Page 59 of A Dance With Fire
“Because I like her,” Clay admitted, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Everyone stilled.
Even Valerio.
None glared at him fiercer than Ryker.
“It’s no secret. And I don’t mean like her like that. She’s my friend. I care about her like friends should.”
“Are you sure it’s only that?” Uric asked dangerously from the entrance of the cave. “Are you sure she is not your mate?”
Clay’s whole body froze at the accusing tone in Uric’s voice.
“If she was my mate,” Clay began slowly and through clenched teeth, “you would all know that by now.”
Uric turned to him then, and there was a deadly expression on his gaze. Valerio knew there was animosity between them and at that moment, he felt it deep in his bones. “You never know. She could be. Mating bonds don’t always snap into place immediately.”
“Yeah, well,” Clay waved him off with a flick of his hand. “If she were my mate, I would know. But she’s not. Moving on now, what are we going to do?”
They all looked to Valerio and he didn’t cower under the weight of their expectations. He was born to lead, born to follow in his father’s footsteps and protect the Fae. He was used to dealing with all sorts of predicaments, used to making difficult decisions.
His mind began stirring.
“Set up camp,” he finally decided. “Make sure you post guards all around the area to take up watch. Our people deserve a break.” Valerio felt a smile touch his mouth. “And I deserve some Fae wine.”
Julius pushed himself off the cave wall and sheathed his dagger. “Hell yeah.” He pumped his fist in the air. “Party time!”
“Tame,” Valerio reminded him. “And quiet. We still aren’t clear yet. Danger is around every corner.” They all nodded and exited the cave, Julius and Clay joking as they went, Ryker following much more somberly with his arms crossed against his chest.
Only Uric stayed and Valerio went to stand beside him as they looked out over the camp that was already being set up.
“Why party at all?” Uric scrutinized. Valerio knew his second didn’t agree with the decision, but he wouldn’t voice such a disagreement outright. Rather, he’d ask the question veiled with the slightest bit of disgust in his tone.
“The people have been traveling for days. They are restless and afraid, and they need something to look forward to.” His gaze snagged on the Fire Dancer as the blue skinned Unseelie gripped her wrist and dragged her across the crowded camp. They stopped in front of a thin, tall human woman and gestured at her bag. “And,” he added, “I want Shula Azzarh to see what she’s missing.”
He needed her on their side. Desperately. He could see her eyes working every day as she searched for possible ways to escape.
He couldn’t afford to lose her. She was vital in the war that was brewing. He didn’t know how or why, but once he got back to his father, he was going to find out.
In the meantime, he needed her to cooperate.
And everybody loved Fae wine.
Perhaps if she saw that they weren’t a threat, she could ease towards a friendship with them all and stay. Because through her, he would not only achieve a fighting chance at saving the entire Fae race, but the one thing he’d always wanted above all others.
“Let’s go.” Valerio patted Uric on the back. “I have a craving for wine.”
21
Like Flames
“Are you sure about this?” Shula hid behind the bushes and toed her boots off. Even as she questioned Orna’s decision, her fingers worked by their own volition, thumbs hooking into the waistband of her borrowed pants as she pulled them off. Her shirt went next in the pile of garments.
“Positive.” Shula could hear the smile in Orna’s voice. “Look, we’re setting up camp; night is falling, they have a fire going, and I can smell them passing out wine.”
Shula stopped her movements and took her bottom lip between her teeth. “Are we sure it’s safe to have a party?” she asked, trepidation sliding through her every word and heartbeat.
Orna scoffed. “It’s not a party. We’re setting camp. Besides, you’re already naked and putting on the clothes. Why are you hesitating now?”
