Bound by Darkness (Bound By Series)

34. Dying Logs

Chapter 34

Dying Logs

THALIA

“You’re swinging too wide.”

Pressing the tip of my sword into the ground, I used it as leverage as I stumbled, my sides clenching from the two punches they’d taken from the hilt of his sword. Even worse was the smug look across Ivan’s face, his arms crossed against his bare chest.

Sweat glistened against his temple, the mid-morning light cresting over the slowly awakening camp. It was frigid, but it didn’t seem to bother him as he wiped a hand across his forehead.

Chiseled muscle crept into view as he leaned over, my hands itching to wipe the sweat dripping down his chest. “You’re worsening every day. At this rate, a single, untrained guard could wipe you out.”

“Maybe—” I huffed. “Maybe I have a lousy teacher.”

He leaned closer, the scent of rosewood tickling my nose. “Again,” he said firmly.

I raised my sword, the hilt glittering as the rays hit the flecks of silver and gold. Shifting my feet, I angled the blade. The tip pointed at his stomach—the easiest expanse of flesh to hit while also causing maximum damage.

His eyes pined over me, assessing my stance and balance. A quick nod of approval sent us into a dance.

My feet traced the dirt as I kept one foot behind me for balance, the other pivoting to keep him within view.

The first blow wasn’t a surprise as his sword swung high and to the left. I deflected it with ease, our blades singing as they met. With a twist of his wrist, the sword curved upward, slicing the air as it headed for my side. Turning rapidly, I followed the motion, the blade grazing my tunic as I danced beside it.

It cut inward, but my blade greeted him as I pushed him back, my feet planted into the dying grass. My muscles ached as I grunted, pressing further against the steel.

Ivan’s jaw clenched in response as he leaned forward, applying his body weight to the sword. “Use it. You can’t win in a game of attrition. Everyone will be stronger than you, but you have your casting, which most won’t know about.”

Wincing, my feet slid back an inch as he pressed further. “I can’t.” I shook my head, my lips taut. “I can’t control it.”

He pressed harder. “The way you’re going to control it is by using it. Without it, you won’t win. You’ll be dead on the battlefield.”

He shoved his shoulder into the blade as my balance faltered.

A fury of black hurled at me as I bolted to the side, narrowly missing the wide flourish of his blade. Grunting, I jumped back to be met with another giant arc of his sword. His attacks were powerful, each swing of his blade holding enough force to slice me in half.

It was working—the constant drive of his power against me. Panting, my sword lowered slightly with each blow .

I stayed on the defense as I took another step back, but he kept coming, his swings relentless—a true assassin.

I took another, but my back slammed into a rock.

His sword swung high, and I barely had time to meet it with mine before his foot swept behind me, knocking me off balance. My head hit the rock as I slid down, the air leaving my lungs in one big exhale.

His sword pointed at my throat, the black tip drawing in light. “Pathetic.”

I shoved the tip of his sword away with mine. My head ached as I rested against the cool texture, my sword clanging to the dirt.

He shoved his sword into the ground before splaying his hand against the boulder, his body leaning over mine.

His chest rose and fell as he peered down at me. Beads of sweat dripped down his muscled chest, the one piece of evidence we’d spared. “What the hells?”

Lifting my head, I stared at him, my chest rising unevenly.

“Rule one.” His fist curled. “Don’t corner yourself. If this was a real fight, you’d be dead.”

“Well, lucky for me, it wasn’t.” My hand rubbed the sore spot forming on the back of my head.

His hand slid down the rock until it rested by my ear. “I would call that far from lucky. What if I hadn’t stopped my swing in time?”

“You’d never accidentally hit me. You’re too skilled.”

He stared at me, the silver flecks drawing me in. “Besides the point.

My throat tightened as his thumb brushed over the sensitive welt on my neck.

“This mark makes you her slave, Thalia. If she commands you to fight, she will if it means ending this war.”

His fingers wrapped around the back of my neck, his thumb resting below my ear. Each stroke of his thumb caught my breath as I bit my lip to keep from moaning.

“What other choice did I have?” I managed to spit out between the increasing beats of my heart. I wanted his thumb to trace across my throat. His hands to wrap around my neck and pin me close—to taste that honey-wine my lips constantly craved.

“You could have walked away.”

My eyes lowered to his lips. “You know as well as I did there was no other plausible answer. I did what needed to be done.”

Ivan’s forehead brushed against mine as he leaned close, our lips less than a stone away. “There it is. Needed .”

My breath hitched as devious thoughts of the last time we’d kissed resurfaced. It would be so simple to cross that line, to lean a stone closer.

“You talk about things that are needed. Things expected of you, but when have you ever stated what you want, Thalia?” His hand brushed a few strands of hair from my neck. “What is it you want?”

