Page 38 of A Lick of Flame

Orion wanted me to tell them that I was his captive. If I’d done that, he’d be dead by now, and any hope I have of breaking this tether would be gone with him.

When we started out on our journey, I was sure I hated Orion. I’ve quickly come to learn that he isn’t the man I thought he was. He isn’t evil. He risked his life to save that darkus. And then leaving that bread for the squirrel this morning was a sweet thing to do. Those aren’t the actions of an evil person…fae or no.

Then again, perhaps his kindness only extends to animals. I know that he is only helping me to save himself, or he wouldn’t be here. Then there’s the business of not having his powers…moreover, of him trying to get them back. Trying to restore the balance. I can’t let myself trust him, but this…tying him up like an animal… It doesn’t sit well with me either.

We are certainly not friends, but we’re also not enemies. As much as I still want to hate him…I can’t. I can’t find it in me. I should. I want to…I do. It’s not his good looks or his charm. My mother always used to say that it is not the words but the actions of a person that count. I never really understood what she meant until I grew up. Certainly not until right now, and his actions are telling.

Just thinking of my mother makes my throat tighten…my chest, too. It should make me hate Orion all over again, but I don’t. I can’t find it in me, as much as I want to.

Does it mean that I’m forgetting them? My family.

That I’m forgetting what happened?

I can’t make the same mistake again, but I also can’t turn my back on someone who is helping me, even if it is for his own gain. Mother Trinity taught me better than that. My parents, too. I want to stare back into the darkness, but I don’t. Orion wouldn’t like it if I did. I would give away my concern for the fae.

“A coin for your thoughts.” Olivia touches my arm and smiles when I focus on her. “You were far away just then. You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m sorry. It’s not you. I was thinking about what tomorrow will bring, and I guess I’m worried.” I shrug. “I have this curse hanging over me, and if I don’t get help, I’m doomed. It’s really as simple as that.”

I’ve had a few moments where Raila has reached out to me. So far, doing everything Orion taught me has worked. I hope it keeps working, even though I know that long-term, it won’t. I’m in real trouble here. I am going to get sick and die. I need Orion’s help. I’m not sure if I trust Ethan, even if Olivia seems to. I wish they would let us go.

“Is that why you haven’t eaten much of your food?” Olivia looks down at the mostly untouched bowl in my hands.

“I’m tense and nervous. I can’t eat when I’m stressed.”

“You need to keep your strength up. You’re with us now. We won’t let anything bad happen to you.” Olivia glances at where Orion is being kept. It’s too dark to see him, but he is there, and her meaning is clear.

I guess I can’t blame them for being wary of a fae. They’ve given us enough reason to fear and hate them.

I nod and force myself to take a bite of food. I chew a few times and swallow. On any other day, I’m sure it would taste good; right now, it’s going down like tarred feathers.

“There you go,” Olivia says, smiling again. “That’s better.” I’m not sure why she’s being so nice to me. We’ve never really been friends. I’ve always found her to be too self-centered. Olivia has always vied for Mother Trinity’s attention. The farmer, too, whenever he came to visit. She’d always pick the choicest piece of meat from the pot for herself. She’s that person. Also, she’s never really cared much about my opinion of her, or what anyone else thinks, for that matter.

Who am I? I’m a nobody. I don’t count. What changed? Perhaps it is because we have something in common. I mean, what were the chances of us finding each other out here? Perhaps an unlikely friendship between us was meant to be. Perhaps, with the whole ordeal of being captured and rescued, Olivia has turned a new leaf. It’s not like she was ever a bad person. Not really. She came from a wealthy family and believed that she deserved more than most. When the fae took over with Snow as our queen, Olivia, like many others, lost all of her family, her lands, all of her wealth. Just like me, she lost everything. She struggled more than most to adjust. Perhaps I need to be a nicer person. A grateful person.

“Thank you.” I hold up the bowl. “It’s delicious.” I force myself to take a big spoonful just as Ethan arrives at the fire with Basil and four others in tow. I met several of the men earlier, but I can’t remember everyone’s names. There are too many of them.

“A group of us are going out on a patrol,” he tells Olivia. “We won’t be too long. I’ll see you in our tent a little later.” He leans in, cups her jaw, and kisses her on the lips. I see his tongue duel with hers and hear their breathing grow heavy.

I turn away, my cheeks heating.

The men holler.

“Maybe you should go to the tent right now,” one of them shouts.

Thankfully, he lets her go. When I look over at her, Olivia’s cheeks are pink. She has her fingers to her lips.

“Let’s go,” he tells the men. “Harrison!” he yells at someone at the second fire.

“Yeah?”

“Keep an eye on things while I’m away,” Ethan says, pulling on a pair of leather gloves.

“Yes, boss.”

“And you over there…guarding the fae…” he calls.

“It’s Jack, boss,” someone yells from a distance.

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