Page 133 of Kingdoms of Night

“No.” She tried to pull away, her back brushing against cold damp stone. “No, it’d be an imposition.”

He chuckled. “An imposition? We’re somewhere in a pit hundreds of feet below the earth beneath a witch’s cottage. I don’t think we need to worry about that. If you don’t want me to carry you, let me guide you.” He pulled her in front of him, his grip on her gentle but firm. “And actually...” Fabric ripped, then something soft wrapped around her wrist and forearm. “I’m sure you have a tea for this or something, but you shouldn’t be walking around with an open wound like that.”

Her heart thundered like a caged eagle. The elders sometimes separated eagles from their mates for festivals and presented them in grand displays for their reunions. It had always seemed a little cruel. To be so close to the one they were meant for and kept apart until at last they weren’t. And here—maybe—was it possible that Puck was right? Was Feron her—her match? Her soul mate?

The bitterness with which she’d spat out her contempt for the idea now soured within her. Not because there was no chance but because—what if there was?

Regardless, he was impressive. He’d handled this entire situation with such bravery. Yes, it had been unusual when he’d started to Change and snapped at her. It had startled her that he’d focused on her rather than Black Annis at that moment. More like a wounded animal snapping a warning than the man she felt she had been getting to know these past days.

But in the end he’d listened to her. They made an incredible team. He’d given her space to work on the riddle and figure out a way out while fighting off Black Annis.

Gently, he finished tying off the makeshift bandage and then held her hand as if examining it. “There.”

“Thank you,” she said softly.

His callused thumb lightly stroked the back of her hand for a moment. “The ground ahead is very uneven. There are a lot of rocks.” He paused, his voice lower. “I can see for both of us. Can I put my arm around you? To guide you?”

“Yes.” It came out as a whisper.

“I promise I’ll get you out of here,” he said, his mouth near her ear. “You just have to trust me a little longer.”

“I do. I do trust you.” She fought to suppress a shiver. She did actually. Trust him to get out of this place anyway. And beyond that? Could she trust him more? Maybe she already did.

The heat emanating from him reached her even when he took half a step back. Then he slid his arm around her waist, as if they were about to dance.

He’d held her so tenderly that morning. Even if he hadn’t meant to.

Did it matter, though? It wasn’t as if anything could work between them. Not as far as relationships went. They were from different worlds.

And when it came to matters of romance, he was culturally a human. Human men were dangerous. Treacherous. No matter how kind his eyes or how gentle his touch, he would just have his fun. Tire of her eventually. Or use her up. The only difference between an Unato man and a human man was that Unatos knew how to make better poisons and humans knew how to more creatively break heart and spirit.

Be strong. She had to be strong. Trust him in this, but no more.

He guided her forward. “Looks like there are more sigils and wards painted down here.”

“She said someone bound her. That they didn’t realize that it would be this way. And your gut says we’re all right, then?”

“Yeah. I don’t smell her or any other threat. It’s pretty peaceful down here, really. Kind of nice.”

“Kind of nice?” She found herself laughing. In the darkness, all she really could focus on was how soothing his voice sounded as it softened the edges of her nerves. That and the firm warmth of his grip. “Nice enough for a picnic or a summer home?”

“Maybe both? If I were a rich man, I think I’d probably be the type to have grand balls and great dances in a cave like this, with all the finest people trudging through difficult paths. Barefoot, of course, because those nice shoes should not be ruined. Then down into the cavern to dance and feast while I held another in the meadows for all the poor people.”

“Well, obviously they’d have to go through Black Annis’s cottage, seeing as she loves company so much.”

“Yes, my parties would be the talk of the land. So amazing that most of the rich guests never chose to leave.” He guided her a couple side steps to the left, his hand pushing a little harder, a little firmer into the gentle dip of her waist. “Can I ask about your wrist?”

“What about it?”

“That hand feels colder than the other. And your fingers are really tight. Are you all right? Did I tie it too tight?”

He’d noticed? She blinked with surprise. Her heart beat a little faster. He hadn’t just noticed; he was worried.

“No, not at all,” she said slowly. “This world’s energy is different from mine. And I was too far away from the soil itself. So I had to use my own life energy to spread the mold and encourage its growth. It has a bit of a cost.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Was he frowning? “You cut yourself.”

That edge to his voice made it so clear how much it bothered him. “No more than you going hand to hand with a shape-changing witch.” She tried to focus on where she thought his face was, to catch even a glimpse of his outline. “I heal fairly quickly, too. But nothing about any of this is safe. Cutting myself was the only way. You were very brave up there as well. And we both had a part to play. If we hadn’t, well, we’d probably be in a much worse situation.”

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