But his face wore only simple curiosity. Or was it more than that?
A new sensation flew down my throat—nerves, fluttering, and light.
Swallowing them, I regained my composure. "Good. Men like a woman with mysteries."
One corner of his mouth curled up. "Your king believes I'll need to guard you for months. A year. It'll take that long to train you, too. We'll have to dispel the mysteries eventually."
"Slowly, I'd hope."
"Painfully."
I smiled and met his eye again. A bad move. His molten-gold eyes dug into my skin, like daggers tearing through my masks to find the truth.
Breaking his gaze, I stared at the fire again.
"Listen." Reese stepped closer and touched my upper arm.
Was it his heat, or the bonfires that suffocated the air?
"Stay with the villagers. Follow them to Tsuyan, if I have to ride out and find the scádes."
"What?" My head snapped up. "Why?"
"Because you aren't ready for this. And I don't want you to get hurt."
He was right. I could swing a sword well enough against a foe that was holding back. Even though I'd added creating sparks to my illustrious arsenal of talents, I was no match for the creatures of the dark.
Fleeing didn't feel right, though.
"Alright," I exhaled. I lowered my eyes in shame, then lifted them to meet his.
He stood beside me, face far too close to mine.
When I glanced into his eyes, I couldn't bear to hold his gaze. Now, so close, I couldn't look away.
Reese dropped his hand and stepped back. "We should head back, see if they're finally ready to leave."
When he left my side, he took the overbearing presence he exerted with him. Like Killian had. An aura of strength, of magic, Paragons seemed to exude.
Would I, one day?
Turning from the bonfire, I whistled for my elk.
And noticed a crow with one missing talon perched on the town's wooden gate.
The sound of steel tearing through rock overpowered my voice.
A scaled snout emerged from the veil of night; its ebony claws tore through the walls dividing our land from the shadows. Dragon wings spread across the black sky, and its glowing yellow eyes turned toward me.
I heard it: the song. It grew from a distant hum to a wailing shriek. Hordes of shadows tore through the ruined hole in the walls the moment after.
A streak of gold divided the night as Reese drew his sword. He threw me behind him. "Go!"
Stumbling away from the Paragon, I pulled myself up on my elk and yanked it around.
Digging my heels into its flank, I ordered it to run.
I glanced over my shoulder to see the lone Paragon standing against certain death.
