Chapter 10 Morgane
MORGANE
Iwas beginning to think that Thane was the only bandit in this part of the Shadowed Woods.
Sure, he keeps leading us to the bandit caches he mentioned—small hideaway tucked beneath the strange grass that he calls moss or in the hole of the silver-barked trees—so that he can replenish our supplied, but even after the goldcaps tried to kill us, I don’t expect to run into another fae male lurking through the woods.
That was my mistake. Like most things in my life, I blame it on being the chosen one back when I was an infant. Somehow, I convinced myself that I’ll always be safe, always be protected, and if I’m not, then there isn’t anything I can’t do.
That’s why I refused to return to Sombra for help.
It’s my fault that Rafe was left behind in Brille Rouge to be taken, and I’m going to prove that the gods saw something in me that I never have by rescuing him on my own.
Binx could help me, and I don’t think I can shake Thane at this point if I wanted to, but I believed I wasn’t in danger.
Tell that to the bloodstain on my sleeve.
Still, more confident than I have any right to be, I moved on from the goldcap attack believing that was the worst the Shadowed Woods could throw at us.
If anything, I’m worried about walking into the Gilded Court, possibly coming face-to-face with Queen Celeste, and appealing to the fae queen for aid in retrieving Thane from a member of her Court.
Danger in the woods? With Thane taking the lead, I wasn’t worried about anything happening to me.
At least, not until I understood exactly why he insisted on joining me on my search.
Part of me wants to believe it’s our mate bond at work. Maybe he doesn’t think I understand what it means to experience a fated mate bond; since I’ve done everything I can to ignore it so far, he might not even know that I’m aware who he is. Of course, that’s assuming he knows…
Either way, I’m stuck with him, and I guess it could’ve been worse.
If I have to rely on a bandit, if I have to trust him around Binx and believe he’ll help me find Rafe, then it could’ve been worse.
At least I know he’s meant to be mine and, just because of that, I feel a sense of trust building thanks to the whisper-thin bond stretching between us.
Okay, and maybe I put a little too much faith into an armed stranger I barely met. I don’t really have a choice. Until my shadows decide to listen to me and allow me to create a portal and escape Noctavara if necessary, me and Binx are stuck with Thane.
Which isn’t really that bad when we finally run into another bandit.
The fae male doesn’t announce his presence so much as he decides to let himself be seen.
That’s the only way I can describe it. One moment, the woods are still like they have been. The next, he’s there. His cloak shadowing him, a soft glow peeking through the seam before he throws back the hood, I have to do a double-take when I see him.
His features are similar to Thane’s at first glance.
The same amber eyes, the same glowing skin, the same lithe and limber build.
He also had a sword on his belt, and I daring gleam in his eye, but despite being as beautiful as Thane, I notice enough small differences to know that while he’s a Noctavaran fae, he’s not my fae.
He’s a touch taller, giving the impression that he’s been stretched out. His hair—as black as Thane’s—is thick and straight, pulled away from his face. His nose is a little longer. And, well, he’s not my mate which means that I’m nitpicking, but he’s nowhere near as captivating as Thane.
“Well, well,” a voice drawls pleasantly, his fae accent obvious, “this stretch of the Shadowed Woods grows more interesting by the decade.”
Thane doesn’t turn his attention on the other male right away.
I do.
As I stare at him, the fae bandit steps fully into view, golden skin catching the faint moonlight, dark hair tied back with a strip of leather. He carries himself with the easy confidence of someone who’s never worried about dying, and likely never will.
His gaze skims over me, pauses, then sharpens.
“Oh,” he murmurs. “Now that’s interesting.”
Thane sighs as he takes a step toward the newcomer—and another one that is, coincidentally, takes him right in front me. “You’re trespassing, Morgane.”
The other fae grins. “We’re bandits, Aurex. Trespassing is the profession. Or have you forgotten in your old age?”
“I’ve seen half as many centuries as you.”
“All the more reason that you should relinquish your companion to me.” His eyes narrow slightly, head tilting. “She’s a demoness.” The amber color glows. “An Outsider. Oh, yes. I want her.”
No, he fucking doesn’t.
Sensing my sudden unease, Binx launches himself from his perch on my shoulders. He lands soundlessly on the moss, rising up on all fours, his ears arrows back as he hisses at Morgane.
Morgane glances down at Binx, loosing some of the fae’s lazy amusement. “What—”
My breath catches just as Thane swoops down, so quick that he manages to grab Binx before the ungez even knows that he moved. I can sense that Binx is stunned that Thane has bundled him up against his chest, though he doesn’t fight back as Thane whirls, shoving Binx at me.
