Page 34 of Shadow Kissed
He fights a smile in response to my question and takes the seat opposite me in front of the warm fire. “You’ll be perfectly safe. I know what I’m doing. I wouldn’t suggest we travel this way if I had any doubts over whether it would be safe.”
“Why should I trust you? Your kind aren’t very trustworthy,” I ask him.
He rolls his eyes and tuts in response. He leans forward in his seat towards me, resting his elbows on his knees. In response, I lean further back into my own seat. I like it better when there’s a safe distance between us.
“Have I given you any reason since we met to suggest I would harm you?”
I shake my head, remaining silent. “Have any other Shadow Kissed arrived at the mansion?”
“Just you and one other female. Her father died, leaving her an orphan like you and she had nowhere to go, so we brought her to Shadow Valley.”
I blink. An orphan. Like me. I pale at the realisation that I am an orphan. Both my parents are gone. The loss hits me hard in the chest. “Can I say farewell to Arkynn before I go?”
His jaw tenses and he flat out glares at me. “Of course. I’ll escort you to him myself,” he says, standing up and towering over me, waiting for me to rise.
“Oh, there’s no need. I can just ask one of your men,” I protest, as I also stand, shoving my hands in my trouser pockets.
“I insist. Your safety is of utmost importance to my people.” He strides over to the door and holds it open, and gestures for me to exit.
We exit the inn’s rear to reach the grounds behind it, where the men have set up their temporary camp. Asen soldiers sit around the fire pits drinking and sharing stories. Raegal leads us towards the back of the camp, and I frown when I find Arkynn and another guy from our town washing out the food bowls in a large barrel of water.
“Hard at work, I see,” I say as we reach them and Arkynn glances up from his chores. His blue eyes fall on me, and he smiles, before they flick to Raegal’s, and his face turns sour. I really need to speak to him about practicing his poker face. He wears his dislike for his commander all over his face.
Arkynn strides over to me, keeping his eyes on Raegal, and he pulls me into a hug. “Wondered when I might get to see you, sunshine. Everything okay?”
I pull back from him and slip my hands back into my pockets. It feels awkward standing here between them both. “I just wanted to come and say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” Arkynn asks, his eyebrows flying up to his forehead. “What do you mean goodbye?”
I gesture with my head towards Raegal. “The Lord Commander has decided it’s best if I’m transported straight to Shadow Valley tonight.”
Arkynn’s frown deepens, and he wipes at his forehead. “Why?”
Raegal clears his throat and steps closer to my side, addressing Arkynn with a look of irritation. “I have concerns for Eretreya’s safety. I feel it best we get her where I can best protect her.”
Arkynn continues to burn a hole in the side of his new commander’s head. “For what reason does she need the Lord Commander’s protection?”
“I have my reasons, which aren’t for you to question, soldier. We need to get going, so…” He gestures with his hands at us both, urging our farewell on.
I clear my throat and glance at Arkynn. He grins at me and pulls me into his side and kisses the top of my head. “Take care, sunshine, okay? I’ll be there with you soon.”
I nod my head and as casually as I can; I step out of his hold. He is mistaken if he thinks we can go back to how things were before. Things will never be the same between us.
“I’ll see you there. Safe travels.” I take another step back and wave to him. “We should go,” I say, turning on my heels and leaving Raegal to stride after me. I can feel Arkynn’s eyes burning into my back as I walk away.
“He’s the one who gave you that dagger,” Raegal states as he catches up with me and we walk alongside each other. I frown. How did he conclude that from our brief encounter?
“He did,” I confirm. “Arkynn knows me better than anyone. We were close. Once.”
I feel his eyes studying me. “Once?”
If he thinks I’m going to explain any further, he’s wasting his time. I nod and gaze across the camp. “Will Jasiel take over as commander in your absence?” I ask him, changing the subject. I have no desire to discuss my relationship with Arkynn with him.
“He will, and he’s more than capable of taking charge. I trust him with my life,” he informs me as we reach the back of the inn, and he holds the door open for me.
“Have you two worked together for a long time?”
“We’ve known each other since we were boys. No one knows me better than he does,” Raegal replies, repeating my earlier words about Arkynn. “I need to make some last-minute arrangements, then we’ll leave. Can you check if Nyra has packed all your belongings?”