Chapter Thirty-Three
“You look like you’re being led to your death.”
Caom’s voice held a sharp edge as we walked through the thick snow towards the village. The more time that passed, the more frequently these little flashes of unfriendly irritation appeared from him.
“You have to have fun atsomepoint Ash.” He glanced over at me with blond brows pulled together in a hard expression. “You’re never going to shed your mortal skin. It would have happened by now if you just let yourself relax and enjoy things.”
“I do relax.” I pulled my coat tighter around myself like a shield. “I do enjoy things. I don’t know why it’s not happening.”
“Justlet loose, for one night. This is the perfect night.”
He gestured ahead of us, towards where the Winter Solstice was being held, then stopped and turned to face me. I stiffened when he rested his hands on my shoulders.
“Just one night, Ash.” He stared at me, eyes softening into what I imagined was supposed to be a sultry expression. “One night of dancing and drinking and lying with one of the fae. We’re friends, aren’t we? I’m willing tohelpyou. One night with me. It might do the trick.”
I wanted to simultaneously snort and shove his hands off me, my skin crawling. He wasstilltrying to fuck me? After all this time? After I’d made it painfully clear that I absolutely was not interested?
I stepped back, forcing his hands to drop.
“I don’t need your help.” I stared at him, eyes hard. “Especially not in that way. Just stop, Caom.”
After a second, his face twisted into something ugly and vicious. He huffed derisively and turned away, stamping off towards the party.
I reluctantly followed, and we walked in silence. I could see the usual stalls set up beside the village, but no tents this time. Caom didn’t head towards them, even though he was always eager to get a drink before anything else. Instead, he veered right and carried on walking, until we were on the edge of the field with the huge oak tree where Lonan and I had played our game of favours.
Folk were already gathered round the oak, and torches had been stabbed into the ground. Caom still said nothing as he strode towards the group. My eyes flicked over the crowd, searching for Lonan, but I didn’t spot him. Trying not to let the disappointment or nerves show, I stayed silent as I followed Caom.
He ignored me completely, chatting to Idony and Belial. The latter nodded at me in greeting, and when he realised that Caom was making a point of not speaking to me, he stepped closer.
“How are you, Ash?”
I gave him a small, grateful smile, trying not to show how uncomfortable I felt. I didn’t want Caom’s attention that way, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t awful to just stand there being ignored. The single mortal among a group of conniving, cruel Folk. Lonan and I couldn’t talk in public, but at least when he was lurking, the weight of his eyes on me made me feel safer. Calmer.
“Cold,” I said, stuffing my gloved hands deeper into my pockets.
I’d never seen Belial laugh, but his lips quirked with amusement. “Indeed. I imagine you’ve been looking forward to this—the last night before the days start getting longer.”
“I suppose. Still long months of cold ahead of us though, I’m guessing.”
Belial’s smile grew the tiniest amount. “Yes, many more months of glorious frost and chill.”
I chuckled. “Maybe my fae half isn’t unseelie, because I can’t say I share the sentiment.”
His brows twitched, but then his face jerked with shock when Caom threw an arm over his shoulders.
“Belial.” He tugged the blue-skinned fae slightly away from me with a wide, toothy smile. “You’ll come for a drink with me later, won’t you?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. God, Caom was such a child. He ignored Belial most of the time, despite how obvious it was that the quiet fae was besotted with him, but now that he was talking to me, Caom was all over him.
“I—Yes, I imagine I’ll stay out for a drink.” Belial’s cheeks were lightly flushed a darker blue, from more than just the chill in the air.
“Friends.” Delin’s raspy voice rang out from where he stood at the base of the oak tree. His solid brown eyes homed in on me, thin lips twisting into a sneer. “And the halfling.”
My face burned at being singled out. I resisted the urge to shrink back into my coat.
“It’s time to start the Solstice festivities with the tradition of the battle between the oak and holly kings.” His gaze swept over the group. “As is customary, we ask for volunteers to play the roles.”
“Ash will do it.”