Gods, what did I want?

I knew it, but I was too afraid to say it out loud.

I wanted him .

Despite everything, I did. He had lied to me, but I had also lied to him about the pages. We’d both been selfish in protecting each other by refusing to carry each other’s burdens. It’s why I couldn’t blame him for what he’d done, because I’d done it too.

We were both stubborn—two gemstones cut from the same rock that somehow made sense when fitted together.

Grabbing my sword, I shoved it between us as my thoughts sunk into darkness. “I don’t want anything,” I lied again .

Something flashed in his eyes, but it quickly vanished as he gripped his sword. “Very well.”

He stood back, his sword resting against his shoulder. “We have a lot of sparring left to complete before tonight, then.”

The streets were emptying as vendors prepared for the dinner celebration this evening. The celebration Iyanna had decided to show off her newest trophy to the Hideaway.

Since leaving the bathing tent, no one had interacted with me, the smell of pine and lemon clinging to my freshly washed skin. I was thankful most people here did not seem to mind I was the most wanted woman in Cethales or I possessed an unnatural ability to wield darkness.

Mulling over the stalls, a young man, no more than twenty, surveyed me from head to toe. His cheeks flushed under his tanned skin as he quickly lowered his head in greeting, his hands full of random wares.

Bottles lined the lengthy stall as he stowed them underneath the wooden caravan.

As I stepped closer, silver caught my eyes. “What is that?” I pointed to the shimmering liquid. A red seal covered the top half of the bottle, an unfamiliar crest etched into the ruby wax.

“T–this?” He placed the bottle in the middle of the cart, the contents stirring slightly. “It’s nothing useful,” he said quietly. “No one knows what it does or if it’s magical.”

The young man tipped the bottle to the side, exposing iridescent colors of purple, green, and blue as they collided with the side of the glass. “However,” he paused, swallowing hard. “There is a rumor my boss told me. He said if someone swallows even a drop, they will gain extra power before the next morning.”

“Do you believe it?” My eyes followed pearls of blue and green.

“I don’t mess with wares I’m unfamiliar with.”

I rummaged at my side, taking out a black pouch as I revealed three silver coins from inside—my allowance, as ordered by Iyanna herself. It was more like hush money, but still, it was a luxury in itself to have my own coins. “Will this cover it?”

The young man’s eyes widened. “I–I can’t. I’m putting away the wares for the owner. I’m indebted to him. I don’t sell anything. Besides, you need to use the… the parchment. Not money.”

“Fetch him for me so I can make him an offer. I’m sure he would prefer coins to paper.”

The man shook his head. “He is gone on a two-day ride. I am here to look over the carriage.”

I leaned forward, placing each silver coin onto the worn carriage, the weight of each one slapping against the groaning wood. “I’m sure he wouldn’t miss one bottle. Perhaps it was lost as you moved the wares from side to side.”

I pushed the coins further. “No one has to know you sold this to me. Three silver coins straight into your pocket and not a piece of paper.”

The young man stared intently at the coins, his hand slowly covering them. “Not a word?”

“Not a word.”

After surveying the area, the young man quickly shoved the coins into his pocket. “Grab the bottle and go.”

Grinning, I tucked the bottle under my cloak and ran the rest of the way to my tent. The bottle stayed oddly warm against my chest, like a soothing prayer weeping into my weary bones.

My feet were sore, and my breath was labored as I swung back the black curtain to my cot, pulling the bottle in front of me.

Swinging it back and forth, I stared at the liquid. Maybe it was useless. Perhaps it was a random bottle filled with paints, but maybe… maybe something special swirled within. Something cast aside for eons and eons.

Rustling sounded from the flaps as heavy footsteps reverberated through the tent.

Stuffing the bottle under a pile of dirtied clothes, I tossed the cloak on top, figuring it would provide an extra layer of security. I’d stare at it later. Perhaps take a swig if I grew bold enough.

Lifting the black flap separating my space, I headed to the wooden furnace as my eyes caught Fin near the cot.

Wood burned and crackled as the fire ate through the thick logs, the smoke funneling through a black pipe. It disappeared at the top of the tent.

Stretching out my toes, I let the heat nip at them.

“How did training go?” Fin asked, his back exposed as he tossed on a wool knit sweater—a gift from one of his endless lovers.

“Fine.” Fire lashed out, stinging my toes as I jerked them farther back.

Fin smoothed the cream material over his chest, each wrinkle disappearing before taking the spot next to me. “Still no casting?”

Glaring, I tucked my hands under my arms for added warmth. “No.”

A singular brow rose. “No? Or you refuse to.”

“I am not a weapon.”

Fin raised his hands. “I didn’t say you were, but the blood oath you hastily decided with Iyanna says otherwise.”

