“What’s going on out there?” I asked.
“Nothing you should be worried about.”
I crossed my arms. “You look worried.”
“We’re just taking precautions.”
“Against what?”
Jeondar shook his head. “Like I said. You don’t need to worry about it. Now, you should rest.”
I huffed and glanced around. My eyes landed on the pile of blankets, furs, and pillows.
“Not there,” he snapped. “Anywhere else is fine.”
I hugged myself as a shiver raked through me. This must behistent, and that must be whereheslept. It made sense. He was the one in charge, and this was the biggest tent.
Asshole!He was determined to ruin my life.
Fuming, I walked to the opposite corner fromhisbed and sat on top of the plush rugs. I grabbed a cushion from one of the chairs and laid my head down, my back pressed tightly against the side of the tent. My eyes followed Jeondar as he placed a chair in front of the exit. He sat there, facing me to ensure he could watch me closely.
Damn Fae male.
I closed my eyes simply to avoid his piercing gaze, though I kept my ears tuned to every tiny sound. A long time passed as I lay there listening to what was mostly silence. Jeondar might as well have been a statue for all he moved. The Fae had that quality same as vampires. They could go for hours without moving a muscle. Whereas I kept tossing and turning, feeling every lump under the rugs.
At some point in the night, a howl sounded in the distance, a sound so guttural and deep that it shivered over my bones. My eyes sprang open to find Jeondar frowning, his pointed ears tilted toward the fading echo of the mournful call.
I squeezed my eyes tightly, wondering what was out there that could make Fae warriors look so wary. There were many more howls through the night, each one making my arms wrap more tightly around my torso, each one driving my drowsy sleepiness away.
CHAPTER 4
Thesoundofbirdssinging cheerfully woke me up the next morning. I sat up straight, heart pounding as I realized I’d drifted off at some point near dawn. Jeondar was gone, and for a moment, I thought I was alone in the tent until I heard light snoring coming from the back.
I jumped to my feet, scanning the bundle of blankets and furs. Someone was there. I could make out the shape, though nothing else. At some point,hehad come in, walked right by me, and gone to sleep. All while I was lying down unaware, helpless.
I staggered out of the tent, blinking at the bright morning sunlight.
Kryn stood guard next to the tent. “Good morning, healer,” he said with that annoying smirk of his. “Slept well?”
“Fuck you,” I snapped, unable to help myself.
“Such a filthy mouth.”
I flipped him the bird.
“And hand.”
“Oh, go to hell.”
“I think I’m already in what you humans call hell, judging by the she-devil raining curses on me.”
“She’s not a devil,” someone said behind me, “just an excellent judge of character.”
I turned to find a petite female sitting by the fire. She had golden brown hair, much like my own, though her eyes were blue, the same clear shade as Cylea’s. She wore a form-fitting one-piece suit made of supple green fabric, trimmed with gold around her waist and collar—the color complimenting her golden skin perfectly.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s a prick,” she said with a welcoming smile. “My name is Arabis Perven. What is yours?”
No one had bothered to introduce themselves until now. They’d all treated me like a prisoner, while this female was acting as if I were a guest instead. I distrusted her immediately, especially since she was the one who had been gone withhimyesterday.