Page 36 of A Lick of Flame

He frowns, looking interested; the blade pulls back a little again. “What was it that you touched?”

Keeping very still, I let my eyes track around the gulley. There are just too many of them, and from the sound of hooves on the shale and rock, more are approaching from behind the cliffs at the end of the ravine. I’m solidly outmanned. Use of my powers is sketchy and unreliable at best.

They have us. We’re completely at their mercy. I fear for Maya. Ice bites through my veins when I think of how this could go. In the next few minutes, I am going to be killed. What will become of the human? I need to ready myself to fight. To bring down as many of them as I can. Perhaps their horses will assist me. I can’t count on it. Perhaps it will be enough for her to escape. I will have to try, at least.

“It was some sort of ancient artifact,” Maya says. “It’s cursed, and now I am, too.”

“Is that what this fae bastard told you?” He turns his hard eyes on me. “I think he was trying to lure you away. Why did—?” he starts to ask me.

Thankfully, the horsemen choose that moment to arrive. They appear in a cloud of thick dust that stings my eyes. Several of the others cough or cover up their noses. I realize with a start that one of them is a woman.

“Maya?” the woman says, confusion laced in her voice.

“Olivia?” Maya says, sounding just as shocked. “What are you doing out here? The last I heard, you were captured by the bloodfae.”

The woman dismounts. “Don’t hurt her, Ethan. Maya is my friend,” she tells the bastard with the blade at my throat as she closes the distance between her and Maya.

I risk a glance over my shoulder and see them hugging.

“We worked together at the orphanage,” Olivia adds, glancing at Ethan. “Ethan and his men helped me escape,” she tells Maya.

“What of the others? What of Xander and Thesha?” Maya looks over at the other horseman, trying to find her friends.

Olivia shakes her head. “They split us up. Xander and Thesha were taken to the Blood Court. I was being sent somewhere else when Ethan intervened and saved me.” The two share a look. “What about you?” Olivia asks Maya.

“Your friend says that the fae bastard is helping her. There is no way that’s true. I think he’s using magic on her. Or he’s brainwashed her,” Ethan growls, making me bleed again. I want to shove that sword right where the sun doesn’t shine.

I clench my fists to keep from retaliating. I would be able to kill Ethan and maybe a few more before I was cut down. What of Maya? I don’t trust this band of men. Not one fucking bit.

“No!” Maya shouts, holding up her hand. “Please! Tell them I’m not lying, Olivia. Tell them that—”

“It’s not that we don’t believe you,” Ethan scoffs. “I’m sure you believe wholeheartedly that you are cursed, but you’re not. He’s a lying sack of horse manure.”

“No, it’s true. I swear it. I thought I saw a golden chalice in the Forbidden Caves when we were down there running from the bloodfae. I went back to check, and sure enough, it was there. I wanted to take it back to The Sanctuary. That much gold would have helped the orphanage for years to come. Only, when I touched the chalice, it felt like a thunderbolt hit me. I fell down in terrible agony. When I came to, he was there. He told me I had been cursed.” She goes on, telling a slightly different version of the story than what actually happened.

“It was him and his magic. His filthy fae magic that made you feel that pain,” Basil says, and Ethan makes a noise of agreement.

“No, that isn’t true. I left. I chose not to believe him about the curse. Except I kept getting sick. I got headaches and nosebleeds. I didn’t feel like myself. I still don’t.”

“He did it,” Ethan snarls.

“No, he couldn’t have. I agree; when I was with him, it could have been him. But to still have episodes once I was far away from him?” She shakes her head. “That’s why I went back and sought him out. He’s helping me. I will be done for without him. I will die if I don’t travel to the beastfae kingdom. I need to find the witch who can help remove the curse, or I will not see another winter. Also, he isn’t a bad fae, I swear it.”

“No such thing as a good fae,” Basil snorts.

There are yells of “aye” and other terms of agreement from the band of men. Horses snort and stomp their feet.

“I hear what you’re saying about the fae, but…” Olivia pulls in a deep breath as if she’s contemplating all she has heard. “Listen to Maya. She is no fool. In fact, I’ve never known anyone to have better instincts when it comes to animals, and let’s face it, the fae are little more than that.” She looks my way.

Olivia is tall, with hair so blond it is almost white. She carries herself with poise and confidence. Like she’s royalty. The stare she gives me is cold, even when she smiles.

“Yes, it’s true, I am a good judge of character. Dante is helping me. He is my friend. We’ve been traveling together for two days now,” Maya insists. “He has been nothing but kind and helpful. Please.”

“He can live,” Ethan says.

“But—” Basil starts to say, sounding incredulous.

“No buts. The fae can live, but we’re tying him up, just to be sure.” Ethan glares at me. “If you try anything. If you use your magic on us…or on our beasts, you’ll be sorry. I’ll hand you over to my men. We’ll cut you into tiny pieces and leave you for the hy-wolves.”

---