Chapter 15 #2
Topp kicked out his long legs, knocking hers. “Why not? If you’re how Kava gets fixed, then my priority should be you. It’s only what’s best for Kava.” He smiled roguishly.
“Topp, no, you can’t help me with this. You just can’t.”
“Why not? Sounds like your voyage is happening topside, and we both know you could damn well use a guard.”
“Excuse you, I can take care of myself.”
His brow creased, eyes darting to the knife harness and dagger on her waist. “You weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. You’re not going to win every fight no matter how skilled you are.”
She wasn’t short and had more than enough muscle packed onto her that every bit of his comment was ridiculous. A hundred pounds, her round, muscled butt.
“Kava’s Shadow trained me, himself, you arrogant piece of ass.”
His grin stretched wide. “Did you just call me a piece of ass, Parker? I’m flattered.”
She threw her head back. “Oh my gods. You can’t come with.”
“You’re being unreasonable. Who says two people who used to love and fuck each other can’t work together amicably?”
She stared at him, her mouth half-open in absolute horror. “Me, I say so.”
Topp put a hand over his heart. “I have to do what’s best for Kava, and if following your fine ass around is it, then I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”
“I hate you.”
Laughing, he polished off his second beer. “No, you don’t. You only wish you could.”
Ouch. That had been a little too on the mark, but Lynd’s message from the fates crashed in between her ears, and she paused, trying to remember exactly what Lynd had said.
“Topp… One of the things the fates said was that we have different missions.”
He looked at her askance. “You’re just saying that to get rid of me.”
“No, I’m serious. Gods, I wish I could remember what Lynd said, but oh—the king is yours.” She nodded feverishly, one hand pressing down on the table.
“As in…” Kill my father? He let the unsaid words hang in the air between them.
Elysia deflated, smiling weakly. “I’ll let you decide what that means,” she offered delicately.
The prince grabbed her unfinished beer. “We could swap if you want? I’m sure your death god would love me.”
Snorting, Elysia gave him an actual grin. “If only.”
Topp looked into her now empty mug. “You want some food? I’m starving.”
She nodded, waiting until he stalked off to the bar to slip off her stool and back outside.
Some guard he would make. Elysia leaned against the wooden slats of the tavern, letting the cool air clear her thoughts.
She just needed a moment. Her insides itched, and there was something screaming in her brain for her to put as much distance between herself and everyone else that was getting difficult to ignore.
She had zero practice with emotional vulnerability and—surprise, surprise—it was awful.
Rip your skin off and jump into the lake so you can travel back to the death realm awful.
Elysia exhaled, watching the white air puff away as she walked around the side of the tavern. Was this what other people dealt with all the time? Shit was for the birds. Maybe she should go find the nearest body of water before Topp found her and reinstated himself as her personal guard.
Her gaze on the forest, she didn’t pay any mind to the crunch of boots behind her.
But then the noise stopped, and with the sudden silence a prickle of unease ran up the back of Elysia’s neck.
Right as she began to turn, the cold metallic cut of a blade pressed lengthwise into her throat.
The arm wrapped around her chest from behind held the blade easily, their grip and posture confident.
Elysia’s nostrils flared in irritation. All she’d wanted was a moment.
One single moment to clear her mind. Wrong day, bitch.
Both hands gripped her attacker’s small wrist, her body turning and twisting beneath the woman’s arm.
One hand still squeezing her attacker’s wrist, she shoved her opposite hand between the woman’s shoulder blades, forcing her to bend in half.
The knife clattered down with a dull thud against the snow, but the woman wrenched out of Elysia’s hold, kicking the knife away and turning toward her.
Elysia ripped two blades out of her chest harness and stared at the narrow dark blue eyes glittering back at her.
Lanky and lean, the stranger looked far too at ease for someone who was now without their weapon.
Breath rapid, Elysia’s hard gaze never faltered as she took a step closer, her magic creeping out and verifying what she’d already gathered.
Her attacker knew how to get in, out, and wipe her blade clean before anyone else even knew she was there.
In other words, Elysia found herself facing a fair match.
She darted in, her offense practiced and without error, but the woman moved fluidly, avoiding her with a laugh. Annoyed, Elysia tried again, mentally trying to place the woman’s familiarity. There was something about her eyes—the small size, the shape. Maybe it was the point of her chin.
Focused on the blonde, Elysia failed to realize there was a second, far more concerning threat lumbering up behind her. A massive hand grabbed her shoulder, whirling her around and latching onto her throat. Feet dangling, Elysia scrambled to dislodge the giant’s hold, swiping with her daggers.
Unamused, he lifted her higher, where she couldn’t reach him.
Fuck. She was losing air. Black danced on the edges of her vision.
The blonde ambled closer. The winter sun bounced off her face.
“You stole my kill, Elysia Parker.”
Stunned, Elysia blinked, but the man squeezed harder, until black dots became an endless, airless sky.