Page 6 of Embers of Ruin

“How about you keep quiet, stop asking questions, and I’ll get you to safety. I'm tired of your voice already, and I feel a headache coming on.” He sighs audibly, running a large hand over his face. Scoffing, I attempt to push past him. I think it’s hilarious that he snuck up on me, and is acting as if I’m inconveniencing him.

I immediately know I hate him. In fact, I want to run a blade through him. I just don’t see a way to get through the boulder of a man.

“If you serve the king, you’re no savior. If you’re under his command in any way you’re a monster, and I won’t let you take me.” Giving him a death glare, I yank one final time. Damn. He is damn near immovable.

He looks amused, which infuriates me. “I didn’t say I was a savior,” he says, loosening his grip a little. “In fact, you’ve been doing all of the talking. Walk faster, and for the love of the gods, be quiet.”

“You didn’t deny that you’re a monster,” I mumble, side-eyeing the man.

He shrugs at that, not bothering to give me a second glance.

“What’s your name?”

We break through the last line of trees, stopping near a frozen stream. He finally releases my arm, stepping back as his eyes roam over me, assessing.

I’m sure I look pitiful. Do I care?

Absolutely not.

As I figured he would, he ignores the question, instead saying, “I can sense that you have magic. Some might call it my ... special talent.”

He says the last part smugly, and it makes me want to kick him in the shin. So he’s an arrogant bastard. Noted.

I look up at him, not bothering to hide my discontent as he goes on.

“It just so happens that you possess the exact kind the King has been searching for. I felt it back there, and I’m sure one of his Acolytes did too.”

I glare at him, placing a hand stubbornly on my hip. “Thank you for the excess of information. You still didn’t answer my question, though. It’s almost as if you purposely avoided it.”

He brushes my remark off with a smirk, leaning closer as he speaks.

“Now why would I tell you any of my business? All you need to know is that I’m saving your life right now.”

I stiffen indignantly and throw my hood back, running my fingers through my unruly curls. After battling wind, frost, and running from murderous guards, I’m sure my looks are hardly flattering.

“Never mind, don’t tell me anything,” I say smartly, walking ahead of him. “The King will kill me anyway, so I suppose it is irrelevant. Let’s get on with it.”

I want to put as much distance as possible between myself and the guards before slipping away from him.

“No.” His voice settles somewhere between a rumble and a growl, sending warmth creeping up my neck.

I snap my attention back to his words as heat floods my cheeks. The audacity. I can save myself!

“The king will keep you. You are rare indeed, and the king loves rare things.” His gaze drifts slowly over me, lingering just long enough to leave me painfully aware of every inch of myself. A sly grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Especially beautiful ones. Tell me, does your silver hair come from your mother or your father?”

Is he seriously flirting with me right now?

My stomach twists. I have never been a self-conscious person, but under his scrutiny I suddenly become aware of every loose curl, the wrinkles in my cloak, even the smudge of dirt clinging to my boots.

“That’s none of your business,” I scoff, hoping he can feel my annoyance. “And I’m not a pretty little pet to be kept.”

I try not to let his words get to me. I try even harder not to let the intensity of his stare unsettle me. Yes, I’m sure I look a mess. Drawing on an excessive amount of magic to bring someone back from the brink of death does that to a person.

“Well, sweetheart,” he says slowly, turning away as torches flicker in the distance, “it doesn’t really seem like you have a lot of options at the moment. You can come with me, to safety, or you can let them … ” he waves his hand in the direction of the guards, “ … do what they will with you.”

I stare at him as my chest rises and falls rapidly. I don’t know the man’s name, but I know his words have hit a nerve and I’m out of niceties for the day.

I now know two things. The king wants my magic, and he believes that I’m something to possess. I have spent my entire life hiding and would like to remain a nobody, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult when the king is actively hunting me like an animal.