Page 26 of A Blaze of Fire
“Whoa!” I blurted. “That was fast. How long does it last?”
“Not long, so let’s get you back to the castle.” He stood and offered his hand for me to take. I accepted it gratefully and he helped me stand. As soon as I did, I was smacked in the face with a killer dizzy spell. I dropped the wine glass on the ground, splashing its contents all over the place.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“It’s okay. It can be a bit strong. Here, get on my back.” Alec squatted before me.
I patted his back and giggled. “You want to carry me all the way back to the castle?”
He peered over his shoulder. “I mean, unless you think you can walk back on your own?”
Considering the chances of me stumbling all the way back and breaking an ankle, I shimmied onto his back and wrapped my arms around his neck. When Alec stood, I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Yeah, I thought so,” he grumbled. “Remind me to never let you go out so late at night.” He started walking toward the trail that led to the castle.
“Aww, come on, we had fun! But seriously … I need to get out more. I’m going crazy in that castle.”
Alec sighed. “It’s for your own safety, Vi.”
“You guys are starting to make me think I’m not safe here,” I grumbled uneasily.
“This is merely a precaution. You’re the first of your kind, and honestly, the only that can be made of your kind. We don’t know how others will react.”
“So I’ve been told … yet all anyone does is stare at me like I’m an animal in the zoo. It’s weird,” I complained.
“They’re staring because you haven’t done anything. They’re waiting, just like the King is. We have to be careful,” he chided.
I rested my weary head on his shoulder and yawned. “Fine. I’ll listen to what you say. But you have to take me out to the village at least once a week. Deal?”
“Deal.”
* * *
We were almost backto the castle and Alec wasn’t even winded. I would’ve been huffing and puffing just from walking my own tired ass, much less carrying someone else’s. We were about to enter the castle gates when a voice in the darkness stopped us.
“Where are you two coming from?”
I lifted my head from Alec’s shoulder and turned to see a dark figure emerging from the beach that bordered the castle grounds. Alec turned to look as well. When the moonlight hit the newcomer’s face, we both tensed.
“Ansel!” I gasped guiltily and slipped off Alec’s back and to my feet. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be askingyouthat question. Shouldn’t you be in the castle where it’s safe?” he asked with a raised brow.
“Relax, brother. She just needed a breather.” Alec held up a hand, but Ansel slapped it away and glared at him.
“Relax?” he gritted between his teeth, his voice quivering in rage. “You said you would protect her!”
“And I am!” Alec countered. “No harm has come to her, and it won’t. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
Ansel scoffed, “Of course you’d make a joke out of this. You can’t take anything seriously.”
Alec rolled his eyes. “I’m not making a joke out of anything, Ansel. I’m being serious.”
“That’s it. I’m taking her back where she belongs!” Ansel snatched my wrist and hauled me forward.
I jerked to a stop, halting his movements when I snatched my wrist out of his grip. “Hey!” I yelled. “You can’t just drag me around like I’m your personal doll.”
His mouth fell open in surprise. “I’m sorry, Vi, I didn’t mean—”
