Page 58 of In Darkness Forged

“No.” He couldn’t lie to himself any longer. His eyes shut as the words clawed their way to freedom. “It was not Lani I imagined dying alone, and it was not for Lani that I entered the Darkspring with more desperation than planning.”

“But I am all right.” She stood right behind him, so close they were almost touching. “Everything will heal.”

No. Some things never healed. Some wounds festered in secret and could not be mended until whatever caused them was laid to rest. But even as he stood alone and cold in that dark moment of truth, the human confounded him yet again.

She stepped up behind him, slid her slender arms around his waist, andhuggedhim.

For a stunned and silent moment, Tal could not move. Could not even breathe. The human shook with cold, but she clung with a strength that astounded him, even after all that she’d survived.

He’d done everything he could to push her away, and she only pushed back. Held on. As if determined to remind him that he was not alone.

Turning abruptly within the circle of her arms, Tal stared down at Aislin as if seeing her for the first time. And perhaps, in a way, he was.

When they’d first met, he’d seen only a helpless child, far beyond her depth. Frightened enough to run but held captive by a fear of something greater. He’d seen the ghost of his sister and not bothered to look beyond his memories.

But Aislin was not Lani. She was, he acknowledged freely, far more determined than his sister had ever been. Strong, level-headed, pragmatic, and stubborn beyond belief.

She was not of his people, yet something about her still pulled at him like a lodestone. Perhaps her dark hair and blue eyes reminded him of Sion Dairach, but that was not the heart of it either.

She… surprised him. Constantly. Tal had frequently found himself watching her face to see what emotions would show in her wide, hopeful eyes, or waiting to see color brighten her pale cheeks.

“When we first met, you were afraid of me,” he noted, his curiosity somehow outweighing every other emotion. Aislin’s hands still rested loosely on the bare skin at his waist, which meant she was close enough that he could almost see the thoughts flitting across her face.

At his words, those blue eyes widened slightly, and a hint of pink brushed across her cheekbones. “I was. To be fair, you’re really quite terrifying when you’re angry.”

“But you are obviously not frightened anymore,” he continued.

Her blush intensified.

“Why not?”

“I…” Her hands fell away, and she took a hasty step back as if she’d only just remembered she was touching him. Thoughts and emotions flickered in her eyes and tugged at her lips until she finally looked up at him, appearing as perplexed as he felt.

“Because I trust you,” she said simply.

CHAPTER16

She trusted him.

Utterly and completely. And she wasn’t even certain she could explain why.

Yes, Talyn was powerful. When she’d first seen him, he’d stunned her with the sheer magnitude of his magic. He’d seemed invulnerable—an indomitable warrior even the other night elves feared.

And when he’d risen from that forest pool, she’d seen him also as a man—yet one who was gorgeous and remote, as untouchable as the forest god he’d resembled.

But it was the man standing before her now that she trusted. This Talyn was just as beautiful and equally powerful, but with all of his scars on full display.

The sunlight filtering through the cave revealed at least some part of the price he’d paid for coming after her. The flesh of his back was raw and ragged, his stitches torn. He’d been dragged across the cave floor while helpless and unconscious. Lost his magic, battled a giant spider, and then thrown himself off a cliff into a raging underground river.

But the worst of his injuries lay far beneath the skin. Talyn was clearly still haunted by grief and failure. And the desperation in his eyes when he’d snatched her out of the water told her that his heart remained fragile, despite all his efforts to shield it from the world.

The Aislin of only a few days ago would never have dared approach him to offer comfort. But she would never be that woman again. She had no idea who might come out of these caves—if she came out at all—but for today, she found the same courage that had brought her this far, stepped forward, and wrapped her arms around Talyn’s waist once more.

He did not pull away, but he stiffened at her touch. “You should not trust me,” he said hoarsely. “I cannot protect you forever. The only thing I truly want before I die is revenge, and I will take it, no matter the cost.”

He sounded angry, but he did not push her away, and she did not let go. Grief and fear could feel a lot like anger. And even if all she could do was help him feel less alone in a cold, dark world that had taken everyone he loved… That would have to be enough.

Maybe she was wrong, and this was not what he needed, but…