Page 32 of Magic Hunted
“Before you say it, I’m not going to put you down. You’re exhausted. If they insist on forcing us where they want us, it won’t be at your expense.” A protest shot up my throat, but his next words turned them to ash. “You need to learn to let us care for you.”
My panther stretched and purred, clearly happy with the arrangement. She didn’t care that my human side knew this was a bad idea. “I don’t need anyone to care for me. I can do that for myself.” I groaned when my stomach cramped around the lie.
His nose grazed my cheek and his fresh scent floated around me, lulling me into a place I had no right to go. “You’re a capable female. You’ve proven how strong you are, but now you don’t have to. Not all of the time.”
His promise speared the soft center of my heart before I had a chance to protect it. Too many chips had been taken out of it. An ache already spread through my body, making me wish for things I shouldn’t have. “Don’t get attached, Dias. I’ve told you. This isn’t real. When the grimoire is out of me, you’ll see.”
He’d regret everything. He’d regretme.
His smile grew deeper and my heart gave a stupid little flutter becausegods…he was handsome but when he smiled he wasstunning.
“Luckily our animals know what’s real, and mine doesn’t doubt you for a second no matter how much you protest,” Savvas said, brushing his hand over my calf.
The faint strain of pride whispered through the bond.You won’t regret this. You won’t regret us, it said.
My chest vibrated with an echo of my panther’s purr. I had to mend the hairline fracture in our bond before any more of their lights slipped inside. What I felt about them was already too much. She huffed before dropping her head into her great paws, closed her eyes and went to sleep. She wasn’t worried about the fracture and that only made me more nervous.
They’d see and so would my newly released panther. They’d thank me for being strong when the grimoire was out of me because then they’d see the truth of my words. That would mean no more touches. No more of…this. No more kind words and considered looks. They’d leave. Free from the bind of our bond to find a mate who could love them back the way they deserved to be loved and gods if that thought didn’t make my heart ache.
I focused on our surroundings instead of the lump in my throat. We were in a cave that soared high above our heads and was so large I couldn’t make out where it began or ended. The moss covered ceiling that was throughout the tunnel system illuminated us with a blue-tinged hue.
We passed huts made of woven vines, their open windows glowing with more blue-light. Lanterns filled with moss hung from the eaves, lighting the meandering pathways between dwellings. Benches, chairs, buckets and boots were scattered on the outside of the huts.
Murmurs sounded within the dwellings. A child shrieked and a male coughed. A small face with long pointed ears flashed around the corner of a dwelling. A woman called the child’s name and he scurried away. The door opened on another hut. A woman clutched a baby outlined by the light within. When she saw us, she ducked inside and shut the door.
Something didn’t feel right. The closer I looked for it, the more I saw the frayed edges around windows and patches on walls. The sag of the eaves where magic should have repaired the village to pristine condition. Elves had access to magic. Nothing should be worn or in such ill-repair.
“This way,” the guard said, leading us past a row of huts into a clearing.
He strode toward a rounded hut many times larger than the dwellings we’d passed. It looked to be at the center of the village, several paths leading into the clearing from all directions. This dwelling was more solidly built than the huts, made of thicker roped vines that extended to large sweeping eaves strung with evenly placed lanterns.
Several elves leaned against the outside wall, silently watching us approach. They didn’t wear battle leathers, but leggings and tunics as shabby as the dwellings. These elves were leaner than our guards, but the looks they gave us were just as intimidating.
A child peeked at us through the legs of one of the males, her fingers clutching the legs of who I presumed to be her father. He crossed his arms, his eyes glowing with barely contained hunger. He pushed from the wall and stalked toward us.
The lead guard withdrew his sword and held it to the elf’s chest. “Stand down, Ryo.”
A low growl purred to life from Savvas and his arms tightened around me. Ryo sneered, his gaze landing on me with the weight of a punch. “Why is the thief here? If Taredd is too weak to take back what’s ours, I’ll do it myself.”
“Do you question the General?” the guard said, his voice like steel.
Ryo’s gaze flicked from me to the guard. He faltered and his attention went to the child, his brow creasing. A female elf scampered behind him and took the child. The female was small, her face narrow as she peered at me with large eyes. “It isn’t fair she has the magic when we need it so badly. He should be gutting her instead of feeding her.”
I pushed from Dias’ arms. He placed me on my feet, but his hands wrapped around my biceps when I swayed on unsteady legs. He held me so close to his chest I felt his heart beating.
“You won’t believe me, but if I could give it to you, I would,” I said.
Ryo’s hateful gaze found me. “Then do it, human. Or are you filled with lies and deception like the rest of your kind?”
“Enough, Ryo,” the guard barked. “Go back to your home. Let Taredd handle this female.”
“He’d better,” Ryo muttered. He sent me another hateful look before he lifted the child in his arms and disappeared between the huts. The group of elves dispersed after he’d gone.
“This way.” The guard walked up the steps without another word. The other guards pressed against our sides and forced us to follow. When he opened the door the scent of smoke, bodies and something delicious roasting assaulted my senses, letting me know it had been days since I’d last eaten. My stomach twisted at first in hunger, and then with something else entirely. All sets of eyes turned to us as we filtered inside.
The hall was a long, rectangular room filled with a central fire above which hung cauldrons of stew. Several elves filled bowls and passed them to others sitting at tables that framed the fire. They stopped what they were doing as soon as they saw us. Conversation died, and the air grew thick with silence and animosity.
The elf guard guided us along the outskirts of the table to where Taredd stood waiting. He gestured to the empty bench seat. “Please. Sit with us.”
