Page 83 of Bound By Darkness

“Not everyone gives you as much leniency as I do.”

“What leniency do you give me?” I teased, leaning into him.

“Far…fartoo much, half-breed,” he whispered, his voice curling around my ears as he leaned closer.

My breathing paused as the cot creaked beneath the weight of us, my eyes settling on the creases of his eyes. He was Fae, but the curse was already beginning to eat at him too, lines etched into his skin.

I wanted to know how he’d gotten those lines. Was it from worry or happiness? Was it the burden of war or was it the burden of being alone that weighed the corners down?

His frame leaned back quickly, his eyes averting as he stood from the groaning cot. “I… I have to get going,” he muttered as he ran a hand through his hair. “I have a meeting with Chiron.” He pointed to the tent flaps. “Be cordial when you see him. Your tongue might get you in trouble if you’re not careful.”

“What’s wrong with my tongue?” I teased, enjoying the stammering of his words—the lack of eye contact. I wanted to test the limits, to push him past the edge. “What happens if I’m not cordial?”

“Then I’ll have to cut that crass tongue of yours out.”

“Oh? You thinkthatwill work?”

His eyes darkened, his fingers curling around the dirt-stained flaps. “If not, I have other ways to quell your speech,” he mused before slipping out.

He left without another word as he left me flushed and frustrated. I was slowly crossing an edge I wasn’t sure I would come back from… an edge I wasn’t sure Iwantedto come back from.

Chapter 24

Messy Carrots

THALIA

A few dayshad passed since building the cot, my skin blazing at the reminder of his thigh brushing my leg. At least a hard morning of shuffling wooden beams from one side to another had helped to chill my flushed skin as I sat down for lunch. Everything smelled amazing as I stuffed my face with bits of beef and rice.

“Didn’t your parents ever teach you proper manners?” a man asked as he sat across from me, a cane resting next to his legs.

Guzzling the cup of water, I burped loudly. “Nope.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I can see.” Clearing his throat, his eyes raked over me. “Chiron. You must be Thalia.”

Stuffing another carrot into my mouth, I took a few more seconds to chew before swallowing. This was Chiron. The man Ivan had warned me about, and I’d burped in his face.

Chiron wiped his hands against white linen before folding them under his chin. “Tell me,” he said, “how did you find yourself in Ivan’s accompaniment?”

I copied his movements,my back straightening as I leaned forward. Heat crept into my neck at the embarrassment I’d already caused.

Do your best to be cordial with him.

Ivan’s warning rattled in my head as I stared at the man. “Why do you want to know?” I could play it cool—becordial.

“I do not understand how”—he gestured between the tray and me—“someone asinterestingas you decided to follow him.”

“Correction,” I said, taking a swig of water. “He rescued me from the prison.”

Chiron leaned forward. “Interesting.”

“You use that word a lot.”

“Apologies,” he stated. “I assumed you’d searched for Ivan on your own… for his unique qualifications.”

“He found me,” I repeated. “Asked me to help out your city.”

Chiron stiffened. “What did he ask your help with?”

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