Page 43 of Captive

He looked pained. He shook his head.

She hesitated, still clutching his hand.

They likely wouldn’t make it out of the forest without a guide. She told herself that was why she begged him to come, but she knew that wasn’t all it was.

Seeing him again made her realize how much she wanted to keep seeing him. Even if she still didn’t trust him. Even if he’d caused all of this trouble in the first place. Even if a part of her still hated him.

The part of her that hated him always seemed to lose out to the part of her that was fascinated with him, no matter how much she resisted.

Footsteps approached. Novikke stiffened. A figure stepped into view beside their tree.

Aruna’s spell fell away. He grabbed her by the wrists, as if he’d just found her and was restraining her. Novikke shot him a look that was half fear and half warning. Then she saw the newcomer and froze.

Zaiur had stopped beside them. He looked smugly from Novikke to Aruna, who was tense as he waited for Zaiur’s reaction.

Zaiur said something, then laughed. He sheathed his sword and crossed his arms.

Aruna’s shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly. He replied, his voice low and casual.

Zaiur reached out to take Novikke’s arm, and she flinched. Aruna hurriedly said something else, which Zaiur countered. Zaiur tugged on her arm, and Novikke pulled back, trying to jerk free. Zaiur raised a hand as if to strike her.

Aruna’s hand flew to rest on Zaiur’s chest, gently but firmly pushing him back. Zaiur frowned at him. There was a longer exchange between them, which swiftly grew less friendly. Novikke’s eyes darted between them.

The argument seemed to come to a climax, and Zaiur tried to push Aruna away. Aruna snapped a string of words at him. There was a flash of movement.

Zaiur went very still. He looked down. Aruna had drawn his dagger and was holding the point against Zaiur’s side, where there was a gap in his armor and the blade would slide right through into flesh.

“Aruna…” Zaiur said, and the confusion and sense of betrayal was clear in his voice. He gave a small, incredulous laugh.

Aruna said something that sounded like a warning. Zaiur stared at him, bewildered and furious. His hand slowly went to Aruna’s. He gently tried to push the dagger away, speaking softly, like someone trying not to spook a horse. Aruna didn’t move.

Novikke flinched at a sudden rush of movement. Zaiur had drawn his own dagger from his belt. She saw Aruna’s arm move, and Zaiur gasped.

The dagger jabbed into him once, then twice, and would have a third time if Zaiur hadn’t stumbled out of reach. He tried to raise his dagger, winced, then dropped to the ground, clasping a hand to his bleeding side.

Novikke gaped. The shocked look Zaiur gave Aruna almost made her pity him.

Aruna grabbed her arm and pulled her away. She tore her gaze from Zaiur and ran.

They ran away from the sun, into the trees. Novikke stumbled to a halt as she caught sight of Neiryn huddled behind a tree. Several dozen paces behind him was a strip of blackened brush and a group of Varai who looked reluctant to approach.

Neiryn raised a hand and closed his eyes in concentration. A tiny spark of flame leapt in his hand, desperately trying to become something larger, and then flickered out.

If he’d looked half-dead the last time she’d seen him, he looked three-quarters-dead now. His chest heaved and his gold skin had gone pale and washed-out. He spotted Novikke, and his eyes narrowed.

Aruna hissed something at her, pulling her arm to urge her onward.

“Wait,” she said. She pointed at Neiryn. “We have to get him.”

Aruna gave her an incredulous look.

She ignored him and moved toward Neiryn, crouching low to make herself a smaller target.

Aruna made an annoyed sound, but then he ran ahead of her. He faced the other night elves and waved his arms, yelling. He pointed in Zaiur’s direction, and Novikke caught Zaiur’s name among the words he said.

There were a few confused glances exchanged, but then most of the elves turned and headed toward where they’d left Zaiur.

Once they were gone, Novikke ran to Neiryn. “Can you run?”

He was already trying to do so, and was failing. Novikke pulled his arm around her shoulders before he could answer. He gave Aruna a suspicious glance, but wisely did not question his presence.

“Let’s go,” Novikke said, and they did.