Page 43 of Tell Them That I’m Coming

Thane pulls back, jaw set, gaze fierce. “But I won’t let them take you,” he adds, deadly quiet. “We’ll get your demon, no matter what it takes, but if you go to Queen Celeste, it won’t be in chains.”

And as my mate makes his vow—as I see the true male behind the charming fae mask that is even more irresistible—the bond between us grows infinitely stronger.

CHAPTER 13

TRAITOR

Whether he knows it or not, Thane Aurex made his own version of the mate’s promise to me.

I won’t let them take you…

He didn’t. He saved me in time, with Binx at his heels, and then fled through the woods before the soldiers could follow us. Once he realized how much he gave away, he dons that same charming demeanor as easily as he slips on his cloak, then says he’s going to scout ahead. I know what he’s doing. He’s giving himself a moment to recover, and doing the same for me.

He’ll be right back. I know he will. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, if Thane Aurex considers you under his protection, you’re protected. Mom’s going to love him—if I ever get the chance to go back to Sombra and introduce them. I’m not worried about that now. Nope, my much bigger concern is why Queen Celeste is picking on this shadow demon halfling in particular.

Once Binx scurries around me, sniffing wildly, making sure that I’m all right, I crouch down by my ungez and have a quick (and silent) chat where Binx confirms everything Thane had said. Not that I doubted him. He can’t lie to me, and even if he could, the way he grabbed me like that… he was almost as scared as I was.

By the time he does return a few moments later, my fear has hardened into resolve. I wait for him to confirm that there isn’t anyone around that he can see or hear before I perch my hands on my hips and tell him, “I don’t want that to happen again.”

Thane looks up from where he’s stopped to finally clean the dried blood from his blade. His lips quirk into a smile that doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “You’d prefer fewer decapitations?”

“I’d prefer to know how to stop someone before it gets that far.”

I can’t always rely on Thane to save me. In that split second as the solder started for me, I didn’t even try to do anything more than scream. That’s unacceptable. I’ve been here for five moons. If I want to make it to six, I need to be able to protect myself.

Even in Sombra, I took the protection of Mom, Dad, and the clan for granted. I was the child of prophecy; of course they would keep me safe. Here in Noctavara, I’m just Alana of Sombra, and nothing is going to stop me from getting Rafe back.

Hey, I was bold enough to flippantly say ‘tell them that I’m coming’ my first eve here. Well, now they know, and I have to be prepared for other soldiers to come after me.

And if they do? I want to know how to end them.

Thane studies me for a long moment, something thoughtful flickering behind his guarded eyes. Then he reaches under his cloak and, seconds later, draws out a sword.

It can’t be his since he set his down by his foot when he grabbed the second one. It doesn’t look like Thane’s sword, either. It’s smaller and cleaner. Definitely sharp and well cared for.

New.

My brows lift. “You stole that? When did you steal that?”

“First of all, demoness, I didn’t steal it. I paid for it.”

I blink. Paid… “But… you’re a bandit.”

“Still am,” he agrees. “A sword like this should cost at least fifty gold coins. I got away with only having to give Morgane five for his spare. If that’s not a robbery, I don’t know what is.”

That throws me. “You bought it from Morgane? But I thought… you just want to get as much gold as possible.”

“Yes, but I’m also trying to keep you alive,” he replies. “Seemed a fair investment with me, especially since I’m getting to know you, Alana of Sombra. To understand you. I assumed you’d want a sword of your own eventually.”

He knows me, and he didn’t even have to take my essence to figure me out. “Thane…”

My fae mate holds it out, hilt first. “On one condition.”

“What is it?”

“You let me teach you how to use it.”

Was it that obvious that I didn’t know how to wield a sword? Considering how he found me hanging from a snare trap, he had a pretty good assessment of my survival skills. They’re terrible. I never needed to develop them. In Sombra, my magic makes me powerful, and my kinship with the shadows at the end of Nuit allows me a safety among the beasts that none of my clansmen have. Besides, if I even tried to borrow Glaine’s sword, Mom’s head would probably burst into flames.