Page 35 of Born of Starlight
Nothing about that would be fine.
That voice had told me to find her. My only wish was that it had been clearer aboutwhy.Did it mean I should go to Luz to fight a war that was not mine? Should I follow her into the fray, whether we belonged together for some higher purpose or not?
Something told me that this woman was going to change the realm in irreversible ways—for better or worse was still to be decided.
I needed time to decide.
Chapter11
Asterie
“Absolutely not.” Emmerick dismissed the idea immediately, with arms closed over his chest.
Fenris had just casually dropped an ultimatum onto the table.
“Emmerick,” I warned.
“No, Asterie, no. You won’t be staying herealonewith this lunatic.”
Keeping my expression neutral, I couldn’t help but sigh. Since this morning by the river, the warlock had kept looking at me like I might grow three heads—like he was waiting for something.
“The trek to Belray is more of a climb—better to go on foot than risk injury. Your horses will be food for the wolves here. It’s only a few days’ travel to and from Shelten Falls, where you can board them. But it’s in the opposite direction,” Fenris reasoned.
It still sounded like a poor excuse to get alone time with me, but I’d grown fond of that little red horse. Not wanting him to be food for wolves was reason enough for me.
An added benefit was avoiding four unnecessary days sleeping on the forest ground if we accompanied Emmerick. For some reason, in this cabin, no nightmares haunted my sleep. Last night was the first peaceful night of rest I’d gotten in weeks.
“Exactly—a few days’ travel that you both willjoin meon.” Emmerick straightened his posture, unyielding. He towered over Fenris.
The warlock just smirked, running his fingers down the ink on his arm with a tilt of his head that had Emmerick deflating.
“Why?” Emmerick demanded.
“I’d like to understand the enchantress’ intentions better before agreeing to come along and fight a war for her that’s not mine.”
His answer seemed genuine and honest. Though I didn’t like what the “for her” implied. This wasn’t something he was doing forme.
“Also—she looks like the Source of Death himself. We wouldn’t want our enchantress’ youth to wane, now would we?” His teasing erased any sympathy. His possessive“our”had not gone unnoticed by me or Emmerick, who glared.
“It’s fine, Emmerick. Take the horses…it’s only a few days, and I’ve fended without you long enough.” I refused to admit that I could genuinely use the rest. “The warlock and I will reach an understanding.” My words were a dull threat that only seemed to make Fenris’ eyes light with interest.
He was incorrigible, yet spending a few more days with him would allow me the chance to fully assess whether unbinding himwasa good idea after all. Not that, at this point, I had a choice.
Emmerick slammed a palm down on the table before storming onto the cabin’s porch.
“Your Commander is soprotectiveof you,” Fenris remarked as he rounded the table to where I stood, “but something tells me you don’t need his protection.”
“I don’t.” My words were flat.
My assurance only deepened Fenris’ infuriating smirk, and his gaze trailed down to my lips. My cheeks heated, and I bit their insides, leveling what I hoped was an unaltered look into those hazel eyes.
Damned mesmerizing green and gold.His irises looked like the morning light hitting ferns on the forest floor, like that first morning that I’d witnessed the forest sunset.
“You will come with us if I spend these days with you.” It wasn’t a question. “And what exactly will we be doing?”
Bile rose in the back of my throat thinking of what so many men had climbed the walls of my tower seeking. How many bloodied fingertips had grasped at me. Yet I wouldn’t refuse whatever he asked, just as I’d surrendered to so many before.
He chuckled darkly. “Wetalk—my strange beauty. Do you think I’m a monster?”
