“And when will that be?”
He shrugged. “Four days? Five? Depends on this storm.”
“You know what she wants with me.”
“Yes.” He kept eating, not looking her way.
Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned back on the bed, refusing to look at him. Rustling sounded to her right, and when she turned onto her side, she caught sight of a very naked Lochlan pulling on dry clothes.
Her face heated as she rolled back over, trying to forget the image of his corded back and firm… She shook her head. Griff drew her in with his looks and his charm, she wouldn’t let that happen again. At least Lochlan had no charm to speak of.
“I trusted Neeve,” she whispered. When he didn’t respond, she kept talking. “Like you told me to. So… thanks.”
His sigh filled the tent, and when she turned to look at him once more, he sat back in his spot with his head bowed. “I wish we could get her out of there.”
So, he did care about something.
“Lochlan?”
He lifted his eyes.
She needed to know the answer to the question that could crush her. “Is he really alive?”
His eyes met hers, never wavering. “Yes.”
She didn’t know how, but she knew he told her the truth.
Tears built in her eyes. She blinked them away before more took their place. Shifting so Lochlan couldn’t see her face, she let the tears trail over her cheeks. Myles was truly alive. Her chest expanded like she could breathe for the first time since that awful day at school when she’d thought she’d killed him.
“Lochlan?” she whispered, her voice shaking.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.” When she got control of her voice, she spoke again. “Can I ask another question?”
“I’m coming to realize there’s no way to stop you short of a gag.”
She smiled at that. “Why do you hate me?”
As soon as she said the words, he tensed, revealing she wasn’t wrong. He’d been gruff with her since the first day in the human realm.
“I don’t—”
“Please, just be straight with me, I don’t think I can take any more lies or half-truths.”
He rubbed a hand over his face. “People have died for you, Brea. People I loved. I helped you at the request of my queen, but do not mistake anything that has happened as anything other than me following orders. You’re right, I don’t like you. I don’t want to sit here staring into the face of the girl who has taken so much from me.”
“I don’t understand.” What had she taken from him? Who’d died because of her? Her pulse hammered in her temples, sending waves of pain through her head. Her tears continued to fall.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. You may have fae blood running through those veins, but you’re just a human girl who has cost our world too much.”
“I—”
“Go to sleep, Lady Robinson. Our conversation is through, and tomorrow will be a long day.” He leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
Brea curled her legs up to her chest, trying to still the shaking of her body. She never thought she’d long for the solitude of the Clarkson Institute.
Maybe being delusional would have been better than being right.
The fae existed as she’d always seen, but their world wasn’t meant for a girl raised on a simple human farm.
Chapter Sixteen
“You can let me have my horse back. I won’t run again.” Brea slumped in the saddle in front of Lochlan. She’d banked on being better on a horse than Lochlan’s men when she made a run for it. She hadn’t had a plan beyond not going to the Eldur palace.
She also hadn’t banked on Lochlan being the one to catch her. Of course he came crashing down on her like a blond fae-god riding Secretariat.
“You’ve proven I can’t trust you. So, you will ride with me to the Eldur palace. You will sleep in my tent, eat my food, and remain in my sight at all times until I hand you over to the queen.”
“Would you like me to wipe your butt while I’m at it?”
“That won’t be necessary, unless you try to escape again. You would do well not to push me human-girl.”
“The Loch-to-Brea translation there, is he will likely pop that vein in his forehead if you try to run again.” Finn rode beside them, offering helpful tidbits to the conversation, much to Lochlan’s irritation. He didn’t seem to like that his friend enjoyed Brea’s company.
“At least let me ride with Finn so it’s not like riding with a boulder at my back.”
“I think the lady just called you soft.” Lochlan jeered at his friend.
“The lady meant the boulder comment in terms of personality.” She shifted in the saddle. While that was partially true, Lochlan’s bulk was like leaning against a stone wall. A cold stone wall.
“You’re just jealous that the pretty lady likes me more. Honestly, it’s the story of his life.” Finn grinned. “Poor guy never gets the girl when I’m around.”
“Why don’t you go check on the rear and let them know we’ll make camp soon?” Lochlan dismissed his cocky right-hand man.
“Right away, sir. Catch you later, Breanne of Tarth.” Finn winked at Brea before he turned his mount and left them in an uncomfortable silence.
Lochlan snorted at his retreat. “Preening peacock.”
“You’re just jealous because he’s charming and you aren’t.”
“My brother is charming. How did that work out for you?”
“I think I like you better when you don’t speak.”
“Hashtag same.”
Brea turned in the saddle to meet his gaze. “How do you know all the human lingo?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years.”
“Doing what?”
“Keeping you alive. Now, I’ve had enough of your questions, girl.”
Despite her desire to continue needling him, Brea let the matter drop. She sat quietly until she couldn’t take his stony silence for another second.
“So… who’s your favorite GOT character? Tyrion Lannister was my favorite. That’s what I do. I drink and I know things.”
“Of course you would like the talker.”
“So. Who’s your favorite?”
“Davos Seaworth. A quiet, loyal man.”
“What season was he in?”
“I do not watch television. I read.”
“Oh, you’re like Myles…” Her voice caught on his name. “He was always trying to get me to read the books.” With her thoughts on Myles, she didn’t care about the silence anymore.
As the day wore on, Brea started to sweat. It was really hot in Eldur compared to the relative perfection of Fargelsi.
“We make camp here,” Lochlan called to his men. It surprised her that he would stop when it was still light out.
“We still have hours of daylight left, sir,” a young soldier gave voice to Brea’s observations.
“The oasis is the last source of fresh water we will encounter before we reach the palace. We will rest here and stock up on water before we set out early tomorrow morning,” Finn explained.