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She's a human. A human, human, human.
But if I was right…
I couldn't be thinking any of this now. We had a long way to go before we reached our destination, and Fae like Dalyth were the least of my troubles.
I trudged through the continuing rain, cursing the gods and hoping like fuck it let up before too much longer. And knowing there was no point in cursing the gods, because this time, they weren't the ones creating the trouble.
They sure as hells weren't the ones who were going to get us out of it.
7
Khala
"What do you think they want with us?" I whispered. Talking was coming easier now, but I would have signed if not for the darkness, so we weren't overheard.
I squinted over to where two of the three Fae men seemed to be asleep. The third, Tavian, prowled around in the trees, on watch.
The rain ended a couple of hours ago, but it was too wet for a fire. The Fae shared bread and cheese, and fruit from their packs with Zared and I.
I gobbled mine down before I remembered there was no one going to hurry me. That was another habit I’d have to work at breaking.
"I don't think they want us," Zared said. "It’s you they want."
I wasn't sure who he was accusing, me or them. I waited until my breath became even again after my sharp intake of annoyance. He was the last person I should be irritated with. If it wasn't for him, I'd be alone with them. Or in Dalyth’s hands.
"I have no idea why," I said, defensive in spite of my resolve not to be. "Do you think Tyla is all right?" I was more scared for her than I was for myself. Whatever Ryze wanted me for, he didn't want me dead. He and his men defended us against Dalyth and the other Fae.
I didn't know what she wanted me for either, but killing priests wasn't a sign of good intentions.
"Tyla will be fine," Zared assured me. "We'll get to her before anything bad can happen." He didn’t sound completely confident, but I clung to his words like a lifeline. She had to be all right, or I’d never forgive myself for leaving her in that carriage. When Zared and I fled, she’d frozen. I should have pulled her with me, but she’d insisted on staying inside like the other priests told us all to. If I’d tried a little harder…
I shifted and looked up at the few stars that were visible through the thick canopy. I only made out a handful here or there, their light twinkling like winking gods.
"Sooner if we leave now." His voice was barely louder than the whisper of a breeze. "We could be back at the road by morning. By the time those three wake up—"
"We would stop you before you take a step," Ryze said without so much as moving.
Zared's exhale was an irritated huff.
Mine was a sigh of acceptance. Of course at least one of them was awake, alert. Or they heard us talking. Didn't Fae have particularly good hearing? Hells, for all I knew, he could read our thoughts.
Ryze rolled over. His cat shaped eyes regarded me in the gloom. "I know you have questions. I promise, you'll get your answers."
"Why don't you go and give them to us now?" Zared sat up.
"Because right now, you should be asleep," Ryze said evenly. "We have a long way to go tomorrow."
"If we keep travelling with you," Zared said.
Ryze spoke like an annoyed father, having to explain something to his child for the billionth time.
"If you want to help your friend, staying with us is your best way to do that. In spite of what you may think, you don't want to end up in Dalyth's hands." His tone softened when he directed his gaze at me. "I know all of this is troubling. Trusting each other is difficult. But we need each other. Believe me on that."
"You need her," Zared said pointedly. "What do you need her for?"
"You're right," Ryze said without taking his eyes off me. "We need her." Then his gaze swivelled to Zared. "We don't need you. How many times have you almost gotten yourself killed since we met? Will you be unsatisfied until you get her killed too?"
His voice was so deep, so gravelly, that even when he was threatening Zared, he sounded compelling. I caught him watching me a couple of times before the sun set. I recognised the predatory look in a man's eyes, but I never thought I'd see it on a Fae.
