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One by one, he pulls tooth-colored caps off his incisors, showing off his sharpened fangs. He grins proudly.
Suddenly, I notice how many of the guys are wearing leather bracelets. As far as fashion goes, it’s not uncommon for warriors to wear them, but the wide band is also very good at concealing bites.
It would make sense for them to share blood. They’d need sustenance, which is difficult to come by when hiding in a mountain for weeks or months at a time. Plus, if they’re trying to live like the original dark fae, this is one more way to do it.
“I told them of your habits.” A deep voice comes from my left.
When I glance that way, Rymus emerges from behind a few men.
All his stings are gone, his perfect skin showing no hint of the damage from the bees. Envy must’ve healed him, too.
“You’re a spy,” I state without question.
“You could say that.”
“Do you really live at the neighboring property or was that a lie?”
“We have houses all over Valora,” he replies vaguely, “most of which are in remote locations. I happen to be one of the few of us that’s not wanted by the law, so I can roam about freely without risking arrest. I was tasked with watching you, learning what I can about you. Yorenzo was very curious about whether you’re who he thinks you are, and Zetipher wanted me to record how often you’re able to travel.”
“See?” Hannah croaks. “Shifty as fuck. I knew there was something wrong with him.”
“Hey.” Rymus is offended. “I was following orders of the king.”
“The rainstorm,” she accuses harshly, and it’s surprising how menacing she can sound in her condition. “That day Ellister was collecting honey. You did it on purpose so he would get stung.”
Rymus shrugs. “I needed to witness how quickly he could harness his power, and the bees were the perfect motivation.”
“I’m not even sorry you got attacked by the same hive. And to think I actually felt bad for you. I wish we could go back in time just so I could tell myself to leave you in the forest to rot.” She’s dripping with ire, but I can tell it’s taking every last bit of energy she has to ream Rymus.
“Enough bickering,” Envy interjects. “We have more important things to discuss.”
“Hannah really needs to rest.” My arms are the only reason she’s not on the floor. “Do you have a more comfortable place for us to talk about this?”
With a simple lift of his finger, Envy uses his power to roll a tree stump over to us. It’s not a chair but it’s better than nothing.
After I sweep a barely conscious Hannah into my arms, I lower myself to the log with her slung across my lap.
It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that no one is stepping forward to help. Quite the opposite, actually. Everyone’s keeping their distance.
These hardened men, with their spears and axes, are terrified that Hannah and I are contagious.
Well, I hadn’t been trying to repel them with fear, but that’ll work just fine. If they’re scared of us, maybe they’ll keep their dirty paws to themselves.
Even Yorenzo has backed up, standing by Envy’s throne as he flips through some pages of his book.
“Hold on a minute,” the historian pushes on. “If I’m reading this correctly, what ails this woman isn’t catching. The illness Vaeront inflicts acts more like a curse, only affecting the target of the bargain.”
“But can you be certain?” I plant more doubt in place of his reassurance.
“Not for certain, no. You have firsthand experience with this. Shouldn’t you know how the magic works?”
“I’ll tell you what I do know for sure—if we don’t leave here, Hannah will die.”
“Won’t she die regardless?” Envy asks. “It sounds like the pair of you are headed for inevitable death.”
“And it sounds like you need me to be alive long enough to help you,” I shoot back.
“Yes,” he drawls begrudgingly. “Are you agreeing to do what I ask, then?”
