowing what was happening was worse than the thought of stabbing
someone. “I’m going.”
He stared at me for a long moment, then dipped his chin in agreement. I sheathed the dagger, then slung my pack over my shoulder
with a wince. I still ached, but I hoped that movement would work some of the knots from my muscles.
Garrick gave me his cloak. Once I had it secured, his gaze traveled over me one last time. “Stay close to Grim. He’ll protect
you if I’m unavailable.”
He waited for my nod, then his magic rose very slightly. The stone wall next to him shimmered, turning translucent in the
rough shape of a doorway. I could make out the greens and browns of the forest, but the image wasn’t clear enough to see if
someone was waiting to attack as soon as we emerged.
Garrick must not have shared my fear, because he disappeared through the wall without another word.
I followed the Silver King into the quiet forest. The stone wall solidified behind me, cutting off any possible retreat. Grim remained glued to my side, his back as high as my waist and his teeth on full display.
My magic glowed a comforting blue in my mind’s eye, like clear summer skies. The urge to sweep it out in front of us to see
what we were facing was nearly irresistible, but Garrick’s warning rang loud in my ears.
After a few steps, Garrick paused and waved me forward. When I was next to him, he whispered, “I’m going to take out the sentries
first. Between the cloak and the charm, you should remain hidden as long as you remain still. Once they realize I’m attacking,
I’ll need to move quickly. You have your dagger. Stab anyone who isn’t me or Grim.”
I drew the blade and adjusted my grip, then summoned the courage that had led me to enter the forest to fight a monster. I
could do this.
“Follow me, but stay back,” he said, then he moved forward, his steps silent.
Mine were decidedly less so, so I let the space between us grow. Next to me, Grim was as silent as the Etheri.
We crossed an invisible boundary, and suddenly, the air around us was awash in bloodred magic. I jerked to a stop, but Garrick
didn’t even break stride. He glanced back at me and pointed at the ground where he was. When I nodded, he disappeared into
the dense thicket of trees.
I crept forward to the place he’d indicated, every sense on high alert.
Moonlight magic flashed, and a shout dropped to a wet gurgle before going silent. There was a tiny pause, as if the very trees
were holding their breath, then the area ahead erupted in shouts and bright red magic.
A large part of me was perfectly happy to stay right here and wait for Garrick to come collect me. I shoved that part in a
box and darted toward the thicket. Garrick was fighting, and while the odds of me being useful were incredibly low, they weren’t
zero.
If nothing else, I could distract the Blood King’s people.
The trees parted to reveal a small clearing. Half a dozen armored soldiers were standing guard with two chagri, and the viny,
thorny monsters were even scarier in the light of day. Each chagri was as tall as the soldier next to it, and the vines that
made up their body were the deep brown-red of dried blood. Their thorns glistened, and my hand burned with the memory of their
poison.
The group was surrounding something that pulsed with bloodred magic. Several other soldiers were scattered around the edge
of the clearing, and all of them were armed with both blades and magic.
Moonlight glinted for a fraction of a second and Garrick appeared next to the two people farthest away. The Silver King cut
them down so quickly I doubted they’d even seen their deaths coming, then he disappeared once again.