Page 14 of Bound in Flames

Cleo

The thick canopy of the forest loomed overhead, its shadows casting a familiar pattern. It reminded me of home—the view from my family’s farm in Sleek Valley. I used to watch these trees sway in the wind from my bedroom window, their rhythmic dance a constant comfort. Back then, I’d imagine what lay beyond them, spinning dreams of adventure and freedom.

Now, those dreams felt hollow. My stomach clenched as regret twisted through me, sharp and bitter. I never thought I’d actually step into the unknown, leaving everything behind. The warmth of my mother’s smile, the steady routine of the farm, even the simple creak of the porch under my feet—they felt impossibly far away, like a life that belonged to someone else.

And for what? I’d been forced to trade all of it for danger and uncertainty, all because I had been cursed with wild magic in a world that didn’t want it. I shook my head in frustration.Did I really think this magic was a curse?Yesterday, I would have said yes, but today felt different.

The forest pulsed with a quiet energy I was only just beginning to understand. Leaves rustled above, whispering secrets on the wind, while towering trees loomed in the mist,their shadows weaving through the dense branches. Each step I took was muffled by the thick carpet of fallen leaves beneath my boots.

The air was alive with scents. The sharp, sweet tang of pine mingled with the fruity sweetness of berry bushes and the earthy richness of the soil. It felt fresh, alive, and grounding. I felt an odd sense of belonging, as though the forest itself had welcomed me.

I had never ventured beyond the village growing up. The woods surrounding us had always been a firm boundary set by my father, the wilds filled with beasts that lurked just beyond the safety of civilization. Now, walking with an orc, the forest felt ancient and full of possibilities. It was no longer a distant realm of myth. It was real, and it surrounded me.

A breeze stirred the canopy above, sending a flurry of golden flecked leaves swirling down around us. I watched them drift lazily to the ground in the early morning light. The air was carrying fresh scents of rich soil and something faintly sweet—perhaps wildflowers, the last traces of summer’s bloom. Beneath it all was a heaviness, a smell I couldn’t quite place. Something darker. Something that made the fine hairs on my arms stand on end. Decay.

Dex walked a few paces ahead, his dark hair pulled back, revealing the sharp cut of his cheekbones. His eyes scanned the forest, missing nothing, his stride powerful, and even with his size, he moved as though the forest was an extension of himself. I allowed myself to observe him, fascinated by the way his muscles flexed and rolled as he walked, the glint of the sword and daggers on his belt as they caught the light with every step. He was the embodiment of strength, a warrior who had seen countless battles, yet here he was, leading me—a human—through lands that once belonged to his people. There was a grace to him, a raw power that was both intimidating andmagnetic, and completely unexpected from my knowledge of history and orc kind.

Shaman. The word still lingered in my mind, heavy with possibilities. How could I be something so powerful when I had been at the mercy of my father for most of my life? He had dismissed any notions of magic within me as ridiculous, a sign of childish imagination. But now... now, I couldn’t deny what was happening.

I looked down at my hands. The earth had responded to me. Not just in the market, but again last night while meditating. The magic had felt warm and steady, like sunlight cutting through a winter chill, grounding me in a way I hadn’t thought possible. That connection was stronger now, more tangible. I could feel it in every step, every rustle of leaves, the vibrations beneath my feet. It wasn’t just something I could call; it was something I belonged to.

The memory of last night sent a shiver down my spine. Lounging in Dex’s arms, his warmth against me, I’d felt safe for the first time in what felt like forever. His steady voice had eased my fear, the calmness of his presence softening the turmoil inside me.

My fingers brushed the edge of my temple, remembering how gently he’d cleaned the wound there. His touch had been firm but careful, his silence oddly comforting. For someone so rough around the edges, his tenderness had caught me off guard. I clenched my fists, trying to focus on the magic pulsing underfoot instead of the confusing pull of him.

As if summoned by my thoughts, Dex’s voice cut through the silence. “Stay close.” His tone was calm but firm, his eyes never leaving the overgrown path. He didn’t need to repeat himself. I quickened my pace, moving closer to him. His hands rested on the hilt of his pilfered weapon, and his eyes scanned thetrees with sharp intensity. The energy radiating from him was unsettling.

My heart pounded in my chest, and I clenched my hands to stop them from trembling. His wariness only heightened my own discomfort. I was a stranger in this world, and though he hadn’t harmed me, the weight of the unknown was suffocating. He slowed his pace, eyes scanning the underbrush. The forest suddenly felt different. Darker.

Only a short time passed before we reached a small stream and he finally slowed to a stop, motioning for a quick break. Relief coursed through me, though I kept my expression carefully neutral as I lowered myself onto a fallen log by the creek. My movements were slow as the stiffness in my legs and shoulders pulled at every step. A dull ache in my back served as a reminder of hours spent tense and hunched. The cool mist rising from the water kissed my face, easing some of the tightness in my body as I exhaled.

Plunging my hands in the water, I winced as the cold stung the raw skin of my wrists, before bringing it to my lips. The coolness soothed my parched throat, refreshing in a way that made me moan softly in gratitude. I let myself relax as I listened to the soft babble of the creek blending with the rustle of leaves overhead and the distant calls of birds. The forest held a beauty that was both ancient and alive, its energy pulsing faintly in the air around me as I refilled my flask.

But the peace didn’t last. A prickling unease crept up my spine, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Someone—or something—was watching us.

A rustling in the trees snapped my attention to the forest’s edge, and Dex reacted instantly. His muscles coiled like a drawn bowstring, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword as he stepped forward, placing himself squarely between me and the threat.

From the shadows, a figure emerged, movements slow and deliberate, each step measured as if he wanted to be seen. At first, I thought it might be another orc. His skin was dark, blending in with the shadows of the forest, but as he stepped closer, I realized he was somethingother. His frame was leaner, his movements almost unnaturally fluid. An old cloak hung from his shoulders, its edges frayed and worn. His face was partially obscured by a hood. The moment I caught a glimpse of his eyes, panic surged through me. Magic flared in response, crackling beneath my skin as the sickly scent of decay wafted toward us.

Dex’s sword flashed in the dim light, his body a solid barrier between us. His grip tightened on the hilt, and his golden eyes narrowed with a predatory focus. “You are trespassing,” he growled, his voice low and laced with aggression.

The figure tilted its head, his gaze sweeping over Dex before settling on me. A slow, twisted smile spread across his lips as he pulled back his hood, revealing a face that was sharp and angular, skin rough like weathered stone.

“You’ve brought quite the treasure with you, Chieftain,” His eyes locked on mine, and I felt a chill run down my spine. “Did you really think you could keep her hidden?”

The leather-wrapped hilt creaked under the strain of Dex’s grip. “State your purpose, or I’ll carve it from you.”

The stranger’s smile didn’t waver. Instead, he laughed. A dark, mocking sound that echoed through the clearing. “Will you now, orc?” His voice was filled with amusement and venom. “These lands haven’t belonged to your people for some time. You walk through our territory now.”

Dex didn’t take the bait, his stance unyielding, though the stranger’s smile widened, twisting into something darker. My stomach churned as his gaze shifted back to me, sharp and invasive, like a blade dragging over my skin.

“I’m not here for you.” The stranger’s eyes gleamed, catching the faint light as though feeding on it. “I’m here for her.”

Me?

In one fluid motion, Dex closed the distance between them by half, his sword steady in his grip. “She belongs with me.”

The stranger’s eyes flicked to the blade, his twisted grin unfazed by the show of force. “Does she?” he purred, his tone dripping with disdain. His gaze dragged over me again, slower this time, deliberate, “You don’t know what you’re interfering with.”

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