Whereas weeks ago, he would have accepted it just to get away from the necromancer, now the idea of it made his skin crawl. What would he do? How would he cope with the passing ages without her scent and taste overwhelming his senses? His mood soured. He was still young, just entering into the prime of his life when he died, with centuries more ahead of him now that he was resurrected. That was a depressingly long time to be alone in torturous captivity.
A deep yearning yawned through him as he watched her walk away, the sunlight catching on the strands of pale hair that had escaped her hood. At that moment she looked so beautiful, as if she belonged there rather than among the world of men, a creature of the forest like any of the sylvans. A spirit that could be all his. She turned and smiled back at him, and he imagined that they were merely taking a stroll through their territory, and she was simply waiting for him to catch up so that he could take her hand in his.
But it was all a fantasy. His jaw hardened and he dropped his gaze but not before seeing the way her expression quickly fell into one of worry.
“Ashul, are you all right?”
He inclined his head silently, and she gave him an uncertain look but nodded in turn, a faint smile replacing the beautiful one that had graced her face only moments ago. He hated that he destroyed that as he had destroyed so much of everything else. He did not regret the other ruin he wrought—so much of it was well deserved—but he would give anything to have her smile at him again as she had.
That thought remained with him as they continued on their way through the woods, Deroxas bounding through the trees above them, eventually leaving the elven forest far behind them, and with it, he was certain, a small fraction of his heart and the dreams of the future they might have had.
ChapterSixteen
The impenetrable forest gave way eventually, and by the next day they were entering a thinner one with younger trees of the sort that Robyn was more accustomed to. Those, in turn, eventually gave way to vast fields as they came upon the first of the lowland farms and towns just beyond the mountains just after daybreak. She avoided going anywhere close to any of the settlements, sticking to the perimeter woods, but she sensed Ashul’s curious gaze turning to the dot of buildings in the distance.
As much as she would have loved to soak in a hot bath somewhere, she wasn’t chancing any more human-drow incidents on her watch.
“Don’t get your hopes up. We aren’t going there,” she informed him, battling back her own weary sigh.
His brows knotted slightly in response. “Why do you assume that I wish to go anywhere near there? I did not care much for the last town, but I do recognize that you need rest and care, and as far as I’m concerned, that is far more important than my preference.”
She blinked at him, surprised that he intuited her needs so accurately. But then perhaps she should not be. Over the last few days since they left their shelter in the elven forest, Ashul had been nothing short of attentive and very observant of her needs—sexually and otherwise. He not only seemed to be determined to memorize her every muscle, but she couldn’t recall the last time anyone had made sure she was so well fed. The traps he engineered often left them with full bellies and plenty of energy before they started out for the day.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
His lips curled in a familiar mocking smile except his eyes glowed with warmth when they settled on her. “You do not think I can control myself?”
“I think you are a chaos gremlin and feed off causing trouble,” she replied with a snort of mirth.
“Ridiculous. They are merely offended by trivial things.” He arched a brow in challenge, and she openly grinned at his bald statement.
“Trivial? I can’t imagine how staring everyone down like you intend to skin them and tear limbs off could be interpreted as aggressive.”
“Ah, but I did not so much as tip a claw in their direction, did I?” His smile stretched slowly. “Not that I had to. It is oddly satisfying when predators recognize and yield to a more powerful predator.”
She laughed. “Did you really just call humans predators?”
His shoulder lifted in a shrug, and he leaned in, brushing against her to whisper, “Are you not? You prey on things just as much as any other species do, and more so than some. And yet you still possess an amusing capability to be affronted when another might prey upon you. That you cry out fearfully at the injustice of nature when a better, stronger predator comes along is entertaining to say the least.” He brushed his nose against her shoulder affectionately.
She shivered at the brush of his breath on her skin but cast him a hard look. “So what—should we look a stronger predator in the face and smile politely, grateful to die?”
His chuckle filled the woods around them. “Do not be ridiculous. You are still predators yourselves, whether you end up tucking tail and making a strategic retreat or fighting for your territory. The former is the smarter decision, but I must admit that those who stand defiantly, not just attack in mobs of fear-induced violence, have their charm.”
Robyn craned her head in an attempt to look down at where his lips placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. “Are you putting me in that category? If I remember correctly, when not trying to kill me, you cursed me soundly for days. That’s hardly as flattering as admiration.”
Straightening, Ashul grinned at her, but in the next moment his expression quieted and he glanced away, all humor fleeing him. Robyn sighed at the sudden change in his mood but stiffened when she noted the way his ears twitched attentively as if hearing something. Stepping closer so that her body pressed closer against his so that they were shoulder to shoulder, her eyes scanned their surroundings.
“What is it?”
His nostrils flared, a thoughtful look briefly crossing his face. By degrees he relaxed, and he snorted with impatience. “Someone approaches. A human.”
Biting back a dismayed groan, she glanced back toward the woods in the direction which he pointed. At first there was nothing but the sound of the dying leaves rustling in the wind, but gradually she was able to hear the crack of someone making their way toward them through the forest. Something dark hinted at the edges of the bushes, and she felt her muscles tense. Was this a bandit of some sort?
There was a tinkle of sound like bells and the soft clack of pebbles. A woman, no more than perhaps ten years her senior, stepped out from the brush, her hair covered with an ornate dark cap in which numerous crow feathers appeared to have been sewn among a nest of bells and small stone beads. Dirt smudged her nose and cheek as if she had wiped a dirtied hand across her face in her labor, and surprise filled the woman’s eyes as they fell upon them. She let the bundle of sticks held by a strap over one shoulder drop. Robyn steeled herself for the worst, but rather than react with fear as she suspected, the woman laughed and slapped the dust from her layered black clothes.
“Well, this is an interesting sight. A drow. How delicious.” The woman’s gaze—which held more than a little interest—set Robyn’s teeth on edge, shifted from where they rested on Ashul to rest upon her. “And a necromancer. What an odd pairing.” She allowed her bundle to drop to the floor with a loud thump. “But paired you are. Anyone with eyes and a bit of magic in their blood can sniff out the blend of energies. What brings you here to my woods?”
“Your woods?” Robyn startled.