Page 47 of Blood and War
“Do not make this about you, human.” Eire spat at her feet, the saliva splashing on the top of her leather boots, and it tookeverything in her to not react. “Having you around would be nothing but a nuisance.”
“Even I don’t feel safe about that.” Kellan sighed. “You don’t know the things he’s capable of. Even with us all there, I can’t guarantee your safety.” He gave her a knowing look as if there was more to the story. One that he wasn’t willing to share. “But I understand your fear of going back. You have every right to feel that, but at least we know what we’re up against, and can deal with it accordingly.” Slowly, Kellan dropped his hand from around her arm.
Holding up a hand, Gabriel continued. “Which is precisely why we don’t have the time for this. He is a bigger threat than we’ve deemed you to be. We don’t have the luxury of waiting around for the orders to act on this. We will return you to your people, and we will ride out immediately.”
“They didn’t answer?” Kane finally broke. He’d been standing with them, quiet as they spoke, digesting the information just as she was, she was sure.
“I’m not going ba?—”
“My word is final!” Gabriel roared, “I will not have you hindering any part of this investigation. Whether you are being targeted or not, that is not our concern.” His dark cloak swished just above the ground as he strode toward where she and Kellan stood. Gabriel was terrifying in those moments, and looked every bit like the Death she had pictured. His dark, forest-green eyes narrowed into a hard stare as he reached them in mere steps. “You will not even have a world to call home if he succeeds, let alone your community.” Gabriel pointed a finger at her, so close it nearly struck her chest.
Demitria willed herself not to cry. Begged every single muscle in her body to cooperate with her to keep the tears at bay. But she couldn’t shake the inevitable feeling. Her people would die because of this. Because or.
Within an hour they were riding out. The rift between Kellan and his siblings now painfully obvious as they rode ahead of the both of them. She hadn’t heard them utter a word since leaving the cavern, and had a growing suspicion that he’d been given the cold shoulder. It had been her fault, she realized. Broken, because of her. Something she seemed to be good at, it seemed. Her actions the other night had been damning enough when she’d reached for him, practically begging him to hold her. Him fighting for her today had all but sealed the deal.
Gods, what was she thinking.
She shouldn’t have liked the way he’d looked at her last night. The thought foreign…forbidden, like it should never have crossed her mind. But the softness in his gaze had just?—
“Thank you. For rescuing me, and taking Atlas in.” Demitria looked down at her hands, focusing in on the detail of the leather reins in her fingers. She was so sure that she would never see him again. “I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to him.”
“I know how much he means to you.” Reaching over, Kellan rested a warm hand on her arm. She was quick to move away from his touch. Demitria didn’t regret the softness that had fallen over her last night, not one bit. And she’d meant what she said to him. Kellan wasgood,and the thought of feeling that comfort scared her.
His face fell at her blatant rejection. He was probably so confused after last night. Hell, she’d all but fallen asleep in his lap! How quickly it had all changed. Gods, she hated it. Hated always letting people down. Demitria hadn’t wanted to move away from any part of him last night, quite the opposite in fact,yet here she was, shying away from his touch like a fucking idiot. “Thank you.” Voice no more than a whisper, but she knew he heard her clearly.
They rode in silence for another hour. Demitria focused on the sound of Atlas’s relaxed breathing and the thud of his hooves along the hard, dirt ground. The rhythmic sound soothing in a way. Freeing, despite the dread pooling in her stomach as they journeyed back across the barren land toward her home.
Gabriel slowed his horse down beside her own. Kellan shot him a warning look, but his brother was quick to wave it off. “I meant to give you this earlier.” Lightly tugging on her reins, Atlas came to a halt beside him. Atlas was tall, but Gabriel’s horse seemed to tower over them as he pulled up beside her. Demitria marveled at the magnificent beast. The dark, ebony coat gleaming under the sun, almost as if he sparkled in the light. Muscles rippled under the faintest touch from his rider. Powerful, and she couldn’t help but stare in awe at the creature. Gabriel unbuckled the sheath attached to the horn of his saddle, holding it out before her. The sword's familiar pommel glistened in the bright afternoon sun.
