Page 38 of This Vicious Dream

Madinia

I travel for almost an hour, galloping through the forest, careful to stick to the trail. Hope wasn’t difficult to find once I escaped Calysian, and I used some shameless bribery to separate her from Fox.

Still, Calysian has likely found Fox by now, and the demon horse is much faster than my mare, which means I need to find somewhere to hide.

But memories are slamming into me. Memories of fighting with him in another forest.

Calysian tuts as he lifts his hand, reinforcing his ward against a sudden barrage of dark power and fae-iron-tipped arrows.

I send more power toward those arrows, and several of them drop straight to the ground. “Feel free to help whenever you get tired of watching.”

“There’s that sharp little tongue. Do you ever get tired of wielding it?”

I ignore him.

“Ah, silence. Adorable. Tell me, just how did you end up here, Madinia Farrow?”

Grinding my teeth, I ignore him some more. A life-or-death situation, and he wants to chat. Idiot.

The memory fades, and I urge my mare on. Calysian was fighting at my side.

Attempting to protect me.

Even worse?

I tried to protecthim.

Another memory rises, even as I try to ignore it.

An arrow streaks toward Calysian’s unarmed back.

I slash at it with the last of my power—just enough to send it off course.

He turns, one eyebrow arching as the arrow clatters harmlessly to the ground. His lips curl back, baring his teeth in a snarl, irritation sparking in his eyes. “That’s another life debt.”

“You would have saved yourself anyway,” I snap, breathless.

“It doesn’t matter. Intention matters,” he growls. “Make me owe you again, and I’ll kill you myself.”

I bare my teeth at him in return. “Try.”

His gaze sharpens, narrowing on my face. For a moment, irritation flashes hotter, but then it cools, slipping into that lazy, maddening amusement that makes my skin prickle. I look away, my chest heaving, the effort of staying upright draining what little strength I have left.

“That one was free,” I pant, leaning heavily against the tree at my back. The world tilts and spins, my vision darkening at the edges. I can barely feel my fingers, let alone call a spark to them. “You don’t owe me anything.”

He shakes his head, his tone flat but not unkind. “Wait here.”

For once, I don’t argue. My legs give out and I slump to the ground, the rough bark of the tree digging into my shoulders. A single muffled yell cuts through the silence, and when I glance up, Calysian is already striding back toward me, wiping blood off his blade as if it’s nothing more than spilled wine.

I guide my horse around a fallen tree branch, my heart slamming into my ribs. Calysian had said he owed me, but then…

“Madinia,” he croons, his voice low and smooth. “Look at me.”

I draw a long, steadying breath and turn, ignoring the way his tone makes my lungs squeeze, like they’re being wound too tight. This man is a predator through and through.

His dark eyes lock on mine, filled with a ruthless calculation that sends a prickle of unease skittering down my spine. He stares at me like I’m nothing more than a pawn on his game board, a piece he’s considering putting into play.

“The fates have seen fit to push us together more than once,” he says, his voice calm, confident. “One day, when I need you, you will help me with my own goals.”

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