Chapter 12

12

REYA

W e have been travelling for a good few hours and I'm feeling saddle sore. I have never ridden a horse for longer than half an hour, because we could never stray too far from the safety of the town walls during the day. I attempt to adjust my position and wince, feeling Raegal's eyes upon me.

"Give the order for a rest stop," Raegal commands his right-hand man, who pulls back from us and barks out the order loud and clear. Further down the procession, the order passes on until it reaches the back of our large party. Raegal swings down from his horse. I grimace as I swing my left leg over and before I can protest, he lifts me by my waist as if I weigh nothing and places me on my feet. "I forget sometimes the fragility of Asen's."

"We're not fragile," I protest. "Just inexperienced at long horse rides, you know, because of the mutts. We never venture too far from home, just in case.

He studies me with an unreadable expression on his face. "I know you aren't weak, Eretreya. I know you have suffered because of your position."

I swallow, hating that he has this ability to understand me when he barely knows me. I avert my eyes from his and look out across the horizon and the endless crystal mountains in the distance. "Where are we?"

"Just north of Brinwood. We should arrive there just before sun set." I watch as he pulls off his black leather gloves. It's disturbing how good he looks in his full military attire.

"No camping in the wild this time?" I ask him, and this earns me a fleeting smile.

"No. I think it's best we only rest overnight when we're within the protective walls of a town."

"Because of the mutts," I say. He's worried the mutts will attack us if we stay out here. "Can your kind sense them?"

He shakes his head as we lead his horse over to one of his men, who takes them from us. "We have heightened hearing and smell compared to your kind."

Most of his men have left their horses and are busy setting up campfires and unloading food and drink supplies. I nod my head and stretch my back. I jolt in shock when he places his hand on my spine, and I feel warmth there. His shadows massage my lower back and I fight the urge to groan at how good it feels.

"Better?" he asks, clearing his throat and removing his hand. I turn and face him; my cheeks heated and nod my head. I'm still in shock at his actions.

"Much better, um, thanks."

He leans in closer and my breathing stalls. "My shadows can give pleasure as much as they can deliver pain." Raegal straightens and clearing his throat again, strides away from me. I watch his retreating form, perplexed by him.

"Everything okay, miss?" Jasiel comes up beside me and he follows my line of sight. "His barks worse than his bite, I assure you."

I nod my head, chewing on my lip. "Does he have family back in your realm?" I ask him.

"If by family you mean a mate, then no, miss."

I redden and scoff. "Oh no, I'm not in the least bit interested if he is taken. I meant a family as in parents."

Jasiel looks down at me, grinning, and he winks at me. "Of course you didn't, miss. And yes, he has family. Shall I fetch you some broth and water?"

I shake my head. Still embarrassed, he thought I was asking if Raegal is available. "No, thank you and please call me Reya. I do need to relieve myself, though."

Jasiel nods his head and points to a cluster of trees. "May I suggest over there, miss? Sorry, Reya."

I bob my head, and make to walk away, but I pause when he continues to walk alongside me. I pause and look up at him with an arch brow. "I don't need company, Jasiel."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "I mean no disrespect, Reya. I'm under my Lord Commander's orders to protect you. Don't worry, I'll stand a discreet distance and give you privacy."

I shake my head. "I don't need protection. I can look after myself."

Jasiel smiles at me again. "Your safety is of utmost importance, Reya. You are a chosen one, and that makes you very important to me and my people."

There it is again. The stark reminder of who and what I am. A sacrifice. I grumble a thank you and stride off ahead of him. God-damn Shadow Borne. I relieve my bladder and when I stride back out and find Jasiel; he is singing a joyful tune to himself.

"What's making you so cheerful?" I ask him curiously.

He pauses in his humming as his eyes fall on me. "The promise of Brinwood's ale and it's welcoming women."

I flush when he winks at me, knowing full well he's referring to the pleasure of bedding one. "I take it you don't have a wife either?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Not yet. I feel the time is coming for me to take a mate soon, though."

"Mate. We don't use that term here. Is it similar to what marriage means to us?"

Jasiel bobs his head and ponders my question. "Yes, but a true blessed mate differs from taking a wife. A true blessed mate is someone that your soul recognises as theirs and theirs alone. You will want no other and would burn down worlds to reach them."

I nod my head, arching a brow. "Sounds intense. How do you know when you've found your mate?" I ask him, intrigued.

"Oh, you know. You feel a pull towards that person like no other. You constantly want to be close to them, touch them and have this fierce need to protect them and claim them."

"Do mates ever exist from different realms?"

He cocks his head and studies me, fighting a smile. "Why do you ask?"

I bob my shoulders nonchalantly. "I'm just curious. Your kind are somewhat of an enigma, even though you have been in our realm for many years now, most of us know very little about you."

We reach the warmth of the fire and the large cauldron of broth heating over it. "In answer to your question, yes. Mates can occur from different realms, but it's rare."

My eyes widen at this news. "Have you ever encountered any of the Night Borne?"

He smiles sadly. "Unfortunately, no. I only know the stories." He gestures to the fire. "Get some rest and enjoy the broth. We have another few hours of travel ahead of us." I take a seat beside the fire and watch as he strides off into camp, barking orders to his troop. The tiny black scar on my wrist tingles and I scan the area, somehow knowing he is close. He's leaning against a large roe tree, a bronze tankard in his hand, his brow furrowed in a deep frown, watching me. My mother's words repeat in my head.

"Stay away from those filthy Shadow Bloods."

I shudder and rub at the tiny mark on my wrist. When I lift my eyes, he's gone.