No one spoke as we backed away from the body of the fallen warrior. The loud screech that had ripped through the darkness, moments before he’d been plucked from his horse, sounded again. I was dropped to the ground as Torrin withdrew his sword in a lightning-fast move, slicing through the air like a whirlwind as the red runes on the hilt glowed, causing the blade to pick up speed.
Torrin wasn’t just skilled; he was freakishly fast, each swipe aimed with precision. Pieces of the creature dropped from the sky without it ever touching the ground whole. He had sliced it into tiny parts, cutting it in midair until chunks pelted the ground.
I didn’t move, didn’t gag at the blood now covering me from head to toe from Torrin, slaughtering the monster adeptly and skillfully.
Torrin turned, staring down at me with a look of annoyance while I studied the sword he had used. He cleaned the blade before pushing it into the scabbard, crouching down to pluck a sizeable chunk of rotten meat from my chest before cocking his head to the side, surveying my pale, glowing face.
“You fucking stink,” he announced.
“You just cut up whatever the hell that was on me. Did you expect me to smell like moonflowers?” I grunted, pushing up into a sitting position.
“I would have preferred it if you’d have tried to dodge at least some of the dead flesh falling from the sky.”
“I did, the entire…” Hissing started behind us, and Torrin exhaled, drawing his blade as the warrior turned reaper stood, spewing poisonous spittle at us.
Torrin stepped in front of me, barring the poisonous saliva from reaching me. He grunted, slowly lifting his blade. He spun and ended the reaper’s life before it had even begun with the first feeding. Torrin reached down to rip off the patch that adorned the uniform’s shoulder, pushing it into a pocket.
“Let’s move,” he ordered. “There’s a town a few miles away from here. We’ll find lodging for the night and tend to the wounded there.”
I stood, picking chunks of the creature off my skin. I started toward Chivalry, but a hand gripped my wrist, pulling me backward. Turning, I stared into frost-colored eyes that warned me not to push the issue of riding my horse again.
“I stink,” I whispered through chattering teeth.
“You’re also freezing because you did a strip show in the middle of the fucking mountains. The temperature is dropping, and you’re almost naked.” Torrin pulled off his cloak to wrap it around my body. “On the road, further down, is Alexandria’s cloak; retrieve it and let’s move out,” he ordered, sitting me on his horse as if I weighed no more than a feather. “Over there.” He pointed to a warrior who slipped into the woods, then returned with my soiled cloak.
I pulled Torrin’s earthy scented cloak around me and held it up to my nose. Silently, I inhaled the smell of citrus, masculinity, and sandalwood. He narrowed his eyes on me while I watched him, frowning as I found the combination enticing. His icy stare held mine, not looking away until I lowered it and scooted forward, giving Torrin room to mount behind me.
“You can bathe at the inn,” he stated, and I shuddered at the putrid scent of my skin. “You will bathe because you fucking reek.”
“Do you intend to watch me take a bath?” I frowned at his dark laughter that vibrated over my flesh, sending a shiver rushing down my spine to wrap around my ovaries.
“I may since you’re sharing a room with me again, Alexandria,” he said in a raspy tone that grated on my nerves.
“Will you do something for me while I bathe?” I whispered, feeling his nose pressing against my ear, uncaring that I reeked of death.
“What’s that?” he asked, tightening his arm around me.
“Hold your fucking breath until I’m done?”
Torrin kicked the horse forward without warning, forcing me to yelp in surprise. The arm that held me released, forcing me to grab for the saddle or chance falling. I growled, pushing my ass back to grasp the pommel, making my backside connect with something masculine. I turned, glaring over my shoulder with a withering look that died a short death at finding glowing winter-colored eyes smiling at my discomfort. It was going to be a long ride to the village.
Chapter Five
We entered the inn with only a portion of the war party Torrin had brought with him to capture us. The inn was also the tavern, and instead of moving toward the stairs, I was directed behind it by Torrin, who pointed to a bucket of sudsy water.
“Wash up because I intend to eat before we retire for the night,” he ordered, turning his back on me.
I slipped off the cloak, studying the dark-eyed creatures that watched my every move. We’d stepped into the Darklands, where only those who could live through the poisonous shadows remained. Unlike the other side of the mountain where we’d been, the king and his people were immune.
Kneeling, I grabbed a scrap of cloth from the pail and slowly began wiping myself clean. I studied the layout, learning each path out of the town. More creatures started coming out of the small homes, staring at me with something akin to curiosity.
Long ago, the Night King had removed those with the moon-sight from his lands. No one was certain why he’d banished the moon-touched people. But then he held no love for his people, or so the rumors said, and he loathed our kind.
The people of the Darklands had adapted, growing immune to the darkness that had swallowed his land entirely, unlike those who weren’t immune to the darkness like the moon-touched people. The darkness didn’t consume those from the Darklands, which had spiked our interest in discovering why they were immune, while others were devoured. King Aragon had intervened, sending his troops to guard their borders against us entering.
I used the cloth to wash my chest and neck, turning my attention back to Torrin, who had spun and now watched me with attentiveness burning in his wintery gaze. Those heated eyes slid to mine before they lifted, glaring at the people who were openly gawking at me.
“It’s been a while since they’ve seen your kind here,” he stated softly, baring his teeth when one man got too close for his liking.
“Your king banished my kind,” I muttered, dropping the cloth back into the bucket while Torrin grabbed the cloak. I frowned as he stepped forward, draping it over my shoulders. His knuckles brushed my collarbone, and I shivered, watching his eyes gradually lift to hold mine.
“So he did, but with good reason. Your kind wanted to dissect our people,” he growled, tightening the cloak with his clasp. “If you make a scene in here, I’ll make tonight really uncomfortable for you.”
“Do you intend to tie me up again?” I asked, holding his heated stare with one of my own.
Torrin wasn’t beautiful. He held the look of strength and masculine beauty around him. His eyes whispered of a dark soul, one that knew pain viscerally. It called to mine, and that created a curiosity that bothered me.
His armor hugged a body that was hard lines of strength and muscle that rippled with power so much it exuded from him. Soft-looking, feather-like black hair dusted his shoulders, loosened from the tie that held most of it back. He was taller than me by a good foot and wore his height with easy self-assurance.