I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll get it, Serus. We’ve been here for less than an hour.”
“Actually it’s been five,” Serus counters.
“Five?” I gape and glance towards Altair. He nods, confirming Serus’s words, but he nods encouragingly.
“Tell the Fae to leave, we’ll be out here for hours yet,” Serus hisses.
“Why?” I look at him questioningly.
Serus paces. “Because he’s distracting you.”
“I hardly noticed him in five hours,” I say, cocking a brow.
My familiar rolls his eyes. “You’ll focus better.”
“Maybe,” I snap, “I can’t focus because you’re criticizing me all the time. If you would be quiet for a few minutes, maybe I would know more than I do. Which is nothing.”
Serus is quiet, studying me with sharp, bright eyes. He turns away, stalking into the darkness. “Then I’ll leave you to it, Bloodbane.”
I watch, eyes wide with disbelief, as my familiar disappears into the darkness. “Serus?” I call, voice echoing over the desert.
“What’s going on?” Altair asks, appearing at my shoulder. His brows are furrowed with concern and he follows my gaze to where my familiar disappeared.
“Serus. He just left.” My heart beats too fast. “What if he doesn’t come back?”
“He’ll come back.” Altair runs his hands over my shoulders to comfort me.
I turn to him, biting the inside of my cheek nervously. “Will you find him? Please?” The strange creature has become such a constant in my life. The last time I felt this afraid for someone was when I saw Thal being dragged over the bridge by Presium, the Devourer. Serus is my companion, he sleeps beside my head every night. He advises me on subjects of magic. I don’t know if I can lose him.
Altair studies my face, searching my eyes. Finally, he drops his hands from my shoulders. “Alright. But stay here, or return to camp,” he warns me. Altair presses a quick kiss to my cheek and sprints off into the darkness before I can react.
I lay a hand over my cheek, still warm from his lips, and blush. It’s only been a few days since we last touched like that, but it feels like it’s been so much longer. Years, even. I stare out into the darkness, fear in my belly. Nothing moves in the shadows, and I know it might be some time until they return. I inhale deeply, turning back to the enchanted cage. Freia is watching me, her eyes bright and filled with curiosity. I flinch at her sudden closeness.
“So he is your lover,” Freia coos. “Isn’t it odd for a Fae King to be involved with a Bloodbane witch?”
“He isn’t my lover, and we aren’t involved,” I mumble, turning my attention back to the intricate spell work.
“He certainly seems like your lover.” Freia grins.
I ignore her. The Goddess isn’t someone I want to be involved with, and I certainly don’t want her to know anything more about me than she already does. Something about that possibility makes my skin crawl. I kneel beside the cage, thrusting my entire hand against the bars of the cage. I bite my tongue to hold back a whimper. My hand feels as if it’s being electrified and it trembles.
“That doesn’t look pleasant,” Freia tuts. “Shall I call for your not-lover? Perhaps he can comfort you.”
“Stop,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Come, come.” Freia looks at me almost pleadingly. “Give me something. I’ve been so bored for so long.”
With a gasp, I tug my hand back, cradling it to my chest while I shake. I close my eyes tightly, despair washing over me. I can’t do this. I’m not equipped. I’m not experienced enough. Whatever it is that the old Bloodbane witch and even Sadal see in me and my abilities; it isn’t there. I wish suddenly Altair was still sitting on his vigil. Even just his presence would ease these feelings.
“Look at you,” Freia whispers. “Take a break.”
I sigh shakily and meet her gaze. She looks genuinely concerned and my heart rate slows. “Altair and I used to be promised to each other. We made a covenant. And we both broke it,” I finally say as a peace offering.
“Broke it?” She cocks a brow.
“It’s a long story. Circumstances keep us apart,” I say. I feel reluctant to say anything more.
“I get it,” Freia sighs. “I’ve had many lovers, and somehow, all of them have ended up betraying me.”
Her words sting and I narrow my eyes. “He didn’t betray me.”
“No?” Freia cocks a brow. “You mean to tell me the warrior over there is not his new lover? Or that he has no feelings for her? I saw the way he held her so closely to his chest.”
“She’s injured,” I say.
“It’s the way he held her.” Freia tilts her chin down at me meaningfully. “Look at him now.”
My brows furrow with confusion but I follow her gaze towards the campsite. Altair has returned, and I see Serus padding beside him. Altair catches my gaze and points down to Serus at his feet. I nod and force a smile even though my chest is swirling with negative emotions. Why didn’t he come back to me to tell me himself? I watch, heart in my throat, as he crouches beside Erzur. She sits up, barely registering any pain, and smiles at him. Altair’s hand goes to her forehead, resting there lightly. I clench my hands into fists, hiding them beneath my red cloak. Anger boils inside me, heat sweeping through my veins.
“Why are you even helping them?” Freia asks. I can feel her eyes on me, devouring me.
“I don’t want the Shades to destroy the world,” I mumble.
“Is it even your problem?” Freia shifts, skirts rustling. “You could just return to the mortal realm.”
I look at her sharply, eyes narrowed. “How do you know I’m from the mortal realm?”
Freia waves a hand towards Sadal and shrugs. “You could leave whenever you want. You aren’t bound to anyone or anything here.”
“I