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He doesn’t, actually. Doryn always smells like leather, musk, and lemongrass, even after the better part of a week on the road. It’s frustrating, really, when I can’t be rid of the stench of my very mortal sweat.
I shiver as I straighten my travel shirt. Between the wet fabric and the freezing cold temperatures, I’m suddenly very chilled.
It occurs to me that I haven’t suffered from the cold in a while. I’m not enjoying it, but it didn’t harm me through our journey south, until now. A fog of condensed air is visible with my next exhale.
Doryn straightens up. “Stay here.”
“When are you going to stop trying to leave me behind?” I snap in frustration as I trail his steps.
He grasps my wrist, his grip tight. “For once, you will listen, Rhea. Stay here. I can’t take care ofhimand worry about you. I can’t make the moves I need to make when I must consider keeping you in one piece.Stay.”
“Him?” I rasp.
Doryn nods only once. “YourKind Kingis here.”
40
RHEA
My heart thunders in my chest.
If he believes for one second that I’m missing this, he’s mistaken. I deserve answers. I deserve to see the truth, and the lies, with my own eyes.
“Let me go.” I don’t recognize my voice. I’ve never been more determined, yet somehow I sound softer than ever, seductive, tempting.
Doryn’s nostrils flare and his eyes flash with sheer fury. My instincts scream at me, demanding I yield, but before I can take one step back, he closes the distance between us, kissing me with all his frustration and anger, bruising my lips. The sudden, dizzying kiss ends as fast as it started. “Consider yourself lucky I enjoy your little tricks, darling Rhea. But don’t think I won’t make you pay for using them against me later.”
Then he lets go of me and saunters out of the tent.
It takes me several seconds to understand I won. I trail after him, jogging to catch up.
As we walk closer to the edge of the camp, the icy coldness intensifies, seeping into my bones. I'm not about to complain when I insisted on coming in the first place. But I do inch closer to Doryn, seeking his warmth. He throws his arm around my waist and the moment he touches me, the chill ceases to bother me.
We've not crossed half a mile when we reach a valley between the hills, where hundreds upon hundreds of men, women and children in chains have been gathered. I don't take the time to count, but I think there must be over five thousand people. Some seem like soldiers, armed with swords, clad in armor, but others are just common villagers, some too young to even think to hold a blade, others too old to fight.
Hundreds of dark riders on horses keep their lances and arrows pointed at the crowd, forcing them to remain into place. Some try to run, or fight, but the riders are swift to kill anyone who dares leave the valley, making for the line of trees on the hill.
"You!" an frosty rider calls as he spots us approaching, lance carrying arm drown back menacingly. "With the others, or die!"
I brace myself to run, but Doryn doesn't even stop walking as he waves.
The man, his horse, and his weapon vanish, leaving nothing but a thick cloud of dark fog behind. By my side, the night king glows, calling all attention to him. "Stay close," he whispers to me, letting go of my waist to raise another hand in the air.
Every single rider in black simply disappears, like they've never even existed, as shadows creep around the valley.
"Drakes!" Doryn calls, his voice carrying far and wide without shouting. "With me!"
"The king. It's the king!" Murmurs travel through the ranks fast, and they rush toward us, half carrying peasants, urging them to follow.
The crowd starts to bleed out of the valley from the hole Doryn created in the defenses, but the crowd is too thick, and riders are already approaching, slaying whoever they can target.
"Can't you do something for them?" I scream, watching the riders slaughter people on the other side of the valley. I've never felt this helpless.
"My power isn't limitless," Doryn growls, frustrated. "Distance weakens it. And I can't drain my energy now."
When the riders do reach his range, they vanish. Catching on, they switch techniques, remaining at the edge of his limit, and using long distance weapons to carry out their mindless slaughter.
"Stop!" I scream as hard as I can, my vocal cords straining.
