Page 106 of Hunted in the Shadows
“Oh, stories are crucial. Sometimes, they’re the best weapons we have in this life. They may seem like simple lessons for younglings, but the truth is always buried beneath.” He pointed atThe Eternal Chaliceon the cavern wall. “I’ve always been partial to that one.”
I bit back a laugh.Can’t imagine why.
“It’s about living forever among the stars,” I said. “Allyna the Eternal guided her lover’s soul to the afterlife.”
“A common, though watered-down interpretation.” He drew in a slow breath as though he was drinking in the tale. “Ultimately, it’s about sacrifice. Just as Allyna sacrificed her lover to earn her title, we must also be willing to exchange what we love most for what is right.”
Another uncertain chill ran through me, but I deflected it once more with a chuckle. “My father never went into the grisly details of that story. Even he thought it was too brutal for my young, innocent ears.”
Marcellus thoughtfully turned his gaze to me. “May I be direct? It’s a bad habit that comes with old age. You speak of your father quite often—no mother, lover, or other can seem to compare. May I ask why?”
“He died nine summers ago.” I looked down at my lap. “I miss him, of course.”
“Nine years, and yet you speak of him as though he’s in the adjoining room.”
My heart fluttered at the silly thought that, with every other impossible thing, why couldn’t that be true, too?
“I suppose it’s hard to let him go,” I admitted.
“Why?”
“Because I think he was like me.Exactlylike me, for better or worse.” I hesitated, but now that the floodgates were open, they wouldn’t close. “If he were here, maybe… he’d give me his blessing for all my fucking insane decisions. Maybe I’d have fewer sleepless nights if I had one single fairy who didn’t make me feel like there was something horribly wrong with me.”
I didn’t realize tears were welling up until one trickled down my cheek.
Marcellus cupped my face with one hand, wiping the streak away with his thumb. “Who could ever see something wrong inyou?”
He took my hand and squeezed it, looking at me with intensity that made my stomach flutter. He leaned in, his heat dizzying. This man of legend was here. He was holding me, wanting me—
I shot to my feet. “Thank you for showing me the Sanctum,” I said, my voice cracking.
My head spun with the sudden and dizzying possibility that Marcellus might havekissed meif I’d stayed still. My heart pounded. I didn’t want that, I told myself sternly. Besides, there had to be a line even for him. If he knew how badly I wanted to lay with a hunter someday, he would have been too disgusted to touch me.
“You know why I’ve come to your village.” I wet my lips, summoning my courage. “Tell me plainly—can Veloria stand to part with a gemstone?”
The satin fabric of the sandstone gown lay cool against my body. Suddenly, it felt wrong. I was not like them—I was an imposter infiltrating their home.
For a moment, I worried I’d insulted him with my bluntness. To the contrary, Marcellus leaned back, his posture entirely at ease.
“That depends,” he answered.
“On?”
“What would your intention be with such a powerful reward?” He raised his eyebrows at my look of hesitation. Waiting.
“It’s a gamble for love,” I admitted, each word carefully selected. “And for freedom beyond measure.”
“My favorite sort,” he drawled, and I nearly collapsed in relief when he didn’t demand more detail. He did, however, continue to stare expectantly.
I wasso close. I couldn’t fail now.
“I have items of value I could bargain with. I have historic journals from my village—several of them. Surely your people would be grateful for writings from outside Veloria,” I said, trying not to let my urgency creep into my voice. This man was centuries old, and I must’ve sounded like a rambling child to him as I scrambled to think of what else I could offer. “I… You can keep the weapons my hunters surrendered, as well. Precious metals are difficult to come by.”
I winced internally, thinking of the effort Jon and Cliff had taken to garner those weapons.
They’ll understand, the pendant around my neck hummed.A small sacrifice for such formidable magic.
Marcellus stood, hands raised placatingly as his smile widened. “Enough, please. Don’t you understand that your presence is compensation in and of itself?”
