But Fael had never feared her.He had relished her power, drawn strength from it.
Would Esrin ever have done the same?Would he have found a way to accept her for what shewas?
They stood in silence, assessing each other as the birds began chirping again—hesitant at first.
Then, Esrin closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and pressing his lips tohers.
Ren’wyn gasped in shock and pushed at him, twisting to break his grip, but his kiss was insistent.
“You’re exquisite,” he whispered, breathless.
“Stop, Esrin!”Her voice was sharp, but he didn’t seem to hear her.His arms held her like iron bands, and his green aura stirred—threads of his magic weaving through the black tendrils of herown.
“STOP!”
The darkness obeyed her will.It erupted from the branches above, icy tendrils reaching down to defendher.
Fael burst into the clearing, his face livid withrage.
A sweet ache filled her ribcage at the sight of him.He must have felt the pulse of her power all the way fromcamp.
Her shadows quivered, their claws inches from Esrin’s skin—but Fael’s protective anger rooted her in place, his fury crackling through theair.
In slow motion, Fael raised his fist and slammed it into Esrin’sface.
The punch was a mercy—it kept her shadows from tearing Esrin apart with cruel claws.
Esrin crumpled to the ground, dragging her down with him.She let out an embarrassing squeal as she fell beneath his weight.
Fael raised his fist again, ready to pummel Esrin into the dirt, flames flickering along his forearms.Ren’wyn slipped a frosted hand over his wrist, and shadows cooled his fire.He turned to her, his expression softening as their eyesmet.
He shoved Esrin off her roughly and hauled her into his arms, holding her tight before claiming her lips in a possessivekiss.
Ren’wyn tangled her fingers in his hair, his hands sliding firmly to her hips as if to anchor her there, pressed againsthim.
When she looked back, Esrin wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes blazing with fury.Water curled up from the stream’s surface, and the wind stirred violently.Then he turned his gaze to Ren’wyn, and she saw it—his pain, raw and unguarded.
The wind died.The water splashed back into the stream.
Esrin stood and brushed himself off, regaining his composure like armor.The confidence returned to his posture, though the gleam in his eyes was sharp and cruel.
“Couldn’t wait to find someone else to warm your bed?”he hissed.
The cruel words hit like a slap, and Ren’wyn recoiled as though physically struck.
Fael’s hand moved to the hilt of his short sword, and the ripple of his power through the clearing made Esrin blanch.Without another word, Esrin turned and stalkedoff.
“Don’t forget to bring back the laundry,” he called over his shoulder.
Ren’wyn’s knees buckled, and Fael caught her, lowering them both gently to the ground.He knelt behind her and tucked her gently into hisbody.
She covered her face with her hands and wept—for her mother, for Esrin’s father, for his sister, Rena.She cried for the love she’d once believed could saveher.
Fael held her close, his strong chest and warm arms a steady, unyielding shelter.
He didn’t try to soothe her with words or stop her tears.He let her feel everything—everything—until it was all pouredout.
When her sobs subsided into quiet tears, Fael gently turned her, spreading his knees to surround hers and tucking her face against his chest.He smoothed her hair, resting his chin on the top of her head.She took a deep breath and let it out in a long, weary sigh.Fael tipped her face up, his hands cupping her cheeks as their eyesmet.
