CHAPTER 14

Someone had tried to kill me. Again .

The thought overwhelmed me as I paced my bedroom, scuffing the floor with my heavy steps.

They'd made an attempt on my life, and it was clear as to why. Orion had made it painfully obvious that I was a threat to stopping a war – one he so dearly wanted to proceed. Had he been the one to poison my food? It was not impossible to believe. Whoever wanted me dead must have a reason, and removing the threat I posed to the war was the only one I could think of.

"Will she survive?" I questioned, hands shaking at my sides. Half-moons had etched themselves into my palms, leaving behind a slight sting as I flexed my fingers.

Erix had sat himself on the edge of my bed in mostly silence, his elbows resting on his outstretched knees. "It is hard to tell. It depends on the poison and how quickly a healer has been deployed to help her."

Guilt stormed within me. Guilt for someone I didn't know but who took the brunt of an attack against me anyway. She'd not asked for this. All I kept seeing in the dark of my mind was her gasping expression, lips coated in the green-foam, how her body convulsed violently, legs and arms kicking out, and her head slamming into the ground over and over again.

"Can you at least go and inquire?" I snapped, unable to fathom how he could sit still during such an event. "Or take me to see her. Anything but sitting here and waiting."

"I will not be leaving you. Not now, not again. Nor is it safe for you to leave this room. Word will reach us soon whether the Taster has survived."

"Her name is Briar." I stopped dead in my tracks, shoulders tense as I glared towards Erix. "I heard Althea call her by it. Don't refer to her as anything but her name again."

Erix regarded me for a long moment, silver eyes looking over every inch of me. The muscles in his jaw feathered as he contemplated his response. " Briar was only completing a task set before her. She knew the risks, and she did what was required. Do not bear the guilt I see you harbouring. It will do you no good. Instead, lay the blame on the person who wished to harm you, and in turn, hurt Briar. That is a better use of energy, little bird."

I couldn't even cringe at the use of my nickname.

"Is that it? All you have to say?" My torso ached with the slamming of my heart. The chest, that dreaded, cold box, crept open, letting a trickle of unbridled power out. The release of pressure was incredible, the feeling almost exhilarating. I sighed a heavy breath, watching it cloud before me as the air itself seemed to drop violently in temperature. "Don't think for a moment that your wise words make me feel any better. I didn't ask for a taster, nor do I deserve one. There is a world in which her life doesn't need to be a sacrifice for mine. If I had refused to come with you, perhaps she would still be…" I couldn't say it because admitting her potential death was too raw and painful.

"It is clear that your life is at risk, whether at the hands of the humans and their twisted pets, or those of my kind who see you as a wall in their road to war. Regardless of where you are, news of what you did at the Hunter camp would have spread, and your life would still have been in danger. Believe that."

I tried not to blink, for every time I did, I saw Briar cradled in Althea's arms. "Althea knew her. Before she ate the food, I could see her discomfort. And the way Althea reacted…"

A sour taste filled my mouth as I dredged up the haunting memory of Althea's shattering cries.

"I am not one for gossip, but for years rumours of Althea and the Taster – Briar – have spread around court. But it is not for either of us to question it. Not everyone requires their relationships to be open for judgement or questioning. It is why I never brought it up with Althea, even after Briar was demoted from her position as the princess's own Taster. Robin, all that matters is you are alright."

"What matters, Erix –" I spoke his name as though it was a weapon, sharp and swift "– is that no one else's life is required to be a safety net for my own. This is so fucked. All of this. I want to know if Briar is alive, then I want to know who would have poisoned the food. Am I not to eat again for fear someone else will make an attempt on my life?"

"We can get you another."

"And leave a trail of bodies in my wake whenever I grow peckish? I will not live in fear. Not against the gryvern, nor a plate of fruit or meat."

I was shouting. Not at Erix, but at the situation. Frustration blew through me in gusts of frozen wind. I felt the magic pique its interest within me, waiting, longing for me to let it out.

Erix stood suddenly, making me stumble pathetically over my next words. As he stepped closer, I felt the chill of my power retreat as though it feared his presence.

But I didn't fear him , far from it.

