Page 23 of Fear the Flames
“Hunting for food,” Cayden says. “Hopefully, some other patrol was more successful, unless you’re in the mood for vextree.”
I jokingly gag, causing the pair to chuckle softly. The battle has ceased around us, and everyone is regrouping. We should head out soon before someone, or something is attracted to the scent of blood that lingers.
“I’m going to go wash my hands off,” I say while walking away from our small group. The pair of them hoist Finnian and wrap an arm around each of their broad shoulders. It’s a good thing they’re both around the same height, Cayden is probably an inch or two taller, but it’s not a big enough difference to impair their efforts.
I find a section of the pond where the vextree blood hasn’t infiltrated and bend down to wash my hands off. The water causes the pain to heighten, but it’ll only get worse if I don’t clean the burns. I feel a set of eyes on my back the entire time I face the pond, but when I turn around, there is nobody looking at me.
Ailliard jogs over, assessing me with his eyes to make sure I’m alright. I hide my hands behind my back; there’s no need for him to worry over some irritated skin. “Those are the Vareveth soldiers we’re supposed to be meeting?”
“Commander Veles and First General Neredras are helping Finnian to the horses. I haven’t met any of the others yet,” I name them while jutting my chin in their direction.
“I’m glad Finnian will be alright, but you need to be smarter about the decisions you make. You charged a fully grown vextree.”
“I’m fully aware of what I did, and I was fully aware of the consequences,” I say, cutting him off before he can add onto his critique and heighten the sting of his words. I would have taken on an entire army of vextrees if they had Finnian. “Were any of the guards hurt?”
“Not fatally. They’re wrapping wounds now,” Ailliard confirms.
I’m relieved to hear nobody died in the ambush. “We should send them home from here. There’s no sense in adding more time to their journey. Make the arrangements while I get Finnian settled on a horse,” I command.
ChapterEleven
It’s dusk by the time we make it to the temple ruins. I’m thankful that I changed into a different set of fighting gear before we began the journey, or else I would be freezing right now. We would have gotten here sooner, but I helped bandage my wounded guards before sending them back home. The only Aestilian guard currently with us is Jarek. He volunteered to ride with Finnian, which I’m sure Finnian will bethrilledabout when he wakes up. He’s still unconscious, and I’m not strong enough to keep him upright on a moving horse. Jarek will ride back tomorrow morning when we depart from the temple. Ailliard knows the mountains just as well as I do, so he led the ride while I was flanked by Cayden and Ryder.
The ruins are just as I remember them. Pillars stretch high into the orange sky, but the roof caved in many years ago, long before I was born. Some of it remains, creating an uneven border around the top of the temple. I slide off my horse and stretch my sore muscles. Cayden strides over to Jarek to help him get Finnian up the steps.
“I’m good. This seems like a one-person job.” The tone Jarek uses makes me think he’s trying to poke at the fact Cayden and Ryder shared the load earlier. Cayden’s back is facing me, but I can tell he notices Jarek’s tone judging by the way his shoulders stiffen.
“Unless you wish to put pressure on his wounded leg and possibly trigger further bleeding, I suggest you let the adults make the decisions,” Cayden says while looping Finnian’s arm over his shoulders. I raise a glove-covered hand to my mouth to stifle a giggle, but Ryder catches me. Damn it. I don’t think it’s very queenly to laugh at the expense of your people, but Iknowthat bruised Jarek’s ego considering he’s thirty-one. I grab Finnian’s bedroll from the trunk strapped to the back of his horse and hurry after them. Cayden guides them through the temple, past a fire where several soldiers gather. I offer a smile to anyone I pass, but my main concern is just getting Finnian situated and then signing the agreement papers.
“Here,” Cayden says, halting in place. I don’t question him; I just lay out the bedroll and let them gently place Finnian on top of it. I lean down and dust some of the dirt off Finnian’s cheeks. He’s breathing evenly. The knot loosens in my chest at the proof of his body recovering. I’ll change the bandages in a few hours, just in case any remaining poison leaks from the wound.
“Thank you, Jarek. You’re dismissed,” I state.
“Your Majesty,” he bows before turning and taking long strides toward the front of the temple.
I stand again and Cayden’s eyes track my movements. “Did you draw up the agreement we discussed?”
His sour expression melts and is replaced by a mischievous glint that shines in his eyes as I step toward him. “Hidden marriage clause and all,” Cayden smirks.
My nose wrinkles in disgust, but I quickly replace it with the same false sweetness I adopted by the pond. “I can’t blame you for your desperation. A hidden clause is the only way you’d gain my hand…unless you beg for it.”
“My sweet affliction,” he sighs while leaning his head down, silently challenging me to back away, but I don’t. “I regret to inform you that I don’t beg.”
My spine stiffens with the rising tension between us and my heart pounds against my ribs. People are turning their heads in our direction, but I don’t care. I feel like turning away first is the equivalent of losing a fight. It’s a battle of who can challenge who more, and I want to win.
“Hmm,” I muse, reveling in the way his eyes flash to my lips when I purse them. “We’ll see about that, soldier.”
“Will we, angel?” He arches a full, dark brow. My smirk widens while I take in his dilated pupils and parted lips. I’m sure I look similar as heat radiates off my cheeks, but I don’t look away.
Someone clears their throat next to us.
“Yes?” Cayden asks without backing down or looking away; his tone is a deep rumble.
“My apologies for the intrusion. Ailliard is reading over the agreement now, so if you’d like to follow me over there or….” Ryder’s voice trails off. Cayden and I take a step away from each other at the same time. A draw. The heat between us cools as we follow Ryder to the other side of the temple. Ailliard stands behind a chunk of white stone that most likely belonged to the ceiling. He looks up from the contract when he hears me approaching, nodding once.
No hidden clauses.
Cayden and I walk side by side to where Ailliard stood. My eyes dance across the piece of parchment. Our vows are exactly the same as they were when we stated them a few nights ago. There are no alterations or embellished phrasing. I’m surprised he remembers them this well.
