CHAPTER 19

Time bled together during Faye's stay in Hell. For two days the table in her room changed her selection of freshly prepared meals every few hours— and for two days she didn't eat a bite of it. Lightheaded and weak, she stayed in bed. Her heartbeat became a constant pulse driving a pounding headache that wouldn't ease.

Sadi had come to see her this time. She pulled a chair beside Faye's bed and set a tray over her. "You need to eat to regain your strength. Did you want something else? I can have anything brought in."

Faye scooted from beneath the tray, sitting up. She would be tempted to eat if Morbid allowed her to attempt her ceremony in Chaos, but Morbid told Sadi he would think on the matter.

Which left her the Shadow Prince's captive.

"What does he want? Why am I here?" Faye asked.

"I need you to eat something. Anything. Take a few bites." Sadi moved the bowl of soup closer to her.

The creamy white broth smelled divine. Faye set her jaw, steeling herself for their same conversation to play out. They would ask her to eat, and she would refuse until they told her what they wanted. Caught in an endless stalemate, Faye was determined to win

.

Two of the strongest people in the realms held her captive in a luxurious room. They needed her for something. Badly and apparently alive.

Faye took a labored breath, stirring the soup she had no intention of eating before turning to Sadi— the kinder of her two jailers. "I can't give him what he wants if I don't know what it is. Tell me what it is so I can go home." Darkness, she was so tired. "Just tell me what he wants."

Sadi lowered her gaze, petting the soul shard embedded in her articulated ring that looked more like armor. Faye bit the inside of her lip, keeping perfectly still. The Familiar was wavering.

Her gaze flicked up, meeting Faye's. She parted her lips but said nothing before glancing back down. She muttered words too low for Faye to hear. It sounded like a prayer, something about walking the twisted path of madness.

Sadi met her gaze once more, clasping her hands in her lap before saying, "You're fated to him."

Rune stood, phasing out of his study the moment he heard Sadi's damning words. He materialized beside her and glared coldly at Faye. The mortal refused to eat, or don the clothing he'd acquired for her, or even bathe. He glanced at Sadi who greeted him with a weak smile.

"If you would leave us," he said, planning on exchanging words with her at a later time. Sadi stood and vanished as Rune turned his attention to Faye. "A spell has tied a fated bond between us. That is the reason you are here."

The minx met his gaze and visibly recoiled, dropping her spoon. "Fated? As in your mate?"

The peasant deemed him ill-suited for her. "I assure you. The feeling is mutual."

If you don't want her, get out of the way.The Ra'Voshnik circled the edges of his mind. It disagreed with his methods, constantly demanding he return Faye's sister. Rune dragged it away, cruelly sinking his claws into it until its cries were silenced while the minx stammered, "but you're not a Familiar."

"I'm aware. This is a spell tying me to you, blessing me with your mortality. I mean to break it and be free of you." She flinched, dropping his gaze. Her pain intensified the bothersome twinge in his chest. It gnawed deeper, leaving him feeling hollow.

"What if you really are fated to me?" Faye asked quietly, lifting the blanket to cover her chest.

"Impossible. You are mortal."

Her gaze shot to him. "I'm twenty-five. I could still be immortal."

Rune shook his head once. "Sadi investigated your line. We have confirmed your mortality."

The minx pulled her knees to her chest, curling forward. "I want to go home."

The Ra'Voshnik roared from its confines, pressing him to comfort his mate. To sit beside her and take her in his arms. Soothe her and brush her hurt away. While the rational mind that kept him among the living for thirty centuries demanded he distance himself from her. His thoughts and emotions stood in conflict, painting something deep within him. He moved her tray closer, grating, "Eat."

Her back straightened, and she glared at him with glassy eyes. "Death in one will claim you both." Surprise momentarily crossed his features and the minx smiled bitterly. "Sparrow taught me that. You need me alive. Take me to my sister, or I will escort us both to the Darkness."

"I will escort you to Anaria to see your sister, but you will remain with me under my protection until I break the tie between us."

"I won't eat as long as you keep me here."

