Page 46 of A Sky of Storms
He looked down at me, those green depths swirling with something I couldn’t decipher. “Your parents may have made you, but you arenotthem. I mean, that’s why you’re here isn’t it? To prove that to yourself?”
I cocked my head, studying the man before me. How could he see through me so easily? How could he possibly know?Ididn’t even know. If I thought about why I wanted to become queen, was it really to improve things in Terrulia? Or was it to punish Victrus and Eliana?
“I—”
The larger monster roared somewhere in the distance, and more screams followed, breaking the spell Zane seemed to hold over me. I grimaced, using the interruption to step away, my walls reforming instantly.
“We’d better get inside while we can. It’s not safe out here.”
He nodded, gesturing me forwards. “Lead the way then. I’ve got your back.”
Something cold and sharp inside me thawed at those words, melting away into fuzzy warmth. Because I’d only ever had Ethan to care for me before. Because no one—not a single soul—had ever given a shit about what happened to me.
Until now.
Wetraipsedthroughthemarsh on silent feet, ears pricked for any followers, creature or otherwise. Apart from Zane, I’d yet to see any other Potentials, which meant the marshlands must be vast. Thankfully, that meant we could focus on our furry, winged friends, rather than watching for any shifty backstabbers.
The cabin we’d slept in had been a rundown piece of shit that had looked like it’d given up on life, but it had provided enough shelter and relative comfort to get some sleep for the night—not that I’d gotten much.
I’d spent the night tossing and turning from my wounds and worrying about the month we’d yet to endure. Zane had at least provided some warmth, and I’d felt safer with his calming aura. Of course, the muscled arm that had curled around my stomach hadn’t hurt either. I may or may not have rubbed my ass against his junk just to tease him.
Zane was unsurprisingly chipper this morning. In another life, he’d have made a great motivational speaker. The man was a walking endorphins-booster, not to mention some candy for me to eye-fuck when I thought he wasn’t looking.
The damn top knot he wore when he meant business did things to me that were entirelyunhelpfulin these circumstances.
I grinned, watching his ass as he stalked ahead of me, a shark circling the waters in search of his next meal.
“Gotcha,” he roared, jabbing his spear and startling not only me but all the birds in the nearby trees.
I winced, almost afraid to look at the poor creature he’d snagged for our dinner. My stomach grumbled just at the thought of food. I hadn’t eaten for a day, and my body was certainly reminding me of that. I was beginning to sweat despite the crisp breeze, and I felt weak, like every movement was too much effort.
At least we’d found some running water in a riverbed not too far away. I’d been desperate for a drink, but the marsh water wasn’t worth getting sick for. Without something to boil it with, we’d be sicker than old king Theodore on his deathbed.
“How many does that make now?” I asked, cocking my head curiously as he held up his spear with a wide grin. He looked like a puppy with a new toy, and I couldn’t help but smile too.
“Four,” he replied happily, then his face crinkled with sadness. “I’m sorry my fishy friends, but even Zaney needs to make exceptions. Your deaths won’t be in vain.”
I raised a brow as he spoke to the fish like he was mourning his best friend’s death.
“Starting a fire will be risky.”
“We gotta eat, Starfish. You need the energy. In fact—” he looked me up and down with pursed lips. “You’re looking a little peaky. Are you okay?”
I forced a smile, trying to ignore the nausea roiling in my stomach. “I’ll be fine, but we need to get back to the hut. More of those creatures could come out any moment.”
He gathered the fish in a sack we’d found in the hut and slung them over his shoulder, looking less than convinced. “When we get back, I’m gonna make you the best dinner, and maybe we can talk about that massage again.”
I laughed. “We’ll see.” I turned to go when a high-pitched voice floated across the water. I grabbed Zane, instantly clapping a hand over his mouth. “Listen.”
“—It’s not fair. I was here first, and that whore had to bat her lashes and steal him away. Kayden belongs with me.”
My ears pricked up and I crouched, making my way towards some reeds where I could hide. A red-haired girl with wavy short hair and an arm on her hip examined her nails as another girl with long brown hair in a braid filled up some bottles of water.
“Yeah, but don’t worry,” Braid replied, a sneer on her face. “Crystal is a basic bitch. Kayden will get over her quickly once he realises she’s a boring lay.”
Red huffed. “Once he realises what it’s like to be with a real woman, he won’t bother with the trash anymore.”
I rolled my eyes.Well, that puts her out of the equation then. I couldn’t stand women like these two, placing themselves on pedestals and looking down their noses at everyone else. Getting out their claws—which were shabby, by the way—and degrading others simply because they could.
