Page 12 of Embers of Ruin

“I didn’t kidnap you,” he shoots back immediately. “I’m escorting you.”

“That does not make this any better!” I throw my arms into the air.

Onyx sighs through his nose, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Listen to me. You know the king placed a bounty on anyone with unregistered gifts. Acolytes have the right to kill on sight, and despite his orders to bring you to the palace alive, some of his guards are less morally restrained than me. If you had stayed in that village, you would be chained—or worse—before you ever reached the capital.”

My pulse hammers against my throat. “You realize that doesn’t make you my savior, right?”

“Yes,” Onyx says with a shrug. “I never claimed I was one.”

He lifts his hands again, giving me every opportunity to attack him.

“My orders were to find you and bring you to the capital alive, alone, and unharmed. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Bring me to the palace,” I repeat bitterly. “To the very man hunting me.”

“That is no business of mine.” His gaze drifts away.

Interesting. He can't seem to look me in the eye when he says it.

A shadow crosses his expression. “The king is the only man who won’t harm you the moment he sees what you are. He’s obsessed with people who possess gifts like yours.” His face settles into something unreadable. “More specifically, he’s obsessed with finding you.”

Wonderful. Exactly what every woman dreams of.

“I don’t want to be the Shadow King’s obsession.”

“Well,” Onyx says with a heavy sigh, “you don’t get a choice.”

My breath catches. White-hot anger flares through me as I drag a hand through my hair. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Onyx tracking the movement.

“You tricked me,” I say, shaking my head. Somehow that hurts more than everything else. “You made me think I was escaping the guards.” I begin pacing. Do I run? Do I keep traveling with him? Neither option appeals to me.

“You’re an insufferable ass.”

“I did what I had to do to bring you to the king, unharmed.”

The ease with which he says it makes me want to throw a particularly large rock at his head.

“What if I had told you who I was?” he asks. “Would you have come?”

My jaw clenches. “Never. I would never have followed you.”

The answer leaves my mouth instantly because it’s the truth. I would have run. Probably straight into those guards or the Acolytes. Onyx had, in all honesty, probably saved my life. Unfortunately, rational thought is not on the agenda. I want to stay upset. I need to stay upset with him.

“Exactly,” Onyx says quietly.

An uncomfortable silence settles between us. Neither of us seems particularly pleased with how the afternoon has unfolded. Finally, Onyx stands and adjusts his cloak.

“We’ll ride to the next village and stop for the night.” He pauses. “Hate me all you want, but I am your safest monster.”

My stomach twists as I contemplate his words.

“And Lyra?”

I look up, noticing for once, there is no smirk, nor sarcasm. Not even a faint trace of amusement. Only seriousness.

“Your life truly depends on it.”

Then he turns and walks away. I want to fire back a retort. I want to tell him exactly what he can do with his concern. But the words die before they reach my lips. What am I even supposed to say?