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Adriel turns to Damrion, an unspoken plea in his solitary eye. I don't think he asks for much. In fact, I get the distinct impression that he'd rather die than ask this particular Fae for anything at all. There's tension between them, a hurt so ancient I think they've lost the start of their personal war to time.
But they carry their grudge anyway, their anger cutting deep. There's something beyond it though, something they've both tried to bury deep. Love, powerful and intense. Once upon a time, perhaps even now, these two loved one another, not as friends, not as one warrior loves another, but in a way that makes my chest ache.
Do they even realize that they feel the same even now? Hidden beneath the layers of pain and grief and animosity, that love still burns bright and hot. I think Adriel, at least, recognizes it. And he can't forgive himself for feeling it even now. He wants to hate this royal Fae, and he hates that he can't.
The royal warrior meets his gaze, not speaking.
"You would risk her life to prove me wrong, brother?" Adriel asks, his voice little more than a whisper. "You'd leave her to die too?"
"Nei," Damrion's sharp retort cuts through the room. "Had I known you were still alive, nothing would have stopped me from coming to pull you from that hell! Nothing!"
Adriel flinches at his hot retort but says nothing.
Damrion bows his head with a sigh, defeated. "We'll go," he declares, his voice resonating through the room like an unyielding decree. "We leave tomorrow."
Adriel's shoulders droop, his relief palpable.
"Are you certain?" Malachi asks cautiously. "Without the other warriors, we may well be outnumbered hundreds to one if the Forsaken catch us coming down the mountain."
Adriel's scarred face twists into a savage, mocking smile. "Afraid, Malachi? We've faced worse odds."
Malachi hefts his middle finger into the air in a crude gesture that only makes Adriel chuckle.
"If we go, everyone goes. We will not leave anyone behind."
"You intend to abandon Eitr?" Malachi gapes at their leader as if he's lost his mind. "You can't be serious, Damrion."
"Dead serious," Damrion growls. "The enemy was already at the gates. I will not leave our people behind as fodder when they return."
"We're nearly six hundred strong, including the warriors. We can't sneak six hundred people out through the back gate without everyone from here to Seattle noticing!"
I struggle to keep up with the rapid back-and-forth of their argument, but my eyelids gradually become weighed down by exhaustion. My mind and body are both drained, worn from the icy chill of the water I was kept in, the cramped and suffocating tub, and the tightness of the ropes that bound me for what seems like an eternity. Bruises dot my skin from the rough handling of the Forsaken. As I attempt to focus on the words of the Fae, my mind begins to drift away, lost in a sea of weariness.
"Enough," Reaper says abruptly. My eyes fly open on a startled gasp to find him watching me, his amber eyes soft and full of fierce devotion. "My Valkyrie is tired. It is time for everyone to leave."
"I'm okay," I lie, my cheeks burning at the thought of him kicking everyone out because of me.
"Nei, you need rest," he says softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "Tomorrow will be a long day."
"We'll continue this downstairs," Damrion says. "Rest, Tori. You need it."
I nod weakly, unable to argue with the royal warrior.
The room gradually empties as everyone begins to file out, their footsteps echoing on the wooden floor. When Dax and Rissa pass through the door into the hallway, a surge of anxiety shoots through me. I quickly place my hand on Reaper's arm.
"W-will you stay?" I whisper, feeling the burn of embarrassment climbing up my cheeks. Perhaps I shouldn't ask. He probably has more important things to do than babysit me just because I don't want to be alone. I bite my lip, preparing to call back the question.
"You don't even have to ask," he whispers. "I'm not going anywhere, solsken. I merely intended to close the door."
I relax against the pillows, gratitude rushing through me. "Thank you."
"Never thank me for protecting you," Reaper whispers before leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Sleep, Tori. And dream of me."
As exhaustion pulls me under, I can't help but feel safe in his presence. Despite everything that's happened, I trust him more than anyone else in this strange world.
But as I slip into a dreamless sleep, I can't help but wonder what new terrors tomorrow will hold. I've only been in this world a matter of days, and already I know there's always something.
Chapter Four
