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Ellister’s gaze volleys back between me and Astrid. “So she’s just as I knew her?”
“Just as,” the witch confirms, short and to the point.
Smiling one of his rare smiles, Ellister displays his fangs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so happy before, but I feel like he’s jumping the gun.
Things aren’t going to be automatically hunky-dory.
With all the knowledge I’ve gained, I might be the same person he met on the side of the road, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about each other. It’s not like we had much time together before shit hit the fan, and Ellister is still a mystery to me. All the information I’ve learned about him is either from a two-day time span, the dream-like bits I soaked up right before my death, or our merged memories from what came after.
And even though I know he had good reason to do it, he still kidnapped my ass.
“You’re being very quiet,” Ellister comments, perturbed. “That’s not like you. Are you still mad at me?” His expression turns determined as he adds, “Because I’m willing to do whatever it takes to improve your mood.”
I’m not sure if he’s talking about sex, but my mind goes straight to the gutter.
Oh, I want him to worship my body. I want his face between my thighs. I want his naked body writhing with mine.
“I’m not sorry I took you,” he continues stubbornly, mistaking my silence for anger. “It was the only way to rescue you, and as your mate, it’s my right to claim you. You’re mine. Fate gave you to me, and you’re the greatest gift I could ever receive.”
I should probably be upset about being spoken of as if I’m a possession, but I get it. I really do. If our positions were switched, I would’ve done the same thing.
I’m Ellister’s soul mate, and he’s mine, and that’s that.
“There’s one thing I’m still pissed about,” I say seriously.
“Do tell.”
I twist my lips to the side as I motion to my toilet. “The bathroom situation sucks.”
Grimacing, Ellister glances at my bucket. “Now, that, I will apologize for. Water doesn’t travel well through the vortex. At least not large amounts of it.” He pats the waterskin attached to his belt. “That’s why I fill this up. It holds just enough to keep you hydrated. I could take a couple extra trips to a stream if you’d like to wash up a bit.”
“Can I come with you?”
“Not yet.”
I scan the dome ceiling of reddish rock. “Is it really necessary for you to keep me in this… place?”
“Yes. I’m an unregistered citizen in Valora, so it’s best if we hide for now.”
“Where are we?”
“Inside a mountain with secret caves and passages. It’s called Yelissa’s Peak. It’s a forbidden area located in the northern part of the Day Realm.”
“Why is it forbidden?”
“Rumor has it, the territory is dangerous. There are mysterious happenings and unexplainable disappearances. Some say the entire mountain is haunted.”
“Is that true?”
“No. Those rumors were started to keep people away. Safety and secrecy is the foundation of Yelissa’s Peak. These caves were hollowed out ages ago by wizards who needed refuge from those who would seek to take advantage of their power. No one would think to look inside a mountain. The only way in or out is magic; either through a portal or my vortex.”
So that’s why I couldn’t find a damn door.
“How long do we have to stay here?” I shiver, not just because the air is chilly, but also because I can’t imagine living in this darkness without eventually losing my mind.
“Not much longer. I could never cage you like that. When I go out for food, I’ve been searching for an abandoned house for us. Somewhere in a rural area. The less attention we draw to ourselves, the better. We both have skills to survive—me with my power to go places to retrieve certain items, and you with your knowledge of a self-sustaining lifestyle.”
“And how long will we do that?”