“You found it!” She had never been so happy at the sight of a weapon. Demitria pulled it free of its sheath, marveling at the blade, feeling it in her hands once more, like an extension of her own arm. She swung it with ease, unable to hide the growing smile on her lips.
“You have a skilled weapons master in your town. It is a beautiful blade.” He nodded. She didn’t know why, but his approval meant something.It shouldn’t have.
She didn’t even know why he’d given her the blade back. She had been their one assignment, and here they were, arming her once more. Much like she’d done for Kellan back in Solis. An offering, then. “Thank you.” Demitria bowed her head. “All of you.” With a tip of his own head, Gabriel nudged his horse on.Quickly falling into place beside Eire as they soundlessly moved on.
Right.
The landscape never changed. Everything around them looked the same. The rocky earth held nothing of desire, not anymore. She hoped the horsemen knew where they were headed. After the ambush she’d lost all her bearings. Couldn’t decipher what direction the demon had even taken her in. It had been dark, her mind dazed. She couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. Knowing he’d gotten away.Again.
Demitria found her eyes roaming to the Horseman beside her, his mount no more than an arms-length away. She studied him. The planes of his face, the broad shoulders and muscular chest. The azure eyes that had softened far too much in the short weeks he’d been around.
When Kellan caught her staring, she quickly dragged her gaze away. Focusing onanythingbut the male beside her. Her grip tightened around the supple reins in her hands. She needed to get ahold of herself, but her eyes drifted back anyway. Watching. Curious.
They continued on for hours on end, never stopping once. The sky turned dark as they pushed on, and she fought to keep her body awake, the pull of sleep an irresistible tug at the corners of her mind. It rippled with thoughts of the community. How would they even react? It hadn’t gone well when she’d shown up with a dying—or so she thought anyway— Horseman. Now she was showing up with four, very much alive and at full power. They’d kill her. They’d try and kill all of them, actually. She probably wouldn’t even make it to the gates. One well-placed arrow would have her dead before she’d even hit the cool earth below. The others would fare fine, but her people would pay dearly if they attacked. Kellan may have given his word, but she knew his siblings wouldn’t just stand there if they were attacked.As much as she hated to admit it, she wouldn’t expect them to, either.
Demitria looked at the faces that surrounded her. Eire. The lone female Horseman was stripped of all emotion. Or was that something else on her face? Anger? Hatred? She knew the female loathed her with her entire being. She’d made that point perfectly clear. Demitria couldn’t help pondering the cause of it all. The incessant hate for humans. For the world. What had been done to her to cement those ridiculous notions in her head?
As if sensing her prying gaze, Eire hastily turned around in her saddle. She scowled down at her, her gray eyes radiating with such coldness, watching her as a lion would watch its prey before launching itself full force, unleashing that devastating blow. The scrutinizing look had her blood running thin, and Demitria tried her best not to stare, focusing on their never-ending surroundings instead.
“Don’t pay her any mind.” A soft voice came from behind. She turned to look at the second youngest Horseman that had ridden up beside her. He’d been virtually silent, or maybe she’d just been too lost in her own thoughts to realize. “She’s brooding and cold, but wouldn’t lay a hand on you.” Somehow, Demitria doubted that. She couldn’t shake the threat in Eire’s eyes. Demitria could only nod. His reassurance had done absolutely nothing to ease her reeling mind. Telling Kellan was out of the question. They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since she’d shied away from him. Starting another rift between the siblings wasn’t something she wanted to be a part of either. It would be better if she took a step back. Better for the both of them. Forher.She was trying so hard to deny him. Had fought whatever this connection was with all her will. She was failing. Could feel her mental blocks weakening with each passing glance. She hated it. Tried so hard to hate him.
Wanted to, but she couldn’t.
“Are you tired?” Kane was still beside her. How easily she’d fallen prey to her mind once more that the entire world around her had ceased to exist.
“We can keep going.” She refused to meet his gaze, despite her body still weak from the capture. An array of bruises painted her fingers in hues of purples and blues. The tear in her lip mostly mended, but still hurt. Gabriel had only mended the largest of her injuries. The life threatening, but the rest remained. A stark reminder on how truly fragile life was.
“Are you just saying that to not be a burden?” He’d seen through her.
