Page 75 of Trapped to Tame
‘Is fighting all you want to know? All you want from your life, Fourth?’
She gave him a look, rolling her eyes at him as she picked up the book and opened it.
He turned away, satisfied that she was at least trying to learn. He stoked the fire and busied himself with the normal camp tasks that needed to be done while the others were hopefully securing their dinners. He made a circle of stones around the perimeter of the cave, ensuring it was ready to be cast as soon as the sun was going down. Now that they were back in the mountains, it would become more dangerous again. But when he turned around to observe Eve’s progress, he found the woman still on the same page, staring down with a vague expression as if she was daydreaming.
He went over to her again, tapping her lightly on her boot with his own. ‘Do you not want to learn how to control your gifts?’ he asked, deliberately keeping his tone calm and devoid of anger.
She still flinched and he turned away with a curse. She’d kill her tormentor, a monster she feared and hated, and yet she recoiled from him even when he was trying to help her.
‘You're not even trying,’ he said, suddenly angry at himself and snatching the book from her. ‘Do you think you’ll simply be able to conjure without putting the effort in to learn?’
He looked at the open book in his hand and frowned. She’d been trying to read the pages upside down. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her and realization dawned. He was the worst kind of fool.
‘Female,’ he said gently, he squatted down in front of her.
She didn’t meet his eye.
‘You can't read, can you?’ he asked her.
Knowing that only weeks ago, he’d have made a jest at her expense made it worse. Of course, she’d have tried to keep this from him for as long as possible.
Her cheeks colored, and she deflated, not answering him.
‘I could teach you,’ he blurted before he could think better of it and she looked suspicious, as if she thought he was tricking her in some way.
She was playing with her fingernails, something he had noticed she did when she was nervous.
He stood up and turned away from her, rubbing his eyes and wondering what it was about this female that made him act like a charmless boar.
‘Perhaps you could read it to me,’ she murmured.
He didn’t show his surprise, but it was an olive branch if there ever was one.
‘Very well,’ he said. ‘But I'll teach you to read for yourself as well.’
He could tell there was something else on her mind, but she didn't say anything as he sat next to her and began to read from the book slowly, answering her questions when she finally relaxed enough to ask them.
When Fie and Drax returned, it was before the sun had set. They both looked surprised to find Priest and Eve sitting side by side, but neither of them commented as they began to prepare supper.
Eve got to her feet, announcing that she needed to go outside. As per Fie’s command, Priest went with her to ensure her safety. She went behind a tree and he stayed a discreet distance away, waiting for her to finish.
A moment later he heard a low cry and raced towards the sound, finding her still sitting on her heels.
She looked up in alarm.
‘Don't come any closer.’ she cried, her lip trembling. ‘Go away!’
His nostrils flared as he scented her blood.
‘I said, go away!’
Eve straightened, her tunic covering her down to her thighs. She gave him an angry stare, clutching her belly low, and Priest suddenly understood.
He canted his head, confused by her behavior. This wasn’t simply embarrassment; she was genuinely afraid.
‘It's just your courses,’ he muttered, turning away, intending to go back behind the tree and let her sort herself out, but her low voice behind him made him pause.
‘My what?’