The phantom brush of his touch raced up my arms, all without him needing to raise a hand. "You are extremely determined. It is hard to believe that you have not always been brought up in a family of authority. Perhaps your power and namesake are not all that was passed down in blood."

I tried to hold his gaze but gave up. He was beautiful in ways which should be impossible for a man of his appearance. It was easier to look away to prevent myself from losing my train of thought in his never-ending stare. I opted to look at the polished black of his boots as he took yet another step forward.

"You know nothing of me," I said, voice quivering. "You've made assumptions, but they're wrong."

"Strange, because I feel as though I am getting a rather good grip on who you are."

"You think I am weak compared to you great and almighty fey." I turned my back on him, facing the dimly lit room instead of feeling small beneath his stare. "I can look after myself. I did a good job of it before you came along, and will after you go."

"Ouch?"

I couldn't stop letting the words flow out of me without thought. "I don't need you to stand guard for me, nor do I need someone eating from my spoon before I do. I was doing rather fine before."

There was no mistaking the low chuckle that followed. "Is that so? Because the whole ‘stuck in a cage with fey-hunters' suggested otherwise."

It was stupid, this argument, but I wasn't going to back down. Stepping in, toe to toe, I glowered up at him. "I was outside the cage by the time you showed up."

Erix's chuckle turned into a full belly laugh.

"Are you fucking laughing at me!" I snapped back around to glare at Erix, who didn't attempt to hide the smile spreading across his handsome face.

He regarded me, running his forefinger and thumb over his prickly beard as his large hand framed his grin. "I am."

He was testing me; I could sense it. How his face burned with mischief as he spoke, tilting his head to the side like an innocent puppy, whereas the gleam in his eyes was far from innocent.

"Give me your dagger, and I will show you." I pointed to the dark metal hilt that protruded from a sheath at his side. Without looking down, his hand moved over it, resting his fingers tentatively on the handle.

"If you are trying to prove a point, come and get it. Or do you usually ask those you duel for their weapon before starting?"

My gut flipped as my eyes moved from the dagger to his irritating smile, a smile I wished nothing more than to wipe clean from his face.

I took a step forward, slowly, one foot before the other, as I closed the space between us.

"Did you think I would simply forget to bring up what happened on the balcony?" I asked him, hands steady at my side.

That bastard's smile faltered, flattening into a straight, plump line. "Care to remind me?"

"Do you treat all the helpless boys like that?" There were no more than a few inches between us now. I kept my eyes on his, noticing the slight parting of his mouth as his pink tongue trailed between his teeth. "Or is there something you wish to share with me?"

"Trust me, little bird, you do not want insight into my thoughts at this moment." The intensity in his tone had my readying hand pause.

"What would have transpired if Althea had not interrupted?" I asked, forcing my voice into a soft lilt.

Erix ran his thumb across his lower lip, heaving a large sigh before replying. But there was no chance for him to utter a word.

He was distracted by the concept, which was exactly what I wanted.

I shot my hand out, gripping the warm hilt of the dagger and pulling it free from the sheath; the blade sang as metal sliced along the leather. I raised the weapon through the chilled air, stopping only when the sharp side introduced itself to the underside of Erix's chin. Beneath the glint of the blade, the lump in his throat bobbed; I could hear the tickling of his hairs as the blade moved over them.

"How devious you are," Erix purred, barely flinching.

"Do not underestimate me again." I scowled, applying a sensible amount of pressure that was both threatening but safe.

Erix lifted two fingers and pressed them to the sharp side of the blade. With force I did not expect, he pushed back, effortlessly moving it away from him. "Allow me to share a secret with you. Not for a moment have I believed you didn't have it in you to cause some damage, little bird."

"Stop… calling me that."

Erix ignored me, which only infuriated me more. I thrust the blade upwards again, causing him to throw his hand out of the way. This time the blade pressed into his throat with careless pressure until he hissed out.

"You have cut me."

Erix said it as though he could not believe his own words. But he was right. I had. Blood dribbled from the nick and onto the blade. My eyes fixated on the ruby droplet as it spilt down the glistening metal, spreading onto the hilt and warming my skin where it touched me.

