My responding laugh is bitter. Angry. “Look around, Fhord,” I snarl, waving my arm at my little hole. “I have all the time in the world.”
“The guards are changing, Sifa. The next one will be here soon. I’m sure the Dróttning has them watching us, listening to what we say. She doesn’t trust me yet to be alone with you. We need to talk before he gets here.”
I hold his gaze for a long time, too tired, too defeated, to spin away from him again. But I make sure he sees my pain. My anger. My hatred. Because he betrayed me, again and again.
Fhord’s voice drops even further as he leans toward me. “Astarot is healed and hiding just outside the Nest. He’ll help us get you free.”
“He’s healed? And close?” Fhord knows how to reach me, thaw my cold heart just a bit.
“He is,” Fhord assures me. He lifts his hand, the thumb stretching out as if it wants to reach across the cell and stroke my cheek. But he lets it drop when he sees my eyes narrow. “I freed him and got some other help. We can get you out.”
“What other help?”
“Toffer. We needed a troll, so I went to Revalle and convinced him to come.” The corners of his lips curve up in the smallest smile. “He’s … something else. Also completely devoted to you. And excited to tell you about his ride on Astarot.” Now his grin is genuine, reaching his eyes. My treacherous heart thaws a little more.
I sit back, willing ice into my veins to freeze him out again. He’s shown me more than once that I can’t trust him. This could all be a trick. “Why should I believe you?”
He pauses for a moment, his lips tipping up as he whispers, “You’ve been so fucking dangerous to me since the first time I laid eyes on you.” And then he takes a deep breath, dark green eyes smoldering as he watches me. “It’s gonna make our lives impossible, and we could cause so much harm. But I can’t deny it any longer. You own me, my little rabbit.” Another pause as his gaze searches mine. “My life’s been dark and cold for such a long time, I forgot what the sun felt like. You are my sun, the other half of my soul.”
His eyes are bright as the sun. Solemn as a prayer. Like he really does care.
My gods-damned heart responds to those words as if they’re true. They can’t be, though. He wouldn’t have left me here to be tortured if they were.
“I don’t believe you, Fhord.” Standing, I stalk toward the bars, placing my hands on them as I look out into the hall. “How can I possibly believe you?”
“I’m asking a lot. Fuck, Sifa. I know that. But it’s the only way I can help you. Just be ready. When the time comes—and I promise you’ll know it—open your thoughts to Astarot. To me. Do what we ask. Let us guide you out of here, take you to safety.”
“I have no magic,” I remind him, my hands reaching up to touch my manacle. “And even if I did, if I let down my shields, the Dróttning could find things I don’t want her to have. She’s searching. I can’t give her that chance.” My stomach clenches as a rock settles in my chest. I turn, my gaze searching his. “I guess that’s why you’re here. You were in her rooms. She trusts you. She’s using you to get to me. This is how. Getting me to drop my shields so she can find my secret.”
Fhord holds my gaze, not trying to hide the hurt that flows into his eyes at my words. Or maybe it’s all a ruse. Maybe he’s that good of an actor. I can’t know. So I can’t trust him. “I deserve that. I know I do.” His voice is sad but resolute. “I should have protected you. I’ll never forgive myself for letting you suffer at her hands again. And I swear I will make her pay. But I’m here now. We can get you out if you trust me, just enough for that. When you’re free, you and Astarot and Toffer can leave. Never see me again. If that’s what you want.”
His head lifts as a door opens down the hall and footsteps move toward us.
“Go, Fhord.” My voice is hard. Cold.
He nods, his eyes searching mine. And then a mask drops, a leer taking over his features. “I’ll see you soon, little elf,” he tells me. Now, his voice is loud enough to be heard.
The guard stalks up, anger flaring from his eyes as he blocks Fhord’s path. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m checking on my gift from the Dróttning,” Fhord drawls, his hand reaching through the bars to caress my ass as a sneer emerges. I step away, drawing a slow smile as he continues to leer at me. But then Fhord turns toward the guard, the same arrogant, dismissive dragon rider I met in the forest. “You’re keeping your fucking hands off her, right? Because she’s mine. And nobody touches what’s mine.”
The guard’s angry, but he must know Fhord’s protected by the Dróttning. He drops his chin, just barely, and steps out of Fhord’s way. “Ain’t nobody put a finger on her. We follow the Dróttning’s orders here.”
“See that you do,” Fhord barks, angry. “If I learn that anyone has so much as touched her, I will remove every body part that comes into contact with any part of her.” He turns to look at me, sneering. “And she’s too fucking skinny. I like my women with a little meat on their bones. Feed her. Well.”
The guard’s chin drops again, a little lower this time. “I’ll make sure she’s fed.”
“Eat what they bring you,” he says looking at me one last time. “Or we’ll spend some private time together and I’ll make you eat.” A wicked smirk emerges, his eyes flaring as he reaches down to squeeze a cock that somehow has grown hard while we stood there. “I think you’ll enjoy what I put in your mouth.”
“Fuck. You.”
I keep repeating myself, but seriously. Fuck him.
“Like I told you before, soon, little elf.” He throws one last sneer at the guard, and spins to stride down the hall.
I drop to the ground as the guard turns to stalk away, emotions battling within me as my mind holds Fhord’s image at the center of my thoughts. He’s still the most stunning man I’ve ever known. This thing between us is more than that, though. I don’t believe he really cares for me—and I know I can’t trust him—but I also know I’m connected to him. Even now, my body is trembling just from his presence.
I hate the idea of being his toy, and hate even more the part of me that wants it. Wants Fhord, even if it wouldn’t mean anything to him. At least I’d have that time with him.
