Ayla looked into Nixx’s eyes and said, “I see you.” Nixx looked at her for a long moment. When Ayla thought he won’t say anything, Nixx opened his mouth, “You do see me.” Once Scar had Ayla pack the things in the satchels, he got on his horse. “Come on, Sweetheart, you are riding with me,” Nixx said and helped Ayla get on his horse. She had never ridden with someone before, and having someone so close to her made Ayla feel very uncomfortable. Nixx put his hands around her, grabbed the reins, and said into Ayla’s ear, “Hold on, Sweetheart!” before nudging the horse to start walking. “My name is Ayla, not Sweetheart!” she said. “You have a beautiful name, but I like Sweetheart more,” Nixx murmured into her right ear. “Bet you taste real sweet too! Tell me, Sweetheart, have you ever kissed someone before?” Ayla blushed and said in an appalled tone, “That’s none of your business!” “Quiet back there!” Scar’s harsh tone reached Ayla’s ears. In a seriou
Nixx stared at Scar and then at the rope. His eyes turned to steel. “You can’t be serious,” Nixx said. “I am very serious. The witch is going to walk today.” Ayla’s blood turned cold. She knew Scar was a cruel man, but she did not expect him to make her walk. Snow was falling from the sky, and a cold wind was rustling the tree’s branches. The clothes King Rhobart gave her for traveling were very warm. At least her feet won’t freeze while walking through the snow. King Rhobart. Even if she stubbornly claimed she hated him, she found herself thinking of the King of Nordmar more than she would like. She shouted in his face that Galian was better than him. She had seen the hurt in his eyes when she spilled those awful words, and she was happy that she had hurt him at that time. King Rhobart was many things, but he was not the monster she believed he was. The monster she was made to believe he was. She was the daughter of his enemy, but he kept her safe, and she did
Nixx looked at the whip, then looked into Scar’s eyes and said in a cold tone, “If that’s what it takes to get sweetheart on the horse with me, I will gladly take a beating from you. It won’t be the first, and I am sure it won’t be the last.” Ayla was shocked. Not only did Nixx get hurt by Scar in the past, but he was willing to be whipped for her. “I don’t want Scar to harm you because of me,” Ayla whispered to Nixx. “It will be alright,” Nixx whispered back. Scar muttered something that sounded a lot like ‘bloody half-elf’ and ‘teach you to respect me.’ He looked a few more moments at Nixx, but in the end, he put the whip back in its place and got on his horse. By now, Ayla did not doubt that Scar was evil. But she could not understand why Nixx, who was a much better person, would travel with someone like Scar. “Why did you help me today, but you told Scar about the plant last night?” Ayla asked Nixx in a low tone when they were moving again. Nixx t
“Yes, yes. But each head is worth a small fortune. Not to mention the spikes.” Nixx narrowed his eyes. “Let me guess. I will do the hard work while you will claim you are the one that did the killing. If you want me to be a Hydra Hunter, promise me you won’t sell Ayla!” “You will do as I say, and what I do with the witch is my problem,” Scar snarled. Nixx said nothing more, and they finished their food in silence. Ayla fell asleep knowing that she had to act fast if she wanted to get away from Scar. She wasn’t sure how late it was when she opened her eyes and saw Nixx still sitting on the log in front of the fire. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes closed. He must have fallen asleep while standing watch. Scar was sleeping under his blankets. Ayla stood up fast. Scar always tied her hands and legs before sleeping, but that night he forgot to do so. This was her chance to get away. She would need food and weapons. And a horse. Since she lo
“You can’t be sure, sweetheart. It could be another snowcat.” It was Kerra. Ayla wanted it to be true. She needed it to be true, but she was scared she was wrong. What were the odds? It’s been days since the blizzard. Plus, Scar took her far away from the place he found her. “But what if it’s them? Please, Nixx! I need to get back. You can come with me!” Nixx swore under his breath while the horses raced between the trees. “Please!” Ayla insisted. “I can’t, sweetheart. And trust me, I would love to come with you and see the world. I want to be free with you because you are the only one that sees me for who I am. I want to ride that dragon. But I can’t....” Nixx said in a defeated tone. Ayla and Nixx had talked about them traveling to Korinus Island and finding the dragon. Nixx even promised he would always be her friend. But now he was refusing to come with her. “Why? Look, you could turn Spirit around and go back to the camp and see if my compan
When Nixx started breathing fast and his eyes clouded with pain, Ayla feared he was unwell. Something that Nixx told her earlier came to her mind, but she refused to believe it. “Are you sick?” she asked. “I know a thing or two about plants and I can try and heal you.” “Get on my horse!” he ordered her. When Ayla hesitated, he rushed her, “Hurry up! Scar can return at any time!” Ayla mounted the horse and looked at Nixx, “Come with me! Please!” Nixx moved in front of his horse. He pressed his forehead against the horse’s. “Spirit, you belong to Ayla now. Protect her as you protected me,” Nixx said while petting the horse. Nixx lifted his face, his lips a thin line. He groaned as if he was in agony. What was wrong with him? He was fine until he started helping her. Oh, gods! The blood-oath! Scar ordered Nixx not to let her escape. Tears fell down her face. “Nixx, you are dying because of me. You have to stop helping me escape! I will find another way.”
King Rhobart Braveheart stood still as his onyx eyes looked at Ayla with such intensity that it made her question herself why she ever hated him. Despite everything that had happened between them and how she acted and defied him with every breath she took, he came for her when she most needed him. The King was breathing hard, and it seemed that his entire body was shaking. He started running, eating up the distance that separated him from her. Ayla stood and tried to meet him halfway, but her legs gave in, and she fell to her knees in the snow. She dropped the dagger next to her, and she waited for him to come to her so that she could tell him that even if he got angry and shouted at her, she would call him her king because he had earned that right. His eyes never left hers; he didn’t even blink, as if he was scared that she would disappear the moment he closed his eyes. He kneeled in front of her and gently, so gently, he cupped her face. His fingers trembled, and he wi
The King reached his hand to remove her cloak, but she stopped him. “Nixx first. He—he might be dead because of me. For helping me. Then Spirit and lastly my shoulder.” “I don’t know who Nixx or Spirit are, nor do I care, and while I am grateful they helped you, you will always come first, no matter what! Once I take a look at your shoulder, and if I decide you are well, we will begin to look for them.” He removed her cloak and jacket, leaving her in a tunic. “Kerra, distract Ayla while I take a look at her shoulder.” The snowcat put her head on Ayla’s lap and purred loudly while the King touched her shoulder. It hurt badly. She balled her fists and inhaled sharply. The King muttered an apology under his breath. “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that your shoulder is not broken. The bad news is that it is dislocated, and I have to put it back in place.” Ayla chewed her lip. “It’s going to hurt?” “Unfortunately.” He pulled out a pie