Reign of Ice (Forever Fae #4)(62)
“You might want to glamour yourself now,” Merrick suggested.
I nodded and turned to him. “Good idea, but as what? We need to find this Gothin you spoke of and kill him. What is the best way to get to him?”
Bastian spoke up, “It is simple, Your Highness. No one could deny a beautiful female, especially if she’s taken prisoner and entranced with the Tyvar curse. With me joining their side, I could offer you to him and that would get you close.”
I groaned. “Okay, so female it is.”
I knew the sorcerer liked the Summer Fae women more so than any others, so I glamoured myself to be golden skinned with a hint of red in a shade of golden blonde hair and green eyes. I took characteristics of my sisters and Sorcha and put them all into one. Merrick and Bastian both sucked in a sharp breath, their eyes wide.
“What do you think?” I asked, glancing back and forth to both of them.
Merrick smiled and reached over to touch my cheek. “You look so much like Calista right now.”
He tenderly grazed my cheek and then pulled back when he realized what he was doing. My heart ached for him because I knew he wished Calista could see him and talk to him like I was doing. Seeing each other in the dream realm wasn’t exactly the same as seeing each other in real time. Not to mention he couldn’t touch her like he could touch me.
Bastian took a strand of my hair and rolled it through his fingers, smiling as he looked into my eyes. “I can see traces of Meliantha in you,” he murmured. “She’s a beautiful woman, but no one could ever be as beautiful as you. They aren’t going to be able to resist when they see you.”
“Thank you,” I uttered kindly. I then turned to Merrick and said, “I think we’re ready. Lead the way. I don’t know where we’re going.”
He grunted. “Unfortunately, I do. Once we get to the middle of the forest we will come to a village. The sorcerer’s dwelling is inside the massive tree you will see. You won’t be able to miss it. The troll you want to find should be close by there. I’m sure someone will lead us to him.”
Merrick took the lead while Bastian and I followed side by side behind him. As soon as we entered into the forest it was like all life had been sucked out of everything around us. The air smelled like death and decay, and everywhere I turned there was nothing except blackness. I guess it got its name for a reason.
I placed a hand on my dagger and took a deep breath. It felt so right in my hand that I knew I was meant for this, like it was made exactly for me. “Are you ready for this?” Merrick asked, turning his head so he could glance back at me.
I nodded, but I couldn’t deny that I was a little nervous. What if I failed?
The whole time we rode through the forest I could hear the blood pounding in my ears and the shallowness of my breath as I tried to breathe. I had never been surrounded by so much evil and death, and hearing the erratic beating of my heart didn’t help. Abruptly, Merrick came to a stop and held up his hand for us to halt. He pointed to an area up ahead where I could see the first sign of lights and hear the far away chatter of the sorcerer’s army.
“We’re almost there,” Merrick informed us. “You might want to hide your dagger as well.” I did as he said and hid it under my shirt behind my back. “When you get into the village, just get Bastian to ask someone how to find Gothin. I’m hoping that works, but if not I know what he looks like. Also, it might be good for you two to ride on the same horse going in.”
“Why?” I asked incredulously.
Exasperated, Merrick rolled his eyes and said, “If you’re supposed to be Bastian’s sex slave, don’t you think you would be a little bit closer to him than that. I thought the women who got enamored by them couldn’t keep their hands away.”
Groaning, I turned to look at Bastian who had a bewildered look on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Merrick thinks we should ride in on the same horse together since I’m supposed to be your sex slave and all,” I answered matter-of-factly. Bastian tried to hold back his smile and failed. “Don’t get any ideas,” I snapped at him. “It will only add to Brayden’s wrath if we make it out alive.”
Bastian shook his head and slid back to make more room in front of him. He patted the saddle with his hand, a big smile on his face. “I would be foolish to not take advantage of this situation. If is the key word here, Your Highness. If I am going to die then why shouldn’t I enjoy what little bit of joy I have left? I would gladly submit to the wrath of your lover just to be here with you.”
Merrick lifted a brow and chuckled. “He has it bad for you, doesn’t he? No wonder Kalen doesn’t like it when Meliantha gets visits from him and his brother.” I laughed and rolled my eyes knowing very well none of it was funny, but I had to find humor somewhere to get my mind off of what we were about to do. It was probably the last laugh I would have.
Slowly, I climbed down from my horse and took Bastian’s hand so he could pull me up in front of him. He wrapped his arms around my waist with one across my stomach while the other held onto the reins. “Let’s go, lover,” he whispered jokingly in my ear.
“Keep it up, Bastian,” I warned halfheartedly. He chuckled low in my ear and held me tighter just to mess with me.
As we approached the village there were guards stationed at the entrance. “Make sure you ask for Gothin,” I told him quietly. Our time for joking was over.