Page 20 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

He winced. “If Tavish sees me touching you—”

“Then he’ll have to get over it quickly,” I gritted out. “He left my ass behind, so he doesn’t get a say on what happens next.”

His brow furrowed. “Not just your… er—ass. But all of you as well.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I’m not sure how I expect that to make you any less determined.”

I didn’t waste time explaining that wasn’t what I’d meant and just leapt into his arms. He grunted, wrapping his arms around my waist and stumbling back. I didn’t wrap my legs around his waist and opted for the hug hold because, even if I was pissed, I’dnever want my privates touching any other man, even through clothes.

“Blighted abyss,” he grumbled. “Since you’re determined for me to die today, I expect you to take care of Isla once I’m gone.” He took off for the prison.

“Agreed.” If that was the price I paid to get him to carry me there, it was one that I’d gladly accept. Besides, I liked Isla way too much for that to actually be a burden.

We were several yards behind Tavish, and I could sense the tension rolling off the guard. “If there was a woman guard outside our door, believe me, I would have had her carry me instead of you,” I added. “Whywasn’tthere a guard outside the door?” Even though his arms were stiff around my waist and not at all tender, the feel of another man’s touch had my skin crawling.

I swallowed, not wanting to make a big deal out of the situation. The more awkward and wrong I felt, the more I wanted to yell at Tavish.

But not now.

We had to get through this first.

Struan coughed, his body jarring mine, and then he suddenly stopped and released me.

I opened my mouth to complain when the stench of feces and urine hit my nose, and I gagged. I hadn’t been prepared for the strength of the odor.

“I’m not about to carry you in front of him feeling like that.” Struan stepped back as if he’d never been close to me.

About twenty-five feet away, a cell door was open, and I could sense the frustration rippling from Tavish.

“How the blast did this happen?” His voice boomed. “Where were the guards?”

Struan had gotten me more than close enough. My bare feet hit the grimy floor, but I could wash them later. I jogged towardthe cell, each step jolting my body and aggravating the ache in my wings. I gritted my teeth, knowing that I needed to get there in a hurry.

“Of course the sunscorched wildling wouldn’t be far behind,” Eldrin’s voice came from the cell to the left of me.

My head jerked in his direction, taking in his disheveled appearance. Even unkempt, he wore a smug expression, and his white eyes seemed sinister.

I hated the chill that ran down my spine at remembering the way he’d seemed to materialize out of the shadows as I’d bathed not long enough ago. I schooled my expression and glanced away, not wanting him to know how much he still impacted me and pressed forward.

Now the cell was near, and I could see inside. A guard with hair the color of flint was pressed against the bars within the cell as Tavish held the tip of his sword at his throat. The woman who’d injured my wings with the arrow lay at their feet in a puddle of black blood from the slit in her throat, surrounded by Finola, back in her normal guard attire, and the silver-haired guard who accompanied Struan most places.

Whoever had killed the woman had made sure that, even dying, she couldn’t speak and let any information slip out.

Tavish’s body quivered with rage. “If you answer me, I might spare your life.”

“He was the only guard down here. I told him to change out her bucket while I kept watch on Eldrin, and then I heard the woman gurgling.” Finola glared at the traitor.

“Did you do this? Or did you allow it to happen?” Tavish spat.

I didn’t need to see his face to know the exact expression my mate wore. I wanted to be at his side because even though I was pissed he’d left me behind, I would always stand beside him. Though he’d have a lot to make up for later when we were alone once more.

“The point was to kill her, so you couldn’t. Her death was quick and painless so she wouldn’t suffer needlessly for rightfully attacking our enemy… the sunscorched princess.” The guard’s nose wrinkled as he stared at my mate. “Eldrin should be our king, and I proved my loyalty tohimby—” Tavish’s blade slid into the guard’s throat, cutting off his words. Black blood trickled down, oozing underneath his dark armor. The man’s face twisted in agony, but the sword’s blade kept him upright.

“That’s for killing one of your own who was also loyal to Eldrin, just so that I didn’t get the joy of draining the life from her for the suffering she caused myfated mate.” Tavish’s wings stretched out, blocking the guard’s face from my view. Anger emanated from him; I didn’t need our connection to sense it.

I stepped inside the cell, and Finola moved toward me as if to stop me from interfering.

Blaze that.

I ducked under Tavish’s wing, and his dark-slate irises turned toward me.Sprite, don’t even ask me to spare his life. He did this on behalf of Eldrin so my cousin could take away something else I desperately wanted and prove that Eldrin still has power even behind bars. That he doesn’t need to escape to undermine me.

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