Page 42 of A Dream Shrouded in Fury
Corban moved so quickly I had no time to grab him before he drew his dagger and pressed the tip of it to Kalla’s throat.“You have no fucking idea, so I suggest you keep your lips shut.You brought us this far, and now we have no need of you.Why don’t you run back to your little cave and keep hiding like the coward you are?”
I snatched his wrist and twisted it until he dropped his blade.“Threaten her again, and I’ll snap your neck.”
He sneered.“Showing your weakness again, are you?Zath named you his second because he said you had a good head on your shoulders, but you lack vision.You won’t be the one to see this mission through, and we all know it.”
Hethyr stepped between us, resting her hand on my arm.“We might not like him, but if you’re serious about wanting to finish this, Jael, we need him.”
Kalla hadn’t moved.Her blue eyes were pinned on Corban’s face, hints of red snaking through the irises as her bloodlust rose.Either I de-escalated the situation, or she would drain him dry, and as much as I hated it, Hethyr was right.
I released Corban and stepped back.“Our first goal is to deal with Brynna.Whatever comes after that… Well, that might not be up to any of us.”
Corban snorted and grabbed his dagger from the ground.“Whatever you want to think, ledsha.”
He stormed away, and Kalla raised an eyebrow at me.“Ledsha?”
“It means cushion.”I shrugged.“He thinks I’m soft.”
She grinned.“You are rather comfortable.”
My arms ached with a longing to bundle her against me and make sure she was all right after that bastard’s idiocy, but I forced myself to turn my back on her and go after Corban.
Hethyr and Pimmin ignored his tantrum, staying close to Ria and giving her cooking tips to help liven up the vampires’ diet.From what I overheard, Kalla and I had missed quite the feast last night.
We hit a rise in the trail and followed it to the top of a hill, where the trees fell away and the path beyond was laid out before us.We kept to the side of the ruts in the earth and dropped into a crouch, not wanting to become easy targets for anyone waiting for us to come into view.
“There they are,” Corban said, his voice thick with glee.“See those lights?”
I followed his pointing finger, and a rock formed in my gut.He was right.Even if we slowed our pace to increase our stealth, Cliff’s estimate of midnight had been spot on.Not long now.
I should have been thrilled.We had caught up to our quarry.By the time the sun rose, we would have fulfilled our task, win or lose.
Instead, I felt...I didn’t even know.Fear was part of it, but so much ran alongside it.Disappointment, regret.The fire of revenge I’d followed into these woods and the heat that had replaced it had both gone out, leaving an icy block in their wake.
“All righty then.”Cliff’s casual tone cut through my shadowed thoughts, and I turned to find him gesturing for the other vampires to join him.“Good luck with everything.”
“You’re leaving?”Pimmin asked, surprised.My gaze flew to Kalla, who rose beside Hethyr with her eyes downcast.
Ria shrugged and followed Cliff’s silent command.“You’re on the edge of our territory, and your target is right there.We’ve taken you as far as we can.”
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I stared at Kalla, desperate for her to look at me.I needed—I didn’t know what I needed, but I couldn’t watch her walk away without...something.
“I hope you make it back to Soldara,” she said to Hethyr and Pimmin, and then she was walking away.
Wait, Kalia.Lutrena me.
The words caught in my throat.
Her leaving was what I wanted.We both knew it was for the best.A clean break.Nothing tying us together except for a few memories that would warm me in my final moments.She was protecting herself, just as she should.
I lost sight of her when Cliff stepped in front of me.His brown eyes were colder than I’d seen them, and although I had a bit of height on him, he loomed over me.“Everything that happens now is on you, fae, you understand me?Once that princess is dead, you run back to Soldara as fast as you can and you keep your mouth shut.”
I swallowed and nodded, less cowed by his order than by the idea of Kalla’s pain if anything happened to her family because of my carelessness.“I will.”
Cliff hesitated.“You’re lucky I believe you.Otherwise, I’d end you right here as we should have done back home.Do you have any idea how lucky you are?Kalla’s given up so much of her life to save you.She risked the rest of it to sneak you out.”
I clenched my fists to ground myself.The memory of those vampires slumped on the ground—Thorn’s sharp stare as she watched us leave.The full weight of what Kalla had done hadn’t hit me until now.After tonight, she would have to go back to her fury and face her leader.She would have to justify every crime she’d committed.For me.
I’d love to bring some light back into your life.If you’ll let me.
