Page 62 of A Touch of Gold and Madness

I shared that sentiment with him. “Anything new happening with the militia?”

Onyx’s cheeks puffed up before he blew out a breath. “Not really. I ran some food supplies to them—as well as some clothes. Hogan said it should last for a bit.”

“Good,” I said and pulled out a buck knife. “You up for a hunt?”

Excitement and challenge lit Onyx’s amber eyes with mischief. “Fuck yes.”

Chapter 24

Gray

My ass hurt. Actually, it was beginning to go numb from the hard ground, adding to the growing ball of tension in my chest. While Chrome had been off hunting, I’d built a small fire, its warmth now almost singing the hairs on my head.

My mind was a maelstrom of discombobulated thoughts, unable to land on a particular one. What the fuck happened to my life? How did I end up here? Was I destined for misery from birth?

It was getting harder and harder to breathe, and the declining temperature wasn’t helping. A crisp breeze slithered down the back of my hoodie. Heavy footsteps sounded from the edge of the woods of our little clearing, and Chrome’s tall figure came tromping through, dragging a dead animal at his heels.

I sat up straighter, locking away my emotions for a later date. I couldn’t break in front of anyone—especially him.

He approached me, beginning to pluck feathers from a dead turkey’s body. The sight of the raw food ignited what little restraint I held onto. I was so fucking hungry. To try to distract myself from my warring thoughts and starvation, I asked, “So you think my father is responsible for that creature we just dealt with?” I tried to make sense of everything.

“Obviously,” Chrome scoffed, annoyance showing in his eye roll.

My eyebrows rose at the sudden attitude. “You can drop the sass.”

He sighed and ran a hand through his black hair and sighed, deflating. “Sorry. This little trip has turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated.”

I jerked my head in his direction and seared him with a look that spoke of all the emotions I’d been suppressing over the past few days: hot anger, betrayal, childhood neglect, and abuse all rising to the surface since I left the Royal Domain. “I’m at my fucking limit, Chrome,” I snapped, barely keeping my voice below a scream. He stared at me, a twinge of shock racing across his face before his head cocked. He raised an eyebrow. “Within days, I went from being an assassin princess to being nearly killed by you, and then being nearly killed by my father. Only to find out the man I’ve been taught to hate with every fiber of my being is actually the legendary Chrome Freyr! You’re supposed to be dead.” Chrome dipped his head in mock acknowledgment as I continued, “Then, I learn you’re also a formulated hybrid who talks to himself in the middle of the night. Becausethatmakes total sense.

“Oh! And let’s not forget, the man who raised me isnotmy adopted father. He is, in fact, my biological father, who kidnapped and tortured my unknown biological mother and raped her to produce me. Then killed her. I’ve discovered that I, too, am a formulated fucked-up hybrid who’s been lied to her entire life. I’ve even had my godsdamn food poisoned since I was a small child! My psychopathic king of a father is trying to open a portal to another world with the delusional hopes of finding some source of great power, whatever the hell that means. Or so we think, at least. Actually, soyouthink—you still haven’t told me whowe arebecause all I see is you in the chaos.” I paused to catch my breath, my chest heaving. “But the most sickening part of it all? I’ve killed for him. Killed so many…” I trailed off on that last thought and looked into the trees, feeling tears threatening to fall.

My chest tightened with the determination to keep them from spilling over. My hands shook, so I dug my nails into my palms, allowing thesting of the pain to ground me. I took a steadying breath. “Did I forget anything?” I aimed a look of contempt at what appeared to be the only ally I had left—the most unlikely one at that.

Without missing a beat, Chrome lifted a finger and said, “You left out that I saved your ass as a small child and continue to save your ass as a grown woman.” He flashed an exaggerated smile that crinkled the corners of his cat eyes.

Ugh, he was sexy.

“So, you’re welcome for that.” A second finger ticked up. “Also, I didnotkill Slate. Still want my name cleared on that accusation.” A third finger met the others. “And we just fought a little beastie-bear while accidentally opening a portal to another world to send it back.” Amusement danced in those ice-blue eyes.

“I hate you,” I said, my voice flat and with a deadpan expression. “You havenotsaved my ass,” I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest. “I don’t get saved. Ever.”

A smirk teased the corners of his lips. “Oh, but you do, little savage. By me. And only me.”

Dammit, why did his voice have to sound sensual when he talked like that?

I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t want, nor need, to be saved, especially by someone whose ego is the size of that bear back there.”

The smile grew, melting his stark features and my resolve. “Oh really? What else of mine do you think is big?”

His eyes sparkled with amusement and…lust?No, I must have imagined it. But then why did my heart start to race and my cheeks heat from a torturous blush?

I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting the urge to smile. I walked into that one. “Nothing. You’re small. Just a small man. With a little peen.” I locked eyes with him and tried to remain stoic, though I knew I wouldn’t last long.

Loud, belly-deep laughter erupted from him. I’d never heard anything so…infectious. I couldn’t help but to chuckle with him.

“Peen?” Chrome exclaimed, when he came up for air. “How old are you?”

I chuckled. “Old enough to know I can spot an arrogant dick when he presents himself.”

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