Bound by Darkness (Bound By Series)

10. Broken Deals

Chapter 10

Broken Deals

THALIA

The screen door slapped loudly against the wooden frame as I slowly inched down the slightly uneven steps that sang their protests. Everything creaked in this old cabin.

After days of counting the dents in the wall, of which there were twenty-nine, I’d needed to escape the room.

The wind whipped through my hair, tickling my nose with hints of lavender and pine as I left the drab cabin behind. My fingers floated over the wooden railing, avoiding the splinters as I descended.

Surrounded by dense forest on every side, the cabin tucked itself away in the middle. Blades of grass were painted a lovely shade of green and yellow, daises pushing their way from the slightly damp ground.

Nothing obstructed the views as if I were in a glass bottle.

I was outside, not an iron bar in sight. My heart ached with a level of blissfulness I had not experienced since my childhood adventures. My senses screamed as the grass neared my feet.

I wanted to touch it.

I wanted to bathe in the prickly feeling .

Being outside always grounded me. It gave me a sense of security even as a kid when father would leave for his travels.

Glancing to the left, a pond rested toward the back of the house, and to the right, a well-maintained garden sat.

My eyes widened as they stared at the figure hunched over in the garden, sweat dripping across his brow as Ivan plucked weeds from the garden beds. He tossed them lazily over his shoulder as he focused on the tedious task.

My feet were glued to the last step as I held my breath, hoping he did not sense me from where he toiled.

He knew my past and had spewed it from his lips like it was nothing. The past I’d attempted to escape from.

Was it worth the risk to venture further? To be so close to something I had desired for years only to have it quelled by his unsightly appearance?

My nails dug into the chipping wood as they turned pale. It wasn’t worth the entitlement he’d spew upon me if he noticed I’d left my room. I’d venture outside later when I could freely feel the faelight kiss my skin. Feel the grass tickle my soles while the breeze played with the curled ends of my hair.

Inching myself back up the steps, I kept my eyes peeled on him for any sudden movements?—

“Are you going to watch me all day?” he asked, his scarred fingers tossing ripe tomatoes into the wicker basket at his hip. Another weed tumbled over his shoulder as his black hair swallowed the faelight.

My feet stumbled over the last step as I stopped. Clearing my throat, I puffed out my chest. “I’m heading back inside.”

Tomatoes snapped from the vines as a low hum left his lips. “Aren’t you going to offer to help?”

“Offer to help you?” I scoffed. “That’s rich after what you’ve done to me.” Help him? I wanted to laugh at his words .

His hands paused as his gaze traveled to mine. He wiped his forehead, leaving behind streaks of rust-colored dirt. “Oh?” he quipped. “What exactly have I done to you?”

I gaped. The arrogance— “What haven’t you done? You kidnapped me, dragged me into Lost Woods, and threatened me in the kitchen!”

“Threatened? I did no such thing. I merely stated facts,” he said, a hint of a smile on his face.

“You cornered me against the door and whispered information about my past no one else knows. How is that not threatening?”

“You tried to run.”

“Because you’re insane !” This man… this man bordered on crazy.

He closed the wicker basket as more rust-colored clay dropped to the ground. “I appreciate the sentiment, but if you’re looking for information—” He stood, the basket resting on his hip as he climbed the steps. “You need only ask nicely.”

My blood boiled at the smug gesture. I took a step back, but he countered with his own. “Stop following me.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re blocking the door.”

I crossed my arms over my frantically beating heart. “Go around.”

He scoffed. “I could easily plow through you. You’re skin and bone. Hardly a threat.”

“Go around.” I refused to let his petty answers get to me. I refused to let fear grip my heart in his presence.

“Thalia Carr?—”

“Stop using my full name.” I hated the way he said it, as if he cared.

“Should I call you half-breed?” he countered. “Or is there another name you’d prefer? ”

Wind chimes sang in the distance, the music ebbing and flowing in the afternoon light.

“Then half-breed it is,” he said, a painted smile echoing back at me. “If you’ll excuse me.” His head gestured to the door as he took a step around.

“Why?” I blurted, my eyes assessing him.

He paused. “Why what?”

“Why did you rescue me? Gwen said it’s because you need me to save Cethales.” What was I doing? Asking the person who’d kidnapped me why they did it? If mother saw me now, she’d die again.

The wicker basket crinkled as his hand turned white. “She told you?”

I nodded.

I expected him to lash out, to harbor hatred toward a half-breed, but he spoke flatly. “What she said is true. I rescued you to save Cethales—the greatest weapon in centuries.”

“I’m… not a weapon,” I said, stumbling through my words.

