Page 52 of Unbound By Shadows
Raising his chin, he said defiantly, “As a guard for Queen Thema, I have not.”
Selene narrowed her eyes. “That wasn’t what I asked.”
Sam let out a small growl, then quickly silenced it. “Before I met the queen, I was put in situations—against my will—where… sometimes death was the outcome.” Then he gave her a pleading look. “But please understand I would never hurt you. Ever.”
Death was the outcome.
Selene stared down at the cloak bunched in her arms as she absorbed his words. She noticed that water beaded on the surface instead of soaking into the fabric. The droplets were small, like hundreds of tiny shimmering diamonds. She smoothed her palm against the moisture, feeling the cold wetness seep into her skin. The falling raindrops patted softly against the tree leaves around them.
“Selene, please say something,” he begged after a moment.
The racing pulse in her ears made her voice sound tinny as she said, “Watching you back there, what you did, it was… it was horrible.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Maybe it would be best if I continue on alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, maybe our time together should end.”
His chest began to rise and fall rapidly. “Why? You don’t fear I would attack you like that, do you?”
“Well, it did cross my mind.”
“I wouldn’t! You must understand that my feelings for you are… different. Maybe its because you’re human, but being with you brings me—” He paused, regret and pain evident on his face. Then he released a ragged breath. “I hate seeing fear in your eyes. Itshattersme. Please don’t be afraid of me. I won’t lose control like that again.Just let me stay at your side until we get to Zaybris. I won’t do anything violent again. I’ll only protect you.”
A terrible urge to go hug him rose, but she pushed it back. She couldn’t get caught up infeelings. She had to be practical about this. He certainly seemed sincere. And repentant. But wasn’t that how all violent men acted after an episode? She wasn’t about to be one of those people that swept behaviors like that under the rug.
Selene hugged the bundle of fabric to her chest. What were the facts? She was stuck in a strange dimension. The only way to get home was by asking a vampire. This demon knew where that vampire lived and how to get there. She didn’t. Even if she took the map and set out on her own, she was vulnerable—both physically and intellectually. She didn’t know the rules and customs of this world. Sam did.
He had behaved horribly. Carried out violence like she had never seen, but she didn’t believe he was innately cruel. He thought he was protecting her. Giving her “vengeance,” as he had said, like it was a gift. His mention of losing control was a surprise, almost as if he had acted outside of his own volition. And he was obviously deeply regretful. Deep down, she didn’t believe he would hurt her.
Selene swung the cloak out around her shoulders and snapped it shut. Yes, things had gotten more complicated. But at the end of the day, Sam was still the best chance she had to get home. More time spent pondering or planning was a waste of energy.
“All right,” she said. “Let’s go to Snowmelt.”
Chapter 21
It took Sam and Selene almost a week to reach Snowmelt. At first, they spoke only when necessary, usually on the topics of meals and campsite selections. Initially, this had irritated Selene—another example of Sam’s problematic mood swings. But it wasn’t until she noticed how he used any little remark she made to start a conversation that she understood. He wasn’t being quiet out of spite. He was giving her space.
She was determined to embrace Aurelian Selene by kicking her old habit of faking a cheerful attitude, even when she didn’t feel it. Surprisingly, Sam let her do so. He never whined or said things like, “You’re not still mad, are you?” or “Stop being so dramatic.” He never sulked because she wasn’t paying him enough attention or tried to draw her out when she was feeling introspective. It was a new experience—being allowed toacthow she felt. It made it easy to soften towards him and admit there was more to this demon than the ruthless creature she saw in Iriswood.
Yet the closer they came to Snowmelt, the more her anxiety about meeting his friends grew. Queen Thema had assured her she could trust Sam, but she had never vouched for his friends. What ifthey were violent too? It was common advice that if you wanted to know the true quality of a man, look at his friends. Would his friends present another red flag about Sam’s character? Why did she care so much when she was going home soon?
Selene’s aching back was making her grumpy when Sam stopped to point out Snowmelt in the distance. Her mood lifted as she peered over the cliffside to the little village nestled among acres of farmland below. Sam explained that Snowmelt’s name originated because of its location between below a range of mountains. The run-off of melted snow created lush farmlands and filled the river running through the center of town. From their vantage point, Selene could see rows of thatched-roof buildings, each with late-season flowers bursting from window boxes. Cobblestone streets ran through the town, while a stone bridge arched over the river. It was the type of scene that would be at home on a jigsaw puzzle.
After trekking down the cliffside, they found the streets of Snowmelt quiet, but not deserted. A large stone fountain bubbled in the town square, surrounded by shops selling cozy things like books, tea, knitted goods, and honey tarts. A Lycah couple dressed in matching red coats flashed them a big smile as they passed, almost as if they expected to see two strangers in their village. A Malkina man tipped his felt hat and wished them a good evening, while a Nereid woman slipped into the fountain, fully clothed, as if it were a warm bath.
Selene glanced at Sam. He still had that same vigilant look he got when they traveled, but he seemed less anxious. He was more at ease than Selene had ever seen him.
“Do your friends live here in town?” she asked.
“They live on a farm outside the village,” Sam said. “We’ll be there soon. Are you warm enough?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, pulling her cloak closer around her shoulders. “Wait, I forgot to put on my Nereid cream—”
Sam stopped in the middle of the road, sniffing the air. A noise like a battle cry sounded from behind them. Footsteps approached,and she whipped around to see an elderly Goblyn man fly through the air and land on the top of Sam’s backpack. His bat-like wings fluttered as he wrapped his small legs around the back of Sam’s neck, gripping his horns with his hands. A green, Robin Hood-style hat was perched on his head.