I let out a low sigh, the tension in my shoulders remaining. “What choice did I have? I did it for Moria. For all of us.” Why did they not understand the gravity of the situation or what I had done to protect them?

“You had me. You had Ivan. We could have figured something out.”

“You say that like it’s simple. I did what was required.” I huffed. “I don’t need a lecture from you too.”

“Fine, but don’t believe because I’m staying silent I’m agreeing with what you did.”

A log crackled and popped as it broke in half, pieces of burnt wood falling to the bottom.

I twirled a curl between the folds of my fingers as I averted my gaze. Both Fin and Ivan were pissed. I knew why, but Iyanna had cornered us perfectly in her tent. There were no other options to accept that would keep everyone safe. It might have been hasty, but it was the first decision I chose to make. The first of many I would continue to choose if it meant protecting those I cared for.

Fin remained quiet. Scarily speechless as heat seeped into my feet and legs. He tossed in another log, silence sinking in—“You don’t have to repay us like this. You don’t have to repay Moria either.”

A groan left my lips. “You said you’d leave it alone.”

He paused next to the fire. “How can I, as your friend, leave you to solve this alone? What you did… what you did for all of us is beyond retribution. You sold your soul, your casting to protect a band of misfits from the growing war outside. How am I supposed to let what you did go? ”

I chewed the inside of my cheek. “You’re giving me too much praise.”

Fin sat next to me as his arm rested behind my back. “You deserve the credit, but don’t try and do this alone. Rely on me. Rely on Ivan… even your friend Moria.”

A smile lit my face as I leaned into his warmth. “I can’t believe she’s been here all this time.”

Fin nudged my back. “Well, when she arrives, say a good word for me. I’d hate to start on the wrong foot.”

The corner of my lip lifted slightly. “Anything I said about you wouldn’t change her opinion. All she needs is one glance. She’s a pretty good judge of character.”

“So she’d recognize how charming and handsome I am in one glance?”

I chuckled softly. “She’d recognize how frivolous you are.”

Fin dramatically rested a hand against his heart as he leaned back, his brown eyes full of mischief. “As your friend, I refuse to be blighted by such terms.”

Laughter echoed in the tent as we huddled around the fire. Friend . Fin was my friend. The closest person to Moria I’d encountered. I soaked in each minute as the conversations took endless turns, continuing until hours passed—until it was time to dress myself for the evening’s main event.

Slipping on the material Iyanna hand-picked, it clung to me like a pair of iron cuffs. It hugged my body’s curves and dips as it choked the air from my lungs.

The material was a lovely shade of green that matched the color of my eyes as the hem graced the floor. The neckline plunged into a deep v-cut highlighting what little breasts I did have, save for the sheer mesh covering the middle. The sleeves were long and embroidered with golden leaves curving down my arms to my hands. Similar golden leaves were strewn along the hem, fading upward into flecks of golden dots that glimmered in the faint glow of the fire .

Tossing a thick wool cloak over my shoulders, I waited by the flames for Fin to finish. “Are you done? You’ve been getting ready for hours.”

Fin stepped out from behind the wooden furnace, and I stumbled back a step at the polished man standing in front of me.

With his hair slicked back, it highlighted the angles of his face as he cocked a smile in my direction. The cream sweater blended seamlessly into the black pants he had chosen to wear. A pair of brown boots peeked out from the bottom, adding a splash of color to the look. Fin tossed a black cloak over his shoulders.

“You look great,” I said as my eyes roamed over the outfit.

Fin grinned. “I know.” He glanced over me once… twice— “You’re going out like that?” His eyes swept to the bottom of the floor. “Iyanna personally provided us with these outfits.”

My fighting boots tapped against the floor. “I’m not wearing the shoes she picked out for me.”

“But the color is clashing and?—”

“And I don’t care,” I finished. “I’m not wearing those pointed shoes.”

“At least let me fix your hair. You missed half.”

My fingers brushed over the strands of curls tickling my neckline. How had I missed such a large section? “Fine.”

Fin smiled, his fingers instantly in my hair as he tucked and folded pieces like sheets against my scalp.

“There,” he finally said, his hands falling to his waist.

Lifting my hand, I gently poked the top of my head to where the pin rested, holding half of my curly hair. “I guess it will do.”

Fin rolled his eyes. “Thank me later. We have a dinner to attend.” He held out his arm, the most gentlemanly I’d seen him throughout our travels.

I wrapped my arm around his. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Oh no, Thalia.” His voice was whimsical. “This is a party, and I refuse not to have a grand time. I’m also walking in with the woman of the night. I’m bound to earn some perks.”

Smacking his arm lightly, I couldn’t help smiling as we exited the tent and entered the festival’s steady drumming.