Page 53 of A Lick of Flame

“They knew me,” he insists, his eyes blazing. “At least, they knew the parts of me that count. The parts that make up foundation and character. The most important parts, Maya. Not the shape of my ears.” Why do I feel like he’s trying to convince me, too? “I had no idea who I really was. Bard feels betrayed, but I never betrayed him.”

“No, you saved that for me,” I blurt before I can stop myself.

“I gave you my reasons for keeping you in the dark, and I’m sticking with them. I’m sorry you are hurt, but I’m not sorry that I did what I did.”

“For the last time, I’m not hurt. I’m irritated. I’m in this mess because of you,” I grind out, my cheeks heating. I am hurt. I wish I wasn’t, but I am. I can’t seem to move past it or the fact that I care about Orion when I really shouldn’t. Especially since he clearly doesn’t give a damn about me. “We need an escape plan. I’m not going to sit here and wait to be handed over to Kakara knows who. I refuse.” I shake my head.

I’m tired of leaving my fate in the hands of Orion, or anyone else, for that matter. It’s time to stand on my own two feet. I need to be brave. I need to take action.

“Unless you can get us out of these shackles, we’re stuck. I’ll keep working on Bard. If there is an opportunity, we need to take it. I won’t let anything happen to you, Maya.”

I want to feel warm and fuzzy when he says that, but I push down those stupid, childish emotions. His words don’t mean anything. Orion doesn’t care about me. He never did. He wants the tether broken and to be rid of me as soon as he can. Although his reasoning holds weight, I…I wish it were different.

Different how?

What is wrong with me?

I’m a simpleton. I know these fae. All of them and what they are capable of. I’ve seen it first-hand. Especially the beastfae. No, it’s better this way. It’s better that Orion reminded me of it. And yet, I can’t reconcile this man with the monsters who killed my family. I know I have to do it anyway. I can’t trust with such blind faith. It will get me killed just as sure as it did once before. I feel like I’m somehow betraying them…betraying their memory by having any kind of feelings for him.

It ends here.

The sooner I am rid of my tether, the sooner I can be rid of him, too. I feel a lump form in my throat at the thought of losing Raila, but I tamp that down as well.

“I have an idea,” I say. “But you won’t like it.”

21

Orion

My hackles go up in an instant, and my body tenses. “What idea?” I shake my head, a warning tone clear in my voice. “If it involves putting yourself in any kind of dangerous situation, then I say no. You can’t do it, Maya.”

“You haven’t even heard my plan yet, and the last time I checked, I wasn’t taking orders from you,” she retorts; her voice has a challenging edge to it. “I thought I was clear when I told you that you’re not my king.”

“It’s not an order; it’s common sense. I don’t have to hear about your plan because I know I won’t like it.” I shake my head, feeling an icy tendril of fear take hold at the thought of what Maya might be concocting. “It’s a no; we sit tight. I’ll figure something out,” I whisper, trying to impress upon her the gravity of the situation. “These men are not as easily fooled as Ethan’s bunch, and they’re far more deadly when it comes to their skills.”

“You’re seriously saying no? Are you for real?” She looks at me like I just grew a second head.

“Yes, I don’t want anything to happen to you.” The thought has me breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Because of the tether and what it means for you?” she whisper-shouts, her eyes holding mine.

“Yes…that’s it exactly.” I nod. It is the reason. It has to be the only reason.

“Hey!” one of the guards says, stepping forward. “Is he bothering you?” he asks Maya before glaring at me. He’s one of the men I’ve never seen before.

“I’m fine…thank you.” Maya smiles at the male, who smiles back.

The guard turns to me, his eyes drilling into me like daggers. “You let me know if he’s harassing you in any way.”

“I will, thank you,” she says.

The male gives Maya a courteous nod. We wait until he has moved further away before talking again.

“Tell me your plan.” I know I won’t like it. I don’t even know why I’m asking her. Maybe because the chances of her dropping it are little to none unless I can convince her otherwise.

Maya sniffs. She pulls her shoulders back and looks me in the eye. “It seems that men find me to be...to…they…” She clears her throat. “They find me somewhat attractive,” she whispers so softly that I almost can’t hear her.

Her cheeks instantly suffuse with pink.

---