To Defend A Bride (Entangled with the Enduar #3)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

MELISA

R a’Sa escorts me from the entrance to the troll city. In the corner of my eye, I glimpse the other Enduares collecting the dead, carved body of a human man. I look away.

Away from death, away from the blood, away from the man who agreed to come with me.

“Melisa. I don’t think?—”

“Ra’Sa, I’ve made my choice.”

“But why make that choice? ”

I don’t know if I can tell him the truth—that I must get my family. My throat aches, and I walk faster.

“Will you at least tell me if you are all right?”Ra’Sa calls after me, quickly catching up.

“That was difficult to see,” I say, trying to change the subject and hoping it takes his mind off the mission.

I certainly can’t stop thinking about how he’d agreed to come.

A tightness brackets his mouth, and he pauses near the end of the tunnel.

“Why not skip the ceremony since you won’t be getting a gem?” he asks bitterly.

Good question.

I suppose it has something to do with my optimism… or maybe I just want to escape from the pity in his eyes.

I shake my head, “I want to see the ritual.”

“Will you be all right?” He’s not usually so talkative.

His tone makes me pause. When I look up, I see his usually stern gaze soften.

Why?

He told me he wanted nothing to do with me unless we were mated, which we definitely are not.

“I will be with the other women. I will be fine.”

We walk the rest of the way in silence and then reach the cave, where Estela and the other women are waiting.

I admire her tightly braided hair. She no longer wears the giants’ clothes. Now, she is resplendent in her Enduar silks. The gown hugs her body and trails on the ground behind her. The only thing out of place is the look of worry splashed across her features.

She shouldn’t let such emotions be so apparent. Men don’t like a worrier.

My thoughts walk backward, and I realize my error. She struck gold with her mate. Having King Teo means she never has to be concerned about what men prefer again.

I look back up at Ra’Sa one last time.

He’s coming with me—my plan is back on.

The others haven’t noticed us yet, so I kiss his hand. He’s too tall for me to reach up and kiss his cheek.

His mouth parts.

“I will see you later,” I say softly.

Shock gives way to confusion, and then he starts to grin.

Not just a dim smile like he has shown before; his whole face lights up. I’ve never seen anything like it; it stuns me just as the music in the water did.

No no no.

I give him a curt nod and join the women. Estela spots me quickly and comes over.

“You look nice with your hair piled atop your head,” she says.

I reach up to touch it.

“Arlet helped me,” I say. “That redhead could tame an ox’s locks.”

A strange look crosses Estela’s face, but she smiles anyway and says, “Arlet taught me everything I know.”

She only spares me a few more words before she breaks off to address the group.

“Today, you travel deep into our city to hunt for your Fuegorra. It will be placed in your chest, and once you put it in, it cannot be removed. You will be counted among the Enduar people.”

The women around me buzz excitedly, but something sinks in my stomach like a stone. If I’m going back to Eneko, I must remain unaltered.

I will not have anything placed in my chest.

I will continue as I am.

Free from a mate, but disjointed from the community until my mission is complete.

The women here are content, happy even, as they call out how much they love being in the under mountain. They are right; it is a good place to live.

I pat Estela on the back when she looks scandalized over a particularly explicit joke one of the women tells—something about making babies.

“Chin up,” I say to the queen. “You know, I never knew either of my parents. Here’s to children knowing where they come from!”

Several of the women raise their water glasses into the air as if they were fine goblets of mead and take a long drink. No one detects my lie, and I’m content to let it be.

Just as I begin to say something else to Estela, the wise woman emerges from the ground. She is even more stunning up close. She is distinctly Enduar, from her white silver hair to her deep blue skin, but she is more otherworldly and ethereal than the others.

Perhaps it is the thousands of crystals that hang off of her dress, but I bet she could blend in with the side of the cave if she tried.

She and Estela begin to speak as Abi and Paoli walk over.

The two women grin at me.

“So,” Abi says, taking hold of my arm, “What do you think?”

I smile at her as she twirls.

“You both look fucking gorgeous,” I say, hinting at an old inside joke.

They both laugh, but Abi shakes her head.

“I mean about the caves. Look at what they’ve done for the ceremony!” She points at the glowing orbs above us.

“I like it here. It’s much more beautiful than I imagined,” I say.

“Agreed,” Abi says. “Have you chosen someone yet?”

“Joso is very handsome,” another woman says, coming over.

I recognize the name of the tall, burly hunter and frown. He’d stood near the redhead the night we arrived.

“I believe he is with Arlet.”

The woman I don’t know frowns. “Oh. Damn. Well, I am sure there are others.”

I nod. “But not Ra’Sa.”

He’s still tasked with taking me to Zlosa. I require his whole, unyielding attention.

Paoli catches my eye and signs, He is very handsome. I hope you sing soon.

I smile and sign back, thank you.

Abi sighs, “I think I like Niht.”

Paoli lets out a silent laugh.

“The old one?” I ask.

She shrugs. “He’s charming.”

I let out a laugh. “He is spending his nights with one of the elves.”

“And? I can be patient,” she says deviously.

Gods, these women.

I give her a quick hug and then move forward as the procession down to the crystal cavern starts. The women begin lining up, and the singing starts.