Rune took Sadi's seat and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. At her level, he held her gaze. "Understand me. I have lived for a very long time. I will not surrender my life to your care."

The minx shifted her shoulders, looking him up and down before saying, "You have no choice in the matter."

"I have attempted to allow you dignity since you are a dark-blood."

"I'm not a dark-blood," she hissed.

A growl rumbled from his throat and Faye stilled. She hid it well, but he could hear the increasing rhythm of her heart. "You are a dark-blood. It is time you acted like one."

"If you don't let me go home, we will return to the Darkness together."

"Do not push me. I am more than capable of keeping you alive. It will be unpleasant, and you will never see your sister again." Her complexion blanched, but she stubbornly stared at him, remaining silent. "Do we understand each other?"

The minx nodded and looked away. "I want to spend a few hours each day in Anaria."

"We can discuss a schedule after you have eaten."

"I'll eat in Anaria." Rune leaned back in his chair, and the minx slumped her shoulders. "You've kept me from my sister for four days. Please, I promise I'll eat there."

"I will take you back to Anaria after I look into your mind."

"You can poke around my head all you want after you take me home."

"If I find what I need, you can return permanently."

The minx wet her bottom lip, apparently something she did when she was thinking or sought to drive the Ra'Voshnik to frenzy. "One minute, and then you take me home."

Her demand was far from ideal, but Rune hoped if he gave a little the minx would follow suit. "One minute, once I am in your mind."

Faye nodded, watching him carefully, as though she'd agreed to do something depraved. "What do I do?"

"Relax."

You can do this, it's just a minute, and then we go home and see Sparrow. Faye crossed her legs under the blanket and cleared her mind, unsure of what to do. Moments passed, and a strange sensation touched her mind. Like a shadow at the edge of her vision that vanished when she turned toward it.

"Your mind is closed off."

His tone was gentle, so Faye responded in kind. "I don't know how to open it."

"Take deep breaths and bring yourself to rest."

Faye sighed. "I don't know what that means. I don't speak dark-blood."

He looked away for a moment, drumming his fingers over his knee. When his attention returned to her, he said, "What do you do when you go to sleep?"

"You want me to take a nap?" She wasn't following his logic.

"You will naturally bring yourself to rest when you prepare to sleep."

Okay,Faye thought as she touched the tray. "Can you take this away please." Rune took the tray and Faye laid down pulling the blankets to her chin. She clutched a pillow to her side and wiggled until she was comfortable. This was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard of, but if it brought her closer to seeing her sister, she'd do it.

Faye closed her eyes, relaxing her body and letting her mind drift. The smell of roses lingering in her sheets mixed with the faint scent of amber and sandalwood. It reminded her of the dreams where she slept in his arms. Faye let her mind wander where it wished, deciding it counterintuitive to steer her thoughts.

"When does your minute start?"

"You will know."

Minutes passed in silence and Faye breathed easy, shifting into a more comfortable spot. She felt something then. An easy pressure into her awareness. Faye lowered her brow.

"Shh. I almost have it."

A strange sensation brushed up against her mind. It warmed the edge of Faye's consciousness, growing more persistent with each tantalizing stroke. The resistance snapped all at once, and Faye winced as a presence flooded her senses. Aggression and sexual heat thrummed against her mind, volatile and distinctly male. Faye's breaths accelerated with her heartbeat. She held still, focusing on relaxing the tension in her body, but this presence wanted to claim her for its own.

A familiar purr vibrated through her, beneath the compulsive hostility, was a soul deep yearning. Faye helplessly turned toward it.

It must have sensed her. A flash of excitement pulsed through her mind as it turned its focus on her. The wild aggression surging forward.

Faye gasped, her eyes snapping open as she jerked back. A wet snap sounded, and Faye's gaze shot to Rune. Blood ran freely from his nose. "I'm sorry."

He stood, waving a hand at her. "Apologies. The Ra'Voshnik slipped my hold." He silently strolled to the bathroom, turning on the faucet.

What slipped his hold? Some part of him that saw her and didn't care if she had a shard or not. Faye stared at Rune's back, realizing two things.

They were fate tied, and this Ra'Voshnik was her fangs.