I accept my soul-pet, murmuring softly so that he knows I’m okay, that he doesn’t need to protect me… not when Thane is obviously willing to do it.
He’s back in front of me again, bracing his legs, fingers tapping the hilt of his sword. “I found her first.”
The other fae stops watching Binx with a curious tilt to his head, instead focusing on the much bigger threat.
“Thane,” he says with a laugh that reminds me of my fae bandit, “you know the rules. If you carry a prize worth noticing, someone’s bound to ask for a look.”
“And you’ve looked.”
“Mm.” Morgane hums. “And I’d like more than a look.”
I stiffen, ready to back away and get out of his sight, but Thane only rolls his shoulders, loose and unbothered.
“First blood,” he says. “Or are you feeling ambitious tonight?”
Morgane laughs outright this time. “Always first blood. I’m fond of my head where it is, and our numbers are few as it is.”
Thane nods in agreement, and as one, they both pull their swords from their sheaths.
The steel just about sings. The sound is different from anything I’ve ever heard before, almost musical in the motion.
Then they bow.
They actually bow.
“Winner keeps his prize,” Morgane says cheerfully. As thought they’re not about to engage in a swordfight, the fae bandit is cheerful.
What the…
Thane lifts his sword. “And the loser pays.”
“Gold?” the fae asks. “Is that all you want, Aurex, then—”
Thane’s smile is slow and sharp. “You couldn’t afford her, but I’ll take whatever gold you’re carrying when I win. Ready?”
Morgane lifts his own sword. “Always.”
As they approach, something in the air shifts. I tighten my fingers in Binx’s fur, unable to look away as the fight begins.
Only it’s not a brawl, is it? It’s a dance.
In Sombra, a challenge between males isn’t all that common.
However, it’s nothing like this. When a male demon challenges another, it’s a battle between the might of their horns.
They rush and they ram, and the stronger demon often wins.
Whenever you see a male in Nuit with a broken horn, you’re often looking at the challenge loser.
This is nothing like that.
Their swords meet in flashing arcs, steel gliding and kissing rather than crashing. Their footwork is precise, bodies turning and pivoting with effortless grace. They circle, advance, retreat… constant probing for weakness, looking for the opportunity to draw first blood and end the fight.
The other fae laughs as he attacks. “You’ve gone soft, Aurex!”
Thane parries smoothly. “And you’ve gone predictable, Morgane.”
A flurry of strikes—too fast for me to follow—ends with Thane spinning aside, cloak flaring like a shadow given form.
I realize my hands are clenched. Not in fear, though. In anticipation.
By my ear, Binx snuffles softly, cheering Thane on. Seeing the fae male protect me from his clan… in this moment, Binx has decided that Thane’s worthy of sharing me with my soul-pet, and that’s more of a shock to me than what happens next.
Because even as the other fae presses him, I know—deep down, all the way to my bones—who will win this fight.
A feint.
A turn.
Thane steps inside the other fae’s guard, blade flashing once in a clean, decisive strike across Morgane’s middle.
Golden blood sprays, arcing right at me.
It splashes across my cheek, warm and startling, and I gasp as the fae staggers back with a sharp hiss, clutching his gut. He drops to one knee, breathing hard, but though it must hurt, it’s nowhere near fatal since his head is still on the stump of his neck.
He’s alive, and Thane’s the victor.
Morgane looks up at Thane, bowing his head in quick understanding of that face. A hollow laugh escapes him. “Still dangerous, I see.”
Thane lowers his sword. “Lesson learned?”
After a moment, the other bandit rises, keeping his arm wrapped around the front of his torso. “For this eve.” His gaze flicks to me, undeniably curious and just a touch disappointed. “Enjoy your prize, Aurex.”
Then, before I can wonder if he means me or the bag of clinking gold he flings at Thane, Morgane melts into the woods, as though he’d never been here at all.
I blink, stunned, trying to make sense of what just happened. My lips part, but I can’t even think of what I want to say other than, “Oh.”
Hearing the soft sound, Thane turns to me immediately, leaning in close to wipe the blood from my cheek with the side of his thumb.
“You alright, demoness?”
I… I think so? “Um. Yes?”
His eyes laugh at me, his familiar amusement at the questions in my voice. “You frightened?”
That’s definitely one thing that I’m not.
I shake my head, heart racing. “No.”
“Good.”