“I have a very serious question,” I replied, wanting to get his mind off the daunting task I planned to do.
“What’s that?” he asked seriously.
“Is there a reason you eat like a barbarian?”
He grinned, accepting my offer toplay with me. “Is there a reason you eat as if it’s an art form?” he asked, imitating how I eat with my hands. “Constructing every bite to perfection.”
“As an artist, you should not take my art lightly,” I teased back. “I am creating a masterpiece with every bite.”
“Believe me, I know all about edible art,” he said as he looked me up and down. “Every time I draw you, or look at you, it makes my mouth water.”
I threw my head back with laughter, allowing the brief reprieve to wash over me. Even though it felt like the world was ending, Rowen and I could escape into each other’s company. Our soul flame bond was a comforting light amidst the encroaching darkness.
Just as I was about to make another comeback, my ear twitched, and a flicker of movement caught my eye. “What kind of animals are out here?”
“None too frightening,” Rowen said as he patted the assortment of blades attached to his body. A pang of emptiness itched at my thigh. I felt naked without the blade Rowen had gifted me. It was the first weapon that truly felt like an extension of my body, but I had lost it at the Battle of the Crypts.
I would have to find a new blade soon.
Rowen and I continued down the path, sharing our upbringings and favorite memories, keeping the conversation light. I needed to be in a good mindset for what I was about to attempt.
We’d been walking for some time when I saw movement in the bushes again. “Rowen, I think something is following us.”
“Not something. Someone,” Rowen whispered as he slowly pulled out his blade, and with a speed I could barely register, Rowen hurled his ax into the trees.
I flinched as a yelp rang from within the foliage.
Rowen stormed over and cleared the brush, revealing Maddock pinned to a tree by his shirt sleeve.
Maddock sucked in rapid breaths, his eyes gaping as he took in the ax mere centimeters from his limb. “You almost killed me!”
“No. I didn’t,” Rowen said, walking through the branches to dislodge the blade from Maddock’s shirt. As my soul flame pried the ax from the trunk, Maddock’s chest heaved, his eyes never leaving Rowen.
Finally released, Maddock staggered away from the tree. “I really liked this shirt,” he said, poking his finger through the tear. “Where are we going anyway?”
I charged up to him, fury boiling in my veins. “Wearen’t going anywhere. I told you I never wanted to see you again.”
Maddock ran a hand through his black hair that fell in his eyes. “I know you told me to stay away, but I find I need to be near you.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen because I don’t want to be anywhere near you. What part ofI never want to see you againdo you not understand? Stop following us and go get a life,” I said as I stormed away.
Maddock followed me back onto the trail. “I just need to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why are you worried about that?” I asked, whirling around. He shot a glance at Rowen. “Don’t look at him. Look at me. Why?”
“Answer her,” Rowen demanded. “Make your intentions clear.”
“I just . . . I can’t explain it. I feel inexplicably drawn to you. Maybe it’s the Light we share. Maybe?—”
“We don’t share it.” I glared, a tirade creeping up my throat. “Sharing implies I gave it to you willingly. But we both know that’s not what happened.”
“Keira, what do I have to do to earn your forgiveness?” he asked, his cherrywood eyes darting back and forth between me and my soul flame. “Forgiveness from both of you.”
I squared my shoulders. “Why are you here? What do you really want?”
“All I want to know is that you’re safe,” he said, stepping up beside Rowen, just a few inches shorter but almost just as wide.
“I’m safe, no thanks to you,” I retorted, my fists clenching so tight that my nails dug into my palms. “And to keep it that way, I’d like you to stay as far away from me as possible.”