AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ariella’s soft question brings me back, and I realize that if Mirose is telling the truth, we have to do it. I don’t trust her yet, and what she proposes could put Ariella in danger again, but to feel Lord Everan’s last breath, to taste victory against my worst enemy?
They’re waiting for my answer.
Both of them are looking at me with cautious curiosity, hopeful anticipation. I grit my teeth, taking Ariella in with new eyes. She won’t give up on this chase, even if her life hangs in the balance. She has as much reason as I do to see him dead. “Alright,” I grumble.
The women breathe shared sighs of relief.
“Then it’s settled,” Ariella says, “We have to find this Dirnyn Erlic of yours, Mirose.”
The human nods grimly. “I think I know where to find him.”
“Take us there, then,” I growl, issuing a more ferocious stare than I intend. But I’m not concerned with Mirose’s opinion of me. Even as Ariella soothes me with a stroke, I know that anyone, at any time, could be our enemy.
Even this seemingly innocent human.
My claws come out as Mirose directs us back the way we came, prattling away. “He knows me from Everan’s dungeons. We’ve talked at great length about how he plans to…”
I can no longer focus on anything but the ache in my gut to taste Lord Everan’s flesh, subsequently securing Ariella’s freedom.
And my own.
20
ARIELLA
Zyranth is tense around Mirose.
He doesn’t trust her as I do. But I recognize the pain in her eyes that she tries to hide. In that regard, we are sisters. Still, I have to allay the beast in him as we travel back to dark elf society. My head is spinning with the possibilities.
Anything could go wrong.
No doubt Lord Everan is already on our trail, but doubling back might just be enough to throw off his guards. Mirose leads us through the thicket until we come upon Dirnyn’s manor. It’s not quite as sprawling as Lord Everan’s, but that might work in our favor.
She stops suddenly, putting a hand up. “Wait.”
Not a moment later, two guards pass right in front of us, not seeing us in the gloom of the woods.
I squeeze Zyranth’s hand as if to say,See? We can trust her.
He doesn’t give any indication that he felt it, his every muscle tense as if he means to burst from the underbrush and attack the guards where they stand. We cannot afford such a spectacle when we’re so close, so I squeeze harder.
Finally, he offers a squeeze in response, and I let out a soft sigh.
When the guards round the corner, I look up at the imposing stone wall. There’s a window on the second floor, just large enough for me and Mirose to squeeze through, but I think it’s better if Zyranth stays back for now.
Dirnyn might have a fright if he comes with us.
I point to the window, indicating to both of them that I mean to climb. They both nod, so I put a hand on Zyranth’s chest. “You should wait here.”
Surprise and fury flash behind his glowing golden eyes, then he shakes his head. “I’m coming with you.”
My heart melts at his resolve. “Zyranth…”
He clutches my hand to his scaled chest. “I will not leave you.”
I glance at Mirose, who only shrugs, then up at the window again with a sigh. “Can you get us up there?”
“Yes.”
