Page 149 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“Hold him down. Careful,” said another.

It was useless. He stopped struggling, his chest rising and falling rapidly as the group parted to let Alexei through.

A single drop of blood ran down the warden’s cheek. It was satisfying to see any kind of wound on him, but it was not enough. Not even close.

“How good of him to come to us instead of making us look for him,” Alexei said dryly.

And it began to sink in, then, as Alexei looked down at him, that Vaara had failed.

He’d been so close. If the other guards had reacted just a fraction of a second slower, if they hadn’t lit the mage light, if Vaara had moved just a little sooner…

But he hadn’t. And now he was back where he’d started. Held down. Under a boot. Waiting for the crack of a whip or the impact of an open-handed slap or the searing cut of a knife.

That was all that awaited him now. This was what he’d earned himself with all his efforts.

Alexei bent down and leaned close, and Vaara felt his expression twist with naked disgust and hatred. Alexei just watched him, his face blank.

Slowly, Alexei raised a hand toward Vaara’s face. A bolt of anticipatory fear struck him like lightning. Alexei’s gloved hands grasped Vaara’s chin.

But what he felt was not the metal and leather of a gauntlet. He felt soft skin. Slim fingers.

It’s me.

Vaara blinked. Alexei’s face stared down at him, revealing nothing.

It took several seconds before Vaara could fully comprehend what was happening. Crow-Alexei waited patiently.

Crow, Vaara thought to her, relief and outrage coursing through him.What—what in the Goddess’s name are you doing?

Hiding.She gave a gentle, comforting push against his mind, like a mental brush of warm lips against his. His heart rate began to slow.

As the most conspicuous person in the prison?he thought.As the person I’m here to kill?

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

He had to work to suppress a hysterical laugh.

I kept running into more guards, and they kept wanting to talk to me, and I couldn’t get rid of them,she thought.Things got out of hand. I thought at least if I could keep them here with me, they wouldn’t be out looking for you.

Through their empathic connection, he felt her twinge of worry. In a rush of nonverbal thought, she showed him that she was deciding what to do next. She didn’t know Alexei well enough to be able to play him convincingly for long.

Should I… hit you, or something?she asked, with a twist of discomfort.

No. Just keep looking like a creepy, smug piece of shit. You’re doing great.

He felt a thread of amusement flow through her mind. His gaze darted to her cheek. He didn’t think the blood was just part of the glamour. He’d felt the sword hit. He’d seen her reel back in pain.

I cut you.

I’m all right. Don’t worry.

Crow-Alexei dropped her-his hand, severing their mental connection, and stood.

“I’ll take him back to his cell,” she said in Alexei’s voice. The effect was disturbing. Now that their minds were not connected, she looked and sounded just like him again. He could almost forget that it was really her inside. “Keep searching for the Ashara. When you find her, bring her to me.”

“Yes, sir.” The boots moved off Vaara’s arms, and the guards hauled him to his feet. His hands were yanked behind him, and familiar cold iron shackles clamped around his wrists. Crow-Alexei took his arm and pulled him toward the door. Vaara didn’t have to feign his unease.

As soon as they were down the hall and out of sight of the others, Crow unlocked the shackles. Her grip moved from his forearm to his hand.

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