Page 21 of Kissed By the Sun
Chapter
Eleven
Thorn
I lookedat Senara as I led her away from the tavern. The one she and Wyn had gone to was more than a little rough around the edges, which made me all the more nervous for her. She was still learning how to fight like a fae, so as much as I wanted to believe she could handle herself I wasn’t quite convinced.
It didn’t help that Senara was especially rash when it came to matters regarding Wyn. That girl was her biggest weak spot and any fae with half a brain would be able to tell and take advantage of that.
As soon as I had entered, the hush that had fallen over the tavern was almost comical; fortunately it also made Senara turn and look at me, her eyes going wide when she realized that I’d found her. It saved me from having to wade through the annoying drunkards to get her attention. I waved her over and was relieved that she came so easily. She could be beyond stubborn.
As we walked away from the warm lights and down a darkened alley the urge to possess her almost overcame me. Ihad to remind myself that even though we shared this bond, she wasn’t mine--and if I was being honest, she never could be--not without changing the way the fae courts viewed one another.
The urge to touch her was too strong though, so I found myself pushing her against a wall even though I didn’t remember moving. “Senara, do you know how much danger you and Wyn were just in? One wrong word and that entire tavern full of drunk fae would have come down on you like a wave crashing against the shore.”
“If that’s why you called me out here then–”
“It’s not, but I don’t like seeing you make bad decisions.”
“You’re not my caretaker.” A snarl curled Senara’s beautiful lips and had the opposite effect than she probably intended. I wanted to bite her bottom lip, suck on it before I had her– I cut off that train of thought. Now was not the time. I took a deep breath and slowly released it.
“That was not my intention. I know I’m not, but I needed to talk to you, and I needed to do so without lots of ears listening in.”
“Okay, so talk.”
She was angry with me, that much was obvious. I wasn’t sure whether it was more to do with me trying to protect her or pulling her away from her friend for something that she didn’t care about, at least not yet. I tried not to snap back at her, knowing that it wasn’t really me that she was angry at.
“We need to go and talk to the elves,” I replied in a hushed tone.
Her entire body stiffened at the words, as though I’d just told her we needed to raise the dead. “What?” She blinked up at me and I watched as her gaze cleared and any intoxication she’d been feeling vanished from her expression like fog in the morning sun.
“I said–”
She cut me off, apparently having no patience for my teasing. “I know what you said, explain what you mean.”
I grimaced slightly but replied, “I mean I want to go and talk to the elves, to ask for their help, but I can’t do that with you here and the thing between us.” I couldn’t bring myself to say it, not when I didn’t feel like we were in a safe area. “You know I would need you to come with me.”
“Thing?” she asked, sounding insulted. Was she just spoiling for a fight? “The thing between us, huh? That thing is what helped you find me tonight, isn’t it?”
I nodded once. “It did. I would have found you anyway though, even if I had to search every sun forsaken bar in this place. If you don’t want to come with me then there’s nothing that I can do, but I think you’d enjoy the trip. Besides, don’t you want to see how far the corruption has spread? We both know that the courts have stuck their heads in the sand regarding this, and the only way we’re going to make anything change is to force it ourselves. That’s why I think the elves are our best option.”
“But the royals said no, didn’t they? They told us outright that it was a waste of time to go to the elves.”
I nodded. “They did, which is why this is so dangerous, and so urgent.”
Senara's eyes narrowed, her lips pursing as she considered my words. I could see the gears turning in her mind, weighing the risks against the potential benefits. Her fingers absently traced the intricate patterns on her sleeve, a nervous habit I'd noticed she'd developed since coming to the fae realm.
"The elves," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "They haven't been seen in centuries. How do you even know where to find them?"
I leaned in closer, my breath ghosting across her ear as I spoke, "I have my sources. But we need to move quickly. The window of opportunity is closing."
She shivered, whether from my proximity or the gravity of the situation, I couldn't tell. Her eyes met mine, a spark of determination igniting within them. "And what about Wyn? I can't just leave her behind."
I fought back a grimace. Of course, she'd think of Wyn. "This journey isn't for her. It's too dangerous, and frankly, we can't afford any distractions."
Senara's jaw clenched, a flicker of anger passing across her features. "She's not a distraction. She's my friend."
"A friend who can’t fight," I countered, instantly regretting my words as hurt flashed in Senara's eyes.
