Page 17 of The Sunbound Princess
“There,” he said softly.
I studied my palm, where only a faint pink line marred my skin. When I looked up, Dain watched me with steady blue eyes.
“Thank you,” I rasped.
“Any time.”
Silence stretched, even the fire’s crackle more muted than before. Eventually, Nikolas stirred.
“There’s a river not far from here,” he said. “I found it when I was hunting.” He looked at me. “I’ll take you there if you’d like to freshen up.”
My bladder chose that moment to remind me I most definitely needed running water and privacy. “All right,” I said, standing.
“I’m going too,” Helios announced, his tone leaving zero room for argument.
Moments later, I gasped with delight at the wide ribbon of water cutting through the forest. Trees rose on either side, offering privacy. Away from the campfire’s light, a crescent moon cast a silver glow over the water.
Nikolas offered me a respectful nod. “I’ll wait back at camp.” He caught Helios’s eye. “You’ll stand guard?”
Helios bobbed in place. “Yes, and far better than you could.”
Nikolas’s jaw tightened, but he merely touched his fingertips to his brow before disappearing into the trees.
I looked at Helios. “You haven’t been very nice.”
He shot toward me. “Are you serious?” Embers sifted from his arm as he stabbed a finger in the direction Nikolas had gone. “Those men arecriminals.”
“They said they were framed.”
Helios made a choking sound. “Which is exactly what two hardened criminals would say.”
I gazed toward the camp. “I’m not sure abouthardened…”
Helios groaned. “Ezabell, you can’t be serious about staying in Andulum. It’s absolutely full of humans.”
I looked at him, and if the situation hadn’t been so serious I might have laughed. “You know, old friend, you’re starting tosound like a snob.” I turned and went to the river, where I knelt and splashed water on my face. It was cool against my flushed skin, and I released a pleasured sigh as I patted it down my neck.
“It’s a terrible idea to stay on this side of the Covenant,” Helios muttered, drifting to my side. His body cast a small, bright circle on the darkened ground.
I rolled up my sleeves. “I don’t have a choice. I have no money and no magic. And I can’t ignore the Dokimasi.”
Helios frowned. “Maybe we should return to Lum Laras. You can rest in the palace and start over.”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t work that way. Besides, what would people say if I showed up without the sunstone? The entire kingdom is counting on me.” As his frown deepened, I stood. “The Dokimasi led me to Andulum, and this is where I have to stay.”
His small chest expanded as he sighed. “Fine, but does it have to be with them?”
“They’re human. At the very least, they can help me navigate the human world.” I gazed around at the trees. “I don’t know much about this place.”
Helios huffed. “I’m not sure they do, either.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Maybe not, but they know more than we do. And right now, they’re all I’ve got.”
He was quiet a moment. Then a determined look settled over his features. “I’ll be watching them every second.”
Rising from my crouch, I nudged his spectacles higher on his nose. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
A half hour later, Helios and I returned to camp to find Dain and Nikolas stretched on separate beds of ferns. As I picked my way toward the fire, Nikolas lifted his head and pointed to a third bed.
