Page 61 of Bound By Darkness

“Wow, you are a sore loser.”

The dagger paused. “Is that what you think happened?”

“What else could it be? I won using your methods. I’m valuable property,” I teased.

He tossed the branch into the darkness. “That,” he uttered. “You think I view you as property?”

“Well, you did kidnap me and bring me into this war. I’m still a slave?—”

“Don’t ever say slave,” he said. “You are not a slave. I don’t keep you in chains or force you to work. You accepted our deal willingly.”

The air grew stifling. “I was joking, Ivan.”

“I do not own slaves. I willneverown slaves. I made thedeal and intend to uphold my part of the bargain,” he stated, ignoring my words.

I blinked as his silver eyes met mine. The swirls dulled to the same shade of gray as that caravan’s clothes.

Turning my head, I cleared my throat. I needed to change the subject to anything else as my eyes landed on the swords. “Your swords.”

“What?” Annoyance lingered in his tone.

“How did you get them?”

He remained silent. I’d definitely hit a nerve.

I let out a sigh as I brushed hair behind my ears. I swallowed my pride as I said, “It was a stupid joke. I didn’t mean—” My lips pursed together as I found silver once more. “I didn’t mean to make you upset, but you kind of deserved it for how you acted at Fin’s. You were gone for hours, and I thought you’d left.”

Ivan stared back before he turned, his hands bringing his satchel between us. He lifted the flap as shirts of various colors brightened the night. “When you’d vanished, I told the merchant to forget the clothes, because I didn’t know where you went. I was gone longer than anticipated because I went shopping,” he said, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not sure if they are?—”

“Thank you,” I said as my fingers lifted a shirt dipped in blue. I dropped it back into the bag as guilt clung to me. He had gone back for the clothes, and I’d yelled at him the second he’d returned.

“I still bought a few gray shirts. Can’t have you sticking out among the leaves,” he said, a smile clinging to his lips.

“What? You mean I can’t wear bright yellow in the middle of the woods?”

The flap closed as he shuffled the pack beside him, a chuckle leaving his lips. His face softened, as did another layer of my heart as I smiled back.

Clearing my throat, I jerked my head back to the swords. “I still want to know how you acquired them,” I asked. “I… don’t know much about you, and I figured it’s an acceptable conversation starter.”

“Normally, most conversations startwith how are you or nice weather.”

My lips pursed together, the corners tempting to curl as my previous words floated from his mouth. “Would you like me to ask?”

A twitch to his lips was all I received as he grabbed the sword next to him, the sheath dark as night. “No.” Turning it over, markings etched into the leather revealed themselves as his fingers floated over each one before his throat cleared. “My mother gave me these swords when I was a kid.”

I turned my head, hair spilling over my knee as he spoke to my surprise. “Isn’t your dad the swordsman?”

“Isaiash was a swordsman, but my biological mother gifted these to me. Not Gwen.” I opened my mouth, but Ivan cleared his throat as he said, “This one says courage bests fear.” His fingers traced the first etching before pointing to the second marking. “And this one says wisdom triumphs over all. They’re written in the old language.”

“The Language of the Original Fae.” That language had been lost centuries ago. “How do you know the etchings say that? The old language is dead.”

“My mother spoke it. It has been passed through generations. A tradition not long forgotten in my homeland.”

“Where is your homeland? I—I mean, if what you say is true, they’ve hidden years of history.” Years of history that was dangerous and volatile if this knowledge became public.

“My homeland isn’t of importance. As far as the language, itusedto be hidden. My mother was the last one alive to speak it. It died with her.”

I bit my lip at the words hanging in the air. “I’m sorry.” Superficial… as if my petty words did anything to lessen such a significant loss.

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