Page 93 of A Fate so Cruel

Less than an hour later, the pair stumbled upon the first dead animal. A deer, the carcass half ripped apart while the other half was left to rot. Selina crept closer to observe the animal and prodded it with a stick. “No wolves here. Just birds who must have decided they didn’t like the taste.”

“It must be bad if even the scavengers are turning away from it.”

She crinkled her nose, then shifted her attention to the ground at his feet. “Are you really not going to use your magic?”

“I thought you wanted this to be covert?”

“I do, but your arm—”

“I can manage.”

“Oh, so you’re so high and mighty now that not only do you not need your magic, but you don’t need an arm either?”

“You’re the one who wants to train with me. I figured the confidence in my skills would only impress.”

She snorted. “We’ll see.”

“Shall we make a bet on it?”

“On what?”

“My abilities.”

“Someone thinks very highly of himself.”

“I do, in fact.”

“Fine,” she placed her hands on her hips and began walking again. He followed. “If you can make it back to the village without a single scratch, be it from animal or Fae, then I’ll give you whatever you want.”

“That’s a dangerous offer.”

She stared at him. “Fine, whatever you wantwithinreason.”

His throat suddenly went dry, but somehow he kept his voice steady as he said, “A date.”

“I already promised you that. You have to give me some time to talk to them though. Once this mission is over—”

“Withyou.” She stopped walking. Turned to stare. Her mouth fell open as if she intended to speak but words didn’t come out.

Shit.Too forward. Too soon.

He needed to divert. Give her an out.

“Only if I come out unscathed, of course. Unless you already—”

“Fine. One date.” She held up a finger. “But I warn you, I’ve very high end.”

He tried to keep his excitement at bay. He forgot what to do with his hands, his eyes, and nodded as casually as he could.

“And if you lose, then you owe me a favor.”

“What kind of favor?” he asked.

“Whatever I want, to be disclosed at a later date.”

“Done.”

They continued at a steady pace and only paused when the sun began sinking toward the horizon. Selina didn’t dare use the river to clean his wounds.

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