The Hunter: A Fantasy Romance (The Dark Talons Book 2) by Marie Robinson

Author:Marie Robinson [Robinson, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

“What?” It wasn’t the most eloquent response, but it was all I had at the moment.

Gavret’s eyes were closed, his head back against the cabin door. The ship swayed around us, a gentle rocking like we were babes in a cradle.

Gavret spoke, still not looking at me. His face was lined, and I didn’t know if it was pain from the memory or pain from what he’d confessed. His voice was low enough I could barely hear it.

“I went into the fae realm, trying to find Viridian. Except something ambushed me, and when I woke up, I wasn’t in the giant’s realm, and a red cap was charging me.”

Red caps were dark, bloodthirsty fae. They were the size of men and brutal warriors, their hats stained red from their kills. Shuddering, I gazed at his face.

“The same one that gave you that scar?” From this angle, they stood out in the candlelight.

Gavret nodded. “We fought. I won, but not without the red cap leaving its mark.” He shook his head and pushed off the door. I moved over as he sank onto the bed and toed off his boots. He moved across the bed until he was against the curved wall of the ship. He didn’t look at me as he continued speaking, hidden in the safety of my shadow.

“Eventually, Ellisar, the prince of the kingdom, found me. He told me that I’d been dropped into the Kryptian Rite, and magic made it so the only way someone makes it out is by surviving it. He gave me the bow and a pack of supplies.” Gavret snorted, a dry humorous sound. “It was enough to last two days. I don’t think the prince had much faith in me.”

I leaned forward, almost touching him but drawing back. “But you survived.”

“Because of you.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, looking away from him. “That’s what I don’t understand.”

We were both quiet, the whispering of other conversations an unintelligible haze merging with the water outside.

“I wasn’t lying to Cynthia at dinner.”

“Cynthia?” I frowned. “Oh, the woman beside me?” He nodded, waiting. My eyes went wide as he opened his own, a sad smile on his face.

“I did ask Lorzen if I could formally court you, Taryn.” Gavret’s voice was low, a soft rasp, tugging at the door I’d trapped my heart behind. “He forbade it. Said he didn’t want you anywhere near court because they’d tear you apart as his bastard. Let alone what my father swore he’