I relaxed my hold, breathing out an apology. "I didn't mean to…"

"I have had a number of blades put against me; a little blood is nothing. You are going to need to find something else to create fear in me, I am afraid." He leaned in, teeth flashing beneath his grin as he winked. "But nice try."

I kicked out, forcing my knee between his legs before he could do so much as blink. Erix retaliated as though he saw my attack coming. Faster than I could imagine, his hand gripped my thigh and held it in place before I could connect with that sweet, soft spot between his legs. My skin ached where his fingers gripped hold of me. I tried to pull away but could not.

"Ah, ah, ah. That was not very nice, was it?"

"Believe it or not, I wasn't trying to be… nice." I struggled against his hold. The blade clattered to the floor as I needed both hands to push against the firmness of his chest. Then, all at once, he released me, and I stumbled backwards. I closed my eyes, anticipating the pain as I was not prepared to stop the connection to the floor.

But the pain didn't follow.

Instead, a hand gripped the back of my head, catching it before I connected with stone. I still heard a crunch of bone, but it was not my own. Erix was above me, face wincing in agony that I had not attempted to cause this time. His hand was wedged between the curve of my skull and the floor.

"Erix…" I breathed, lifting my head enough for him to remove his hand. He pulled it out, cradling it to him as he growled in discomfort that pinched his handsome face.

"It seems you proved your point," he said, opening one eye as he released a breathy laugh. "Even if you did not mean to."

I felt the bubbling of a chuckle brew within me, too but swallowed it down before it had a chance to escape.

"Are you hurt?" Erix stood, towering above me, where I pushed myself up onto my elbows.

I shook my head, taking the hand he offered me. With a great tug, he pulled me up, stopping me as I pressed into his torso. I stayed like that for a moment, sensing our shared hesitation as his hand brushed down the length of my spine.

It was hard to tell who let go first because there was suddenly space between us, and all I knew was I didn't like it. A fact I wouldn't admit, aloud or to myself.

I ironed out the creases of my jacket, keeping my hands busy as Erix reached down for the discarded dagger.

"You can keep this," he said, offering it to me. "It is clear you work well with a dagger, but it is also painfully obvious you will need some more work on perfecting the craft of dagger play. I would rest better knowing you have something with you when you are alone. Who knows, perhaps the next time you try and attack me, it will be me who hits the ground first."

"Trust me," I said, fighting the urge to smile as I took the blade from him without thanks. "I will get you on your back one way or another–" I swallowed hard, a shiver of embarrassment spreading down my spine.

"Careful, little bird," Erix said softly. "Words like that will get you in far more trouble than brandishing a blade with an untrained hand."

"Is that so?" My cheeks warmed. I wondered if he could see the blush creep into them as a result of his comment.

"It is. You should rest." He swept past me suddenly. "I will be outside if you need me."

"What about Briar?" I asked again, part of me wishing he would not leave so soon. If I asked for his company, would he decline it? Deep down, I knew he wouldn't, but there was also a sudden hesitation from him that made the thought as awkward as our encounter on the balcony.

"If you promise me to try and sleep, I will bring news of her when you wake. And food. I will taste it myself if I have to, but I will see you eat a full meal."

I gripped the dagger with both hands, aware of how warm the hilt was after Erix had held it.

"What if I don't want you to taste it?" I asked him, not wanting to explain it further.

Erix's hand paused as it gripped the handle of the door. His broad shoulders heaved from a sigh, and then he turned his face to look at me. His profile was striking against the glow of the lanterns; a sharp nose, full lips and beard caused his cheeks to dip between high cheekbones and a strong jaw. "I am ordered, as your personal guard, to keep you safe. If you will not let others risk themselves for your sake, then I will take it upon myself to do so."

Ice crept from my fingers, coating the hilt and draining any of his warmth from it. I did not fight to pull the magic back into the chest within me. "But–"

"What is the matter?" His grin returned once again, and all I could smell was cinnamon as he pulled open the door; the breeze in the hallway beyond forced Erix's scent to reach me and fill me entirely with even the smallest of inhales. "Hmm, and I was beginning to believe you wished to see me harmed. How quickly that seems to have changed."

With that, Erix slipped out of the room. As the latch fell into place with a click, I was certain I heard him whisper beneath the sound of the closing door.

Goodnight, little bird.