Of course, the idea of Lena’s people not supporting my cause crossed my mind.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled. “What I do know is your people are an enemy of my father. Considering he’s also my enemy, I would hope we would at least put differences aside to take him down.”
Merrick crossed his arms, and I resumed twirling my blade.
My traitorous eyes then went back to Lena. Her copper hair was still in a braid, loose pieces framing her face. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips slightly parted as she slept peacefully. It was still strange seeing her with pointed ears…but I found myself not minding them. In fact…
“You’re fond of her.”
My eyes shot up, and I peered at him through my lashes. “Excuse me?” I nearly growled.
Merrick gave me a smile that didn’t meet his eyes. “It seems you know what I’m referring to. I can tell those things too, you know.”
Fuck.
I clenched my jaw and resumed my mindless twirling with my eyes on my dagger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.”
I tensed and met those charcoal eyes. I would be worried if anyone could hear, but with how exhausted everyone was, I was certain everyone else in our group was asleep.
“I haven’t said anything to her, but I can feel that she feels it, too.” He uncrossed his arms, placing them on his knees, and leaned forward. “And there can only be one explanation, one reason why she didn’t let you die in Ames…because any one of us wouldn’t have batted an eye,” he said just above a whisper.
My heartbeat began to pick up. I was positive Lena didn’t tell any of her friends she had been with me, Silas La’Rune, but perhaps she had mentioned Quill Callon. Had Merrick figured it all out?
“The same reason Elowen is fond of Edmund.”
I furrowed my brows. “I don’t understand—”
“Soul-Ties.”
I blinked. “What the hell are you going on about?”
Before Merrick could respond, our attention went to a crackling in the woods. I drew my sword while Merrick stood, our eyes darting around the forest.
I kept still, trying my hardest to hear over the small chit-chatter occurring around the various camps. Merrick’s eyes had returned to their normal light blue, and for once, I hoped those pointed ears had the ability to hear better.
“What creatures did you encounter on your way to us?” Merrick asked with deathly calm.
“Only a few—”
A roar caused us to snap our heads to the forest to witness three—no,sevenlarge bears. Not regular bears. No…these had somehow been touched by a curse. Everyone was instantly alert.
Merrick shot forward an ice shard, piercing one of the bears through the throat. Black cursed blood began to ooze out of its neck as it collapsed just in front of Era, causing her to shriek. I grasped her arms and flung her behind me.
“Stay back!” I barked.
Blue sparks enveloped Lena's arms as she rushed forward, another cursed bear going to attack—and electrocuted it, its body contorting and smoking before falling limp.
“Keep your forcefields up!” she called out to her people, some of them trembling but nodding. Throughout the camp, Mages held their arms in X’s, creating a shield around themselves. Though the cursed bears paid them no mind. They seemed only intent on attackingus.
Hendry readied his bow, shooting for one at a distance, his aim striking true. Elowen shielded Edmund.
“Can’t you do a wall of fire, Ginger Snap?” Roland yelled to Lena as he ran near her. I was going to snap his neck over that damn nickname.
She and Merrick shot ice at another one of the bears, but the remaining four circled us in.
“Not if I want to alert the Otacians where we are,” she breathed, all of us holding our ground as the bears growled. Their eyes were solid black, just like the Undead, and their hides were beginning to rot.
