She supposed she owed the teleporter a thank-you the next time she saw him.
Theodon was hard to keep up with, so she couldn’t help lagging a few steps behind. It gave her the opportunity to examine the intricate designs up and down the skin of his entire back. Deep-red patterns twisted and coiled down his spine, fanning outward in all directions. It reminded her of some sort of floral design within a four-pointed star. She noticed matching scars etched within the pattern, raised above his smooth skin, a matching set just between his shoulder blades.
“Is that... are those where your wings come from?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “In a way, I suppose. The scarring is from the weight of them.”
That wasn’t surprising; those immense wings towered behind him when they appeared.
“And the red markings... are they permanent?”
He turned and looked at her curiously. “Yes, it is permanent. Have you never seen a tattoo before?”
She searched her memory for any others in her life who possessed markings like his. “The king of the fae. I saw the crown symbol he wears, is that a tattoo?”
He scrunched his brows. “How did you come to meet Matthias?” He spoke his name so casually.
“He was the one who told my father to shield me. He created the protection around Oakmire.”
“Why would he do that?” he murmured.
Helaina shrugged, as she had never had a chance to ask.
Theo looked lost in thought, contemplating her nonverbal answer.
A roar of laughter broke his focus, and he started walking again. She followed as more bodies passed them by, coming and going from accommodations that resembled her own. Many undressed with the doors wide open, having no sense of modesty. She covered the sides of her face so she wouldn’t accidentally get a look at something she didnotwant to see.
A bald male with slit eyes and curved fangs brushed past her shoulder. His pointed serpent eyes gave her a once-over, followed by a wink and a suggestive flick of a forked tongue.
Helaina’s lip turned up in repulsion.
The snakelike humanoid instantly regretted his gesture as Theodon’s arm lunged directly in front of her, grabbing his shirt. Theodon yanked his body off the ground without an ounce of strain, like he was picking up a small sack of coins. He let out a low growl of warning.
“I—I didn’t realize she was yours, Captain. I saw a new face, that’s all,” the soldier hissed out in a panic.
Theodon pulled his face in close. “She belongs to no one. You’ll remind everyone of that before the night is through.” It was a command, not a question. Theodon let his eyes blacken for a split second.
Horror took over the male’s expression, his skin leaching of any remaining color. “Yes,” he offered rapidly.
A crowd began to gather, their eyes looking back and forth between their captain and her. Helaina wasn’t quite sure what to do or how to react. On one hand, she sort of felt bad for the soldier, as Theodon was making a pitiful example out of him. On the other, she was glad a line was being drawn that would prevent any unsolicited advances.
Theodon released him, and he dropped down on all fours. It took barely a breath for him to slink off in the opposite direction.
With one panned look from their captain, everyone in their audience fell away. He continued their walk as if nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t threatened one of his own back there. So she did the same.
“The bathing chamber is past the Azure Chasm. You can rest your leg soon,” he said.
She couldn’t remember the last time she properly bathed. Helaina craved soaps and oils and pretty bath salts, all the amenities she had at home.
Home.
She kept using that word like it had a meaning she understood.
The familiar sparkling radiance of the Azure Chasm came into focus. Rows of tables were no longer bare. They were filled with warriors. She didn’t have time to take them all in, as he led her down an adjacent tunnel.
Was her family searching for her? Were they assembling troops?
No, she doubted very much that her father’s men would even think to come here. She shook her head, sighing softly, pushing away any hopes of rescue.
