Page 40 of The Nightmare Queen

On instinct all of my men and I reach for our weapons, “HOLD. It’s only Bennett.” Mousy yells.

“Oh that makes me feel better.” Axel mutters.

Slowly the shadow materializes, the last light glowing behind him and illuminating his golden armor. Bennett grins brightly, “Prince, welcome back.”

He drops off his horse, Rorin and Mouse doing the same, arms extended out to embrace each other.

My men give me hesitant looks that I ease with a mischievous wink. As the three of them break apart I palm one of my throwing stars, sending it flying directly for the new man's face. As if Rorin already knew my plan, his hand snaps out and stops the star mid flight - that's the third time he’s done this - directly before hitting its mark. “Again? That wasn’t very nice.”His rough voice barrels into my mind,damn that voice.

His tone is a strange mix of exasperation and amusement, maybe even a little feigned disappointment.It’s anticipation in his voice you’re hearing. He’s learning all your tricks.The voice built into my mind says. Desperately, I wished it were Vada’s voice mocking me instead of my own but she’s kept quiet. I’m beginning to think her most recent chastisement about Ezra was the last time I’ll hear from her for the next however long I am out of Obsidian.

“I’m getting impatient, princeling.”I sing back to him. Our brief words are exchanged in the same second it took for shock and panic to register on the other two Vellaran’s faces.

Mousy’s panic wears off as profanities escape his mouth - along with some compliments to the tune of “you completely insufferable, horrid,violentdisaster of a queen! He is here tohelpus.”

“Shove it, Mousy. Your…” I wave my hands to gesture at the three of them, “reunion is taking far too long. Can’t save you if we are still in my territory.” My hands, now empty, are on my hips.

The gilded guard, steps forward, “you must be the Queen.” He states giving a swift bow.

“Really? I for sure thought I saw her running around somewhere. No? Oh well then Imustbe her.” He blinks slowly, taken aback by my brashness. “And here I thought I didn’t need an introduction.” I push my horse past his standing figure hearing Mousy mumble, “no, you need a warning label.”

My fingers flick for my men to follow me, not wanting to dawdle any longer.

Behind I hear faintly, Bennett whisper, “well she’s certainly something” followed by a noncommittal noise from Rorin and Mousy’s reply of, “she’s a headache.”

Glad to see I’ve made such a stellar impression on the three of them,I think.

We made it through the gate under the cover of darkness without any hiccups.

For the first time in fourteen years, Obsidian is left without a sovereign behind castle walls. And it’s again at the request of Vellar. My horse has grown twitchy with the feeling of my emotions much like Vada would be. Just without the mental link. It doesn’t help that Rorin keeps casting concerned glances my direction.

“Keep giving me that look, princeling, and your new fear will become blindness.” I gripe.

“You’re tense.”He replies.

“Were you not? When on my lands? I’m simply returning the favor.”His laugh enters my mind and damn the half-dead butterflies in my stomach for thinking even for a second that they could flutter at the sound.We hate him, I remind them.

The now nine of us stop a few miles north of the wall to make camp.

My hands are idle now knowing that I won’t have to expel any energy here. Axel comes up behind me, his arms looping around my shoulders. He rests his head on top of mine. “Enemy lands, Evie. Guard up, always.” He whispers. I give a single bob of my head in answer before disentangling myself and laying out our mats.

My Wield is itching to search and find any weaknesses in our newest companion. Giving in a little to it, I send one tendril to slither his way. “Pull them back.”Rorin’s voice commands in my head throwing myconcentration. His hazel eyes are narrowed into slits when I look up to see him leaned against a very green tree.

I raise my hands half way in a sign of mock surrender, “just feeling out my enemy.”

His tone deadpans, unamused.“My wrist isn’t burning, you aren’t in danger.Don’ttoy with him.”I redirect my tendril to Rorin then, allowing it to explore up his leg, his chest, and finally settling around his throat. I try not to shiver as his stare burns into mine while he allows my Wield to search his skin. No one else noticing our silent battle.

“Then I guess I’ll play with you.”I muse, it comes out breathier then I had intended.

That same rough laugh echoes against the walls of my skull again. Assaulting my every sense.How many times is that now?I wonder.

“Careful, Nightmare. You might enjoy that.”I let out a weak, disgruntled noise, but it saves me from him noticing the mad flush creeping onto my cheeks.

The tension has minimally eased without the threat of the creatures. But now the threat lies with us being off Obsidian ground. Bennett tried to make curt conversation but I shut that down by flopping over onto my mat. My men following suit.

As snores sound, I strain to hear the three Vellaran’s conversation. I don’t understand a word with Rorin’s baritone voice somehow soothing me to sleep. I’ll blame it on the pure exhaustion of the past few days - it’s certainly not due to my comfort level being here. His scent is the last thing I remember sensing as his body laid down on the mat next to mine.

Bourbon and citrus.

---