Page 66 of A Dance With Fire
Yes, she decided. She would save Orna, and in turn, she would make those humans pay for everything she’d suffered as well.
Shula watched Uric step into his own portal. She knew she only had a single, split second to act. So she jumped in after him, ramming into Uric’s body and propelling him forward. Then she was falling, a scream catching in her throat as the world behind her disappeared.
23
Burn
She fell with a painful thump straight onto Uric. The Fae man groaned and when he shoved her off, his whole body was trembling. He rolled on the ground while Shula sat up on her knees and stared down at him.
Gone was the Fae elegance; he looked like an aged human, wrinkles spreading around the corners of his eyes.
He glared up at her with old, soulful eyes and his voice was raspy when he said, “What the fuck, Fire Dancer?”
Shula pushed herself up from the ground. “Shut up, old man,” she snapped with impatience, feeling a brief flare of satisfaction at the sight of his wrinkled scowl. She held her hand out to him, sweeping her gaze around. She noted that Uric had transported them on the outskirts of what seemed to be a human encampment. She could see it beyond. Bonfires blazed and people in uniforms milled about, laughing and shouting. She stilled and felt the hot press of iron almost immediately. It seemed to settle over her bones, and she felt the weakness immediately.
Uric knocked her wrist to the side and hopped to his feet himself. He glared at her. “What the fuck?” he repeated on a low growl.
Shula ignored him. “So what’s the plan?”
Uric shoved a hand through his hair in a move that spoke entirely of frustration. “Prince Valerio gave you an order.”
“Valerio is not my prince. Now let’s go. They need us.”
Uric looked like he wouldn’t have any problem with strangling her to death. Instead he sighed and gestured with his chin. “The only reason I’m not sending you back ass first through a portal is because I need to reserve my strength for my prince. Now, let’s go save your friend.”
Shula swept her gaze across the darkness. They’d landed about half a yard away from the human camp. Close enough so they could see, but far enough to not be heard. The shadows cloaked them as Uric gestured her to follow him behind shrubbery.
Her footsteps were silent, but it was her top that jingled with each step she took. She was still wearing the outfit she’d danced in, made for flashy show. Uric shot her a glare and she tried to step even softer to avoid making noise.
They’d been right about the iron. Even from their position, she could feel the slightest pulse of it, but given that they were far enough away, she couldn’t feel the effects just yet. So she still had use of her hearing and other senses. That meant she heard the steady thumping of his heart.
Ryker met them halfway, his glare prominent in the darkness.
“What the fuck?” he hissed, glaring between Shula and Uric.
“She stowed away.” Uric’s palm pressed against her shoulder and he shoved her forward. Not expecting it, she slipped and fell against Ryker. He caught her with ease against the hardness of his body. “She’s your problem now.” And then he slipped away into the darkness.
Shula’s heart pounded as she listened to him walk away in near silence like a feline.
With him gone, Ryker shoved her lightly away. “Stay here,” he commanded and started to turn around.
Shula caught him, her palm connecting to his arm before he could turn away from her. “I’m here to help.”
He gave her a look of impatience. “In that outfit? They’ll hear you from a mile away. No.”
Her fingers tightened against his arm, but he didn't flinch. He barely even moved. “I want to help. I have to. Orna—”
“You’ll get yourself killed,” he interjected.
“What do you care?”
His jaw clamped down and he gritted out, “I don’t.”
“Then let me fucking help.”
He looked like he wanted to tie her up against a tree. He looked like he was debating doing just that, but eventually he shrugged out of her hold and raked a hand through his long hair. “Fine,” he conceded. Then his hand placed against her hip, and he tugged her forward.
Her breath caught in her throat when they collided, and she felt her heart pound up to her throat as his hand slipped between them. She audibly gasped as his fingers tugged at the beaded strings of her top. A few snips of his knife later and the beads were slipping between them, falling to the ground. She couldn’t take her eyes off his even though she knew it wasn’t wise to let Ryker get this close to her with a weapon.