I am transported away from this world. As the wise woman swings her golden lantern back and forth, the dazzling light gives me goosebumps.

A million pinpricks on my skin wake me up as I’m handed a crystal, and I walk.

When we reach the forges, they hand out hammers. I politely decline seconds before I catch Ra’Sa’s eye. It is gentle and kind.

A part of me is glad that he will take me to Zlosa. There is something so reassuring about him. He’ll meet the girls as we travel back here.

I wonder if he will be as kind and reassuring to them.

As we finally reach the cavern filled with glowing red crystals, I pause.Fuegorras are everywhere.

Awe turns into excitement. I can hardly believe the shine and glow of the gems.

“Listen for your match.” Liana’s powerful voice fills the room. “It will sing a melody that you will recognize instantly, just as clearly as I speak to you now. Be mindful of your hammer strikes, though. The crystal you break out now will be sported on your chest till the day you die—no one wants a lopsided oval like the one Velen cut twenty years ago.”

Laughter ripples through the room. I make a note to meet that man.

The women around me start to move, and jealousy builds in my gut. I will not be able to join them.

But… Soon, I remind myself and watch as all the others find their stone.

Unexpectedly, while standing at the back of the cave, waiting for the others to finish, a song starts up to my left.

It is a cold, bitter song. One that calls to the innermost depths of my soul.

I gasp as I move forward, reaching toward one of the crystals. This one glints brighter than all the others, and my breathing is shallow.

I shouldn’t do this… But I reach toward it anyway.

As my finger brushes the gleaming crystal, something cracks open inside of me. It’s no longer a faint song playing off in the distance. It is a symphony that morphs from pain and bitterness to sweetness.

Like a promise of what it could do to me.

I recoil.

Backing away from everyone, I let the flashes of light at the front of the cavern continue as I slink back out into the hallway. I wait for the others to partake in this ritual, knowing that such things are not meant for me.

I refused them .

The panic starts. First, with full body chills and then with nausea. I fear throwing up. Sweat collects up my back, and I press shaky hands to my mouth as my heart gallops.

If Ra’Sa were here…

I stop the thought before it can continue, swallowing the bile and closing my eyes against a wave of dizziness.

Godsdamnit, this is a full-fledged waking nightmare. I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth.

The ritual progresses, and I wait outside until all that’s left is the soreness in my body as I press myself against the cavern wall.

When a head peeks out of the cave, I straighten, pushing away all other effects lingering inside my body. I smile and approach Abi as she exits.

Her face is tear-streaked, and she grins like she’s seen light for the first time. To say I’m not intrigued would be a lie, but I didn’t get a stone so there is no reason in wishing. Swallowing my sourness, I take her hand.

“And? Let me see,” I press.

She smiles at me and pulls down the top of her tunic. Her Fuegorra crystal sits neatly next to her heart.

My eyebrows raise.

“It’s lovely.” I kiss her forehead. “Well done, amiga. ”? 1

While inspecting Paoli’s gem, Estela meets my eye and frowns.

She knows I didn’t reach for my gem. I see the question in her face and try to escape. Though small, she catches up to me.

“What happened?” she demands, clearly referencing my lack of crystal.

I wince. I didn’t get it because I’m going back. All that work to flee Zlosa, and now I’m returning to the lion’s den.

“I didn’t want to do the ritual. All right?”

“Why not?”

Good fuck . Does she never stop?

I turn back around, glaring at her. The reason sits on the tip of my tongue, but King Teo told me not to tell his wife about anything. Not the body, or the plan—certainly not about the deal we’ve made.

“Why don’t you ask your husband?” I push away from her.

Her eyes burn hot on my back, but I’m not ready to talk to her about leaving. I don’t want her to try to talk me out of it. Her pity would be even worse.

She knew I was a comfort woman, but she doesn’t know about my family. Nor will I tell her the lengths I’ve gone through to protect them. I’ll be damned before I let her judge me.

I’m one of the first to leave the tunnels, and I don’t bother looking for Ra’Sa. He would want to comfort me, but my plans for him only work if he cares for me… not the other way around.

If he holds me, I’ll crack. I can’t let these feelings grow. My attachment to him makes me hesitate to do what is necessary.

I can’t ever do that.

When my house comes into view, I let out a sigh. It doesn’t take me long to push inside and go to my bed in the back. I drop down and pull out a small pouch from my belongings.

Undoing the drawstrings, I pull out a rag doll and a necklace. The jewelry was made of Estela’s wedding dress—the cord braided stone silk and pendant a golden button.

She gave it to me while I helped her dress in captivity and convinced me to come with her.

The doll… it’s made of homespun fabric and has a small puff of a cottony substance for the head. The face is drawn with berry dye.

The girls made this for me so I wouldn’t forget them.

I leave the necklace on the bed and hug the doll close.

I do this so Thea and Wren will never ever be forced into a breeding pen, or picked up by a giant in a field. They will live good, full lives for themselves. Free.

My eyes burn.

Before the tears can fall, I put the items back in their place and push the bag away. I lay down on the bed, settling in as I stare at the ceiling.

My heart weeps like an open wound. I feel shame. Regret. It would be nice to stay here a little longer, but I do not live only for myself.

Enduvida will still be here when my mission is finished. I will do my part to make sure of it.