Page 38 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
“This is insane,” Vareck hissed behind me, his voice barely audible.
“Not the first time you’ve said that,” I whispered back.
“Also not the first time I’ve been right.”
I shot him a look over my shoulder. “You didn’t have to come.”
“I did, actually. Because if I let you go alone into a glowing goblin village full of suspiciously helpful miniature teddy bears, and something happens to you, I’d have to level the whole realm. And I’m really trying not to do that today.”
A smirk I couldn’t suppress made its way to my lips. “So this is you being restrained?”
“Terrifying, isn’t it?”
Gods help me, I almost laughed. We were in danger, undoubtedly, and yet Vareck was flirting with me. I found my temperature rising at the easy banter between us despite everything.
A tiny creature padded by us on feet shaped like puffballs, humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like a lullaby. It pulled me back to the situation at hand. It paused, turned its massive eyes toward us, blinked slowly ... and kept going.
I held my breath until it was out of sight, then muttered, “Okay, I’m officially freaked out.”
“You should be. That thing looked at you like it’s already seen your obituary.”
“Well, it better know I bite.”
“I have a feeling they do too.”
I shook my head and crept around the edge of what looked like a bakery. Sweet spice drifted from inside. “Apparently, Evorsus has a sense of humor.”
“I think it’s got a god complex and no off-switch.”
“That’s an apt description too.”
We ducked low, slipping behind a string of glowing mushroom lanterns. My hand brushed his as I steadied myself, and for a second, he didn’t pull away.
“You really think she’s here?” he asked, glancing at the surrounding structures while looking for any hostile movement. “It’s not just her thread going through this place? We could go around the village.”
“I know she’s here. I can feel it.”
He nodded once, and I caught the flicker of something beneath his expression. Not doubt, exactly.Worry.
“She might be your sister,” he said after a beat. “Just don’t forget I have a claim on you too.”
That made me pause. Not because I was going to argue it, but because I was his mate. There was no denying it.
“I won’t forget,” I said. “But I can’t choose you over her.”
“I’m not asking you to,” he replied. “Just ... don’t forget what I’m willing to do for you.”
I swallowed the tightness in my throat. “Vareck, I don’t need a savior.”
“No,” he said, scanning the path ahead, “you need someone who’ll follow you straight into the trap anyway.”
Despite everything, I smiled. “Then I guess I picked the right guy.”
“That you did.”
My chest tightened at the sentiment, but I didn't voice it.
We moved forward again, quieter now, watching as more creatures gathered around what looked like a garden party. Afew were playing what resembled musical chairs, and another one was spinning in slow, dreamy circles as flower petals fell from the sky like confetti.
