Page 38 of Surrendered to Mate

She nods, adjusting her pack. "Lead the way."

I almost tease her that I need her to go first so that I can protect my pretty face, but I can tell she is in no mood. She's been off since I held her two days ago, calming her until she fell asleep. And then yesterday, when we made camp, I curled around her and she said nothing as I pulled her tight against me.

So instead of taunting each other, we push on in silence, the forest gradually thinning as we near the coast. The salty air fills my lungs, a welcome change from the musty forest scent. Faye's footsteps are nearly silent beside me, her hunter's grace undiminished despite our long journey.

"You hungry?" I ask as we pause at the forest's edge. The beach stretches before us, empty save for a few scuttling crabs and wheeling seabirds.

Faye shrugs, dropping her pack. "I could eat."

I pull out some dried meat from our supplies, handing her a strip. She takes it without meeting my eyes, chewing mechanically. Something's off, but I can't put my finger on it.

"You okay?" I venture, surprising myself with the concern in my voice.

She looks up, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Just thinking."

I nod, not pushing further. Instead, I stalk off to feed while she eats, not going too far. The crash of waves fill the air, reminding me how close were are now.

The pull of magic is stronger now, an insistent tug towards the water. But as I watch Faye, her brow furrowed in thought, a new feeling creeps in. Worry.

"Faye," I start, my voice low. "You don't have to come with me, you know. If you want to stay here-"

Her head snaps up, eyes flashing. "Don't even think about it, Cassius. We're in this together."

I hold up my hands in surrender. It's so rare I hear my name come out of that pretty little mouth that I'm taken aback. "Alright, alright. We'll just... be careful, okay?"

She snorts, some of her old fire returning. "Worried about me, pretty boy?"

I roll my eyes, but can't hide my smirk. "Just don't want to have to save your ass again."

Faye punches my arm lightly, and for a moment, everything feels normal. But as we pack up and head towards the water, I can't shake the feeling that I'm leading her into danger. And for the first time in centuries, the thought of someone else getting hurt actually bothers me.

As we approach the water's edge, the magic intensifies, thrumming through my body. It's almost overwhelming, and I know without a doubt that we're not alone here.

"Faye," I say, grabbing her arm to stop her. "Wait."

She looks at me, brow furrowed. "What is it?"

I scan the seemingly calm waters, sensing the danger lurking beneath. "There are monsters down there. Guarding the gate, just like the tablet warned."

Her hand instinctively moves to her bow. "So what's the plan?"

I take a deep breath, knowing she won't like what I'm about to say. "I need you to stay here on the shore."

"What?" Her eyes flash with anger. "No way. We're in this together, remember?"

"I know, sweetheart, but hear me out," I say, holding up my hands. "I have the magic to go underwater, and let's face it, I can't die. I need to dive down there and see what we're up against. Then I'll come back, and we can make a plan together."

Faye's jaw clenches, her hands balling into fists. "So you're just going to leave me here? Useless?"

"I'm not leaving you out," I insist, fighting the urge to pull her close. To kiss her and tell her I can't let her get hurt, not again. "I just need to assess what kind of magic I'll need to use for both of us. It's reconnaissance, nothing more."

She glares at me for a long moment, and I can see the battle raging behind her eyes. Finally, she lets out a frustrated growl. "Fine. But if you're not back in an hour, I'm coming in after you, monsters be damned."

I can't help but smirk. "Wouldn't expect anything less from you, sweetheart."

Faye turns away, arms crossed. "Just go, pretty boy. And don't get all messed up. I only keep you around because you're nice to look at." But there's a bite to her voice that makes it less than teasing.

More like words meant to distract from worry.

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