Page 35 of A Lick of Flame

15

Orion

Midnight prances and snorts from somewhere behind me. I’m sure that the horse can feel the nervous tension. My eyes are firmly on the men around me. Particularly the one with the cruel smile. His blade looks sharp.

I need to fix this. If they think even for a second that we are traveling together, they might hurt Maya or worse.

“We’re not together. I am her captor,” I grit out through clenched teeth, feeling the weight of their gazes on me.

I want to turn and glare at Maya, but I can’t. Not with a sword at my jugular.

“Is that so?” The male’s voice is mocking as he pushes the steel tip against my skin, and I feel a sharp sting. A drop of blood rolls down my neck. I would swallow thickly, but the blade will go in deeper, so I hold my breath instead.

“Please don’t hurt him.” Her voice is filled with desperation. “He’s with me. I’m not his captive. He’s helping me.”

Dammit, Maya!

Why can’t she listen?

I clench my jaw and push out a heavy breath through my nose, willing her to stop talking.

“I’ve never heard of a fae helping a human before. What about you, Basil?” the male sneers.

“Nope, never.” A smaller male shakes his head, grinning.

The one with the cruel smile eases up just a fraction. “And how, may I ask, is he helping you?” He narrows his eyes on Maya, looking over my shoulder.

Don’t tell him.

Don’t!

“I’m cursed. This fae is going to help me break the curse. His name is—”

“My name is Dante,” I interrupt. Maya frowns, looking confused. I go on before she can say anything. “Don’t listen to the human. There is no curse. She is my prisoner.”

“Stop! Don’t listen to him. Why in Kakara’s name would I lie? I am cursed, and he’s going to help me get my life back. Without him, I will slowly die. Please, you have to let us go.”

“Dante, you say? Is that your name, fae?” he asks me, spitting out the word “fae” like a curse.

I shouldn’t have told Maya my real name. I should have lied. I pray she goes along because what if someone figures it out? What if they see my markings? There are humans out there who know about royal markings such as mine.

“I said, is that your name?” Again, he shoves the tip of his blade into my flesh. If he was expecting a reaction from me, he is sorely mistaken.

I don’t so much as flinch, even though more blood drips down my neck.

“Don’t hurt him. His name is Dante. It’s the truth, I swear it,” Maya says in a rush of words.

He makes a humming noise that tells me he isn’t buying it. That he doesn’t trust me.

“How is it that you came to be cursed?” He takes his attention off of me and asks her.

Don’t!

No!

Don’t tell them!

“I touched something that I shouldn’t have touched. I didn’t know it would happen.”

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