Page 70 of Blood Weaver
“Really,” he confirmed.
If Orion bought Selene’s freedom, then I wouldn’t need to sneak her out of the Rose Petal tonight. But I still needed to let her know about the change of plan. Otherwise, she would be waiting for me all night and worry when I didn’t show up.
I held Orion’s piercing stare and attempted to discern the sincerity behind his words. Every ounce of instinct warned me of the peril in trusting the fae, yet the allure of Selene’s freedom was an undeniable force.
“Why?” I finally asked, my voice a low murmur amidst the growing hum of the inn's waking life. The question hung heavily in the air. Why would a powerful fae extend such an offer? What did he want in exchange?
“Consider it a gesture of goodwill,” Orion replied smoothly, his eyes glittering with an unreadable expression.“A demonstration of my commitment to protecting you as promised.”
I leaned back, my mind a storm of emotions and thoughts. The complications of accepting help from Orion were evident, yet Selene’s safety, her freedom, was paramount.
“Alright,” I finally conceded. “But secure Selene’s freedom first.Thenwe can talk about my journey to Ellyndor.”
Orion’s lips curled into a victorious smile. “Deal,” he said, extending his hand towards me.
I eyed it warily, the gravity of an unbreakable pact with a fae not lost upon me. With a reluctant yet determined grip, our hands met, sealing an alliance forged in the fires of mutual need and expedience.
The day unfolded with a looming sense of the impending journey ahead. As the sun began its descent, painting the skies with hues of fuchsia and purple, I began my preparations.
Evening arrived with an eerie silence, a haunting prelude to the journey ahead. I walked to the Rose Petal for hopefully the last time, the heavy burden of the deal I’d made with Orion weighing down my shoulders.
Bright lights illuminated the Rose Petal’s front steps. Bypassing the front door, I strode out of the darkness toward the back of the pleasure house when someone slipped out of the shadows and stood in front of me. At first, I thought it was Orion and rolled my eyes. “What do you want now? Our conversation is over. I already agreed to—” I started, but didn’t finish.
The man before me snorted and slid into the moonlight. With a start, I realized itdefinitelywasn’t Orion.
I furrowed my brows. “Who are you?”
“I can be whoever you want me to be,” he stated and took a step toward me.
He was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and arms that dwarfed many others. He wore black from head to toe likeme, and his grin widened when he saw me checking him out. I couldn’t see the full details of his face from the darkness, only the angled contours of his body, but the man was obviously a warrior.
“I think you have me confused with someone else.” I tried to sidestep him, but he moved with me.
“No. I think I got the right person. Leila, isn’t it?” he questioned. “The healer?”
I frowned. How did he know who I was? My face was covered. It may not be a good enough disguise for those who knew me, but it was certainly sufficient to pass amongst strangers. “Who are you?” I demanded.
His grin widened. “I’m your worst nightmare.” Reaching over his shoulder to the scabbard on his back, he unsheathed his sword and charged toward me with murderous intent.
Adrenaline surging through my veins, I quickly jumped out of the way and ducked under his swing. Every sense was amplified. The night’s eerie silence was punctuated by the harsh rasp of our labored breaths and the cold ring of steel. His sword cut through the air where I stood seconds earlier. Moonlight glinted menacingly off the blade, a reminder of the razor-thin margin between life and death.
I was unarmed, aided only by my mage magic which I wasn’t ready to reveal. The locals thought I was human, which allowed me to blend amongst the populace. The instant they learned of my magic, those days were over. That left only my instincts against an armed assailant whose intentions, though unclear, were undeniably lethal.
I darted away, my nimble agility proving advantageous against his lumbering brute strength. He was fast, but I was faster. Every swing of his sword met only air as I dodged, though my breath came in ragged gasps.
Despite the terror and adrenaline, my mind raced. Who was this man? Why did he want me dead? The questions swirled in my head, each one amplifying the palpable danger of the moment.
I scanned my surroundings as I moved, searching for anything that could be used as a weapon. My assailant was relentless. The cold determination in his eyes was a haunting mirror of the lethal precision of his attacks.
I felt exposed and vulnerable in my dark attire, a target against the moonlit night. Each slash of his sword, each near miss, amplified the chilling realization of the peril in which I found myself.
In the adrenaline-fueled dance of attack and evasion, a plan began to form. I needed to disarm him or, at the very least, create enough distance to escape. The streets were deserted and the usual nightlife of the Rose Petal was absorbed within its walls, oblivious to the deadly attacks unfolding in its shadows.
A near miss and the harsh rasp of steel cutting the air beside my ear brought my focus back. In that moment of lucid clarity, I saw my opportunity. When he lunged, I sidestepped and grabbed his extended arm, then used his momentum to send him crashing into the wall.
Temporary relief was found when the sword clattered to the ground, but I knew I didn’t have much time. He was bigger, stronger, and would recover quickly.
I spun on my heels, ready to make a mad dash out of there when I slammed into someone else’s chest. Startled, I looked up to meet Caelan’s hazel eyes.
