Page 111 of A Sword of Ice
Then again, everything Weylyn did seemed calculated somehow. Like he couldn’t even move his fucking pinky finger without analyzing what others would think of it first.
He wanted people looking at him, just as much as he wanted to frighten them.
He was succeeding in frightening the humans with his demeanor. That and the fact that he was covered in their comrades’ blood. Weylyn had all but bathed in their entrails earlier, swinging their innards around by the blade of his sword while laughing maniacally.
If that wasn’t an image that would haunt the humans for the rest of their short-lived lives, Julius didn’t know what would.
His smile had been sharp-toothed and stained red. He still hadn’t cleaned the mess from his body, though he did let his hand graze across the humans occasionally, staining them in the blood of their friends.
It made them recoil and whimper in fear.
Julius chuckled at the sight. Even if he hated Weylyn and didn’t understand the fucker, he knew he wasn’t going to let them get away anytime soon. Which meant Julius could go in search of his mate.
He pushed through the crowd of Fae, searching faces. The last he’d glimpsed of her she’d been here in the crowd helping the others. He saw Shula and Ryker, and then his gaze caught on Valerio and Uric. He shouldered his way gently over to them and caught the last vestiges of their conversation.
“We will open a portal and take them directly to Castle Aileach.”
“Your father will not be pleased.”
“I will deal with my father. The Fae need medical assistance, more than just what Ryker can provide.”
“And the humans?” Julius asked as he approached, cutting into their conversation.
“We will execute them in due time.” Valerio flicked his fingers with disinterest in Julius’ direction. Like he didn’t care at all for the fate of the humans. Not that Julius blamed him. Those who worked at these camps did not deserve sympathy.
“Have you seen Iona?” Julius’ gaze scanned across the faces but didn’t see her.
“She went upstairs,” Uric answered with barely concealed annoyance. “Perhaps you should keep a leash on your mate to better keep track of her whereabouts.”
If Uric was hoping his snarky words would grate on Julius’ nerves, he was wrong. He snorted and leaned towards the silver-haired Fae with a smirk held firmly in place. “Careful with your words, Nova. They reek acrid of jealousy.” His green eyes flicked over Uric’s form, then back and forth between him and the prince before settling on Uric again. “You will never find your own mate with all that pining you do.”
The blade slashed towards him, but because he was expecting it, his forearm came up, bumping against Uric’s wrist and curving the knife in a different direction. Julius grabbed Uric by the front of his clothes and shoved him back lightheartedly.
“I’m not blind, Uric. I see you looking at my mate. Wishing you had what we have. Pining does not look good on anyone, friend.”
Uric blinked, his impassive stare focused on Julius’ face. The man was hilarious. Julius had seen him gut a man with an entirely blank expression and flick the blood off his cuffs without an echo of emotion. Unlike Weylyn, who relished in the cruelty and laughed at death.
“You are a fool,” he finally replied.
“Takes one to know one, yeah?”
Uric’s expression warped, and Julius opened his mouth to let out a roar of laughter, but before he could even get the sound out, he felt it.
A tugging down his mating bond. A rippling shock of agony splitting through his chest, busting apart his soul.
He grasped at his chest and doubled over, a roar of pain and rage rumbling past his lips that didn’t even feel like his own.
“Iona…” His feet stumbled forward, his body colliding against Uric’s. “Something’s wrong…”
His friends were instantly alert. “Physically?” Valerio slid his sword from his sheath.
Julius took a breath. “No… it’s… something else.” His eyes scanned the top level of the camp, his gaze closing in on where he sensed Iona. A door was cracked open a fraction, and he could just make out her shadow moving from within.
“Julius…” Valerio began, his voice slow and cautious.
“Yeah?”
“We did not search those rooms.”