He shook his head. “You are one, half-breed. King Hywell made you believe you were a prisoner when in fact you were kept alive all these years to serve him. To be one of his playing cards in the war.”

My eyes widened as I took a step, my back hitting the wooden railing. All that suffering I’d experienced—the torture buried into my spine was for the man who’d murdered my family? To be his weapon ?

“That can’t be true,” I whispered. “The King—the King told me personally my family name would die. He told me I wasn’t valuable. I was cursed… my family was cursed forever.” This couldn’t be—“Then how come the King gave his blessing to trade me if I was so special?”

“He didn’t. I orchestrated the entire thing. All it took were a few lies… and a few truths about who rested in that prison.” He paused. “Well, and a Fae’s lust is a powerful tool, too.”

I gaped at him, shivers crawling up my spine like spiders. “You told Lord Haville about me?”

“Yes, but the result was always going to end with you here,” he said. “I even killed both bastards in retribution for you.”

His words struck me deeply. “The man with a satchel of gold,” I whispered so quietly my voice barely rose above the roaring in my ears. “He’s dead? You killed him?”

“He made it two steps. The sick bastard was too occupied counting his gold to see the sword strike through his heart.”

Tears welled in my eyes as a quiet sob escaped through my lips. My hands covered them quickly.

Gayle was dead. He would never hurt Moria ever again. Never force her to commit heinous actions. Never force her to do anything again. It provided more comfort than any warm bed.

His eyes narrowed. “Was he a friend? I assumed the opposite.”

I shook my head. “No,” I choked out. “No, he wasn’t.”

Ivan stared, his jaw clenching tightly before dipping his head in a curt nod. “I’ll give you some space,” he said as a hand reached for the door.

“Ivan?”

Flecks of silver met mine. “Yes?”

“If I am this… weapon you say I am, how does that help Cethales?”

He stayed quiet for a moment, the wind sending melodies to caress my ear.

“Because Cethales needs a hero,” he finally said. “Who better than the person born with casting? The only person in Cethales to have powers gifted by the Fae gods. ”

His words sliced through my heart. “I’m… not a hero.” My eyes locked onto his. “This kingdom has done nothing for me. Why would I ever be a hero for Cethales when all it has done is curse me?” Truth spewed from my lips. This country had done nothing for me except gift me a curse, and, in return, took all I cared about.

“Because it’s the right thing to do. If this war doesn’t end, there won’t be a place for you to go.”

“So?”

“Innocent children are dying! Your people are being slaughtered left and right by Hywell and the rebels. I rescued you to bring peace to Cethales, and to eliminate his greatest playing card.”

“What does that have to do with me? I didn’t agree to stop a war. I didn’t ask you to kidnap me. To… to thrust me into the middle of your choices.”

“I removed Hywell’s largest threat. He would have used you until nothing but ash remained.”

I swallowed. “I can’t fight in a war. I want—” What did I want? To live alone? To live peacefully? I had nothing I wanted except?—

“Your friend,” he blurted.

My head snapped to him. “What?”

“Your friend, Moria. She’s still in the prison, correct?”

My lips parted, but they forgot how to speak as his eyes softened.

“I have a proposition. In exchange for your help, I’ll see Moria freed from prison.”

“How? How could you do that?” There was no way he could break into the prison again. The grounds were fortified with hundreds of Armas guards, the strongest and deadliest House besides House Raha. Breaking into the prison a second time? Impossible.

“You’re staring at Cethales’ number one assassin specializing in prison breaks. I could get her out for you if you help me.”

“You’re lying. I have no reason to trust you.”

“You’re right,” he answered. “But I’m your only chance at seeing her again.” He rubbed a spot along the crease of his neck, his hands covered in pink scars. “Your help in exchange for your friend’s freedom,” he said, his words rushing together.

I bit my lip as I decided between the two choices. Either I left now or stayed, which meant giving away my freedom again. I had no reason to trust him, but he was different than any male I’d met before. Was it worth the risk to see her again? I chewed the inside of my cheek as my hands wrung together.

Moria. The one person I’d wept to on my arrival date. The one person who’d offered her life to the guards to protect me. The person who used her clothing to clean the welts along my back—my friend . For her I’d traverse anything.

“Deal,” I said before my thoughts spiraled further.

“On the Mother herself, I will rescue your friend in exchange for your help,” he said, his index and middle finger crossing over his lips. The blessing of the Mother—a promise.

“Fine, but if you’re lying it won’t end well for you,” I muttered.

He grinned as he stepped inside, the cool air whisking the sweat from my face and neck.

“Oh, and by the way, the deal starts in a few days.”

“What?” My throat closed any further words from escaping.

“Better start packing, because we are headed for Laias, the House of Healers.”