Page 190 of Primal Bonds

“Exactly.”

They exchanged a smile. Then Sindre said, “I’ll just take care of this one for you.” He ’ported Luc back into the cage and slammed the door shut, then glanced at his bloody arm. “I suppose I’d better have a healer look at this.”

The fae lady nodded. “And if I may summon the goblins?”

“I thought you were sure she’ll return.”

“I am. But it wouldn’t hurt to offer her a little incentive.”

They headed out the door, ignoring Luc’s furious growl.

The last thing he heard was Blaer asking, “And you? What are you going to do about the mixed-blood?”

“Don’t worry,” the king returned. “He can’t go far without my permission.”

Chapter 18

Thrice-damned interfering prick.

Marjani glowered at Fane, moving grim-faced beside her on those long, ground-eating legs. She could’ve cheerfully slit his throat and walked away smiling.

And why was he helping her, anyway? There was nothing in it for him. In fact, Sindre was going to be out for his blood. And she’d seen how scary a pissed-off Sindre could be.

Her heart clenched—not for Fane, who deserved whatever he got—but for Luc.

Gods, she hated to leave him behind with Sindre and that fae bitch. Luc must know Marjani wouldn’t abandon him. Still, that didn’t make her feel any less guilty. She’d known Luc would follow her, with or without Adric’s say-so.

They covered a mile, then another at a slower pace. Fane wavered, hand to his chest, lips white. He must be running on fumes.

She scowled. “You okay?”

He nodded and pressed on, going slower and slower until he was stumbling forward, feet dragging.

“You have to rest.” She grabbed his arm, worried in spite of herself.

He placed his hands on his thighs and dragged in a breath. “My energy. The king…drained me. Almost gone.” He nodded at a pile of boulders. “In there…a cavern.”

“I’m on it.” She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Lean on me.”

He tried to pull away. “Too…heavy.”

“I’m stronger than I look.” She tightened her arm around his waist.

“Stubborn.” But he let himself lean on her.

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” She headed toward the boulders, half-dragging, half-carrying him.

“There.” He indicated a fissure in the boulders. “A cave. Secret.”

She snorted. The fissure didn’t look big enough for a very skinny elf. “You’re kidding, right?”

He grimaced without answering. Okay, now she was definitely worried. In her experience, Fane had a ready response to just about anything. If he wasn’t talking, he must really feel shitty.

They had to turn sideways to get through the opening. She pushed him in first, frowning when he stopped to rest his forehead on a boulder.

“Keep going.” She nudged him. “You can do it.”

He lurched into movement again, eyes half-closed, feeling his way along the boulders. The passageway turned down and tunneled underground. Things went completely dark, and her eyes went night-glow. Not that there was much to see except the rough basalt pressed up against her cheek. Still, it was easier for her; Fane might be lean, but he was still bigger than her.

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