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Soren and Thessa were riding back to Wilcrest underneath the midnight sky. She felt relieved to be back atop Hades.
Hours earlier, on their walk back to the horses, Soren had the nerve to murmur something about her waddling. He’d veered off their course, asking her to wait, before running off to a nearby tree. Assuming he’d been relieving himself, she turned away, but when seconds had turned into minutes, she spun around to see him peeling tree flesh like a he was mad.
“What in the realm are you doing?” she’d asked him.
He’d paced over, ordering her to, “Chew, for the pain.” Hisarched brow and all-knowing grin had been all it took for her to cave.
She’d smelt it first—wintergreen-y—then chewed. It had tasted bitter and disgusting, but unbeknownst to her, the pain in her pelvis and legs had subsided twenty minutes later.
A few hours into their ride south, she still felt good.
Soren threw his arm up, easing both their horses into a walk.Thessa didn’t know these woods. He had them trailing deeper into the southern forest than ever before. Nothing but the sounds of hooves crushing leaves and night insects filled her ears.
Thessa caught her breath and looked over to him. “Remind me why I couldn’t travel with my friends?”
His onyx eyes shimmered, drinking in the moonlight. “Because I need you.”
She glared at him.
He paused, as if studying her.
“But why?”
His mouth curved. “To reawaken an army.”
“An army of demons? I think not, serpent-wielder.” Thessa drew back on her reins, halting Hades. “Death may come easy at your hands, but notmine.”
Soren curled Ares around so their horses were nose-to-nose. “Call me a demon again,demon, and see what happens.”
Itwasa dreadful title.
“A rebellion has long been in place,Thessa.” Her name slithered off his tongue, sending shivers down her spine. “And your gift will draw hope. Shadow-wielders have suffered for centuries—forced to hide, and made out to be the enemy. Have you considered what it’ll take to overcome the true enemy?”
Thessa ignored him, dismounted Hades, and stomped away.
“Where are you going?” Soren shouted.
“Anywhere but here,” she grumbled.
Goddess help me, an army?
Hope?
She despised soldiers, and aside from textbook definitions, she wasn’t sure what hope was. She’d not be forced into whateverthiswas.
Soren’s hand snatched her by the waist, tugging her back around. He’d left nothing but breath between their bodies. Familiar, unforgiving heat coursed through her. She tried to move, but he held her tighter. “Stay.”
Thessa gasped as a serpent slithered up her back and along her collarbones. She yanked the slimy thing off and tossed it on the ground.
He scowled, releasing her.
“I’m not joining your army ofdemons,” she seethed.
Soren aimed his magic toward her. “I warned you.”
What began as shadows, creeping around her neck, shifted into slithering beasts. A slight tug turned into a full squeeze as they took shape. Unable to breathe, she clawed, shredding their scales, but they wouldn’t give. Her protruding eyes met his. “Stop.”
Releasing his magic with a huff of breath, he mumbled, “Do what you want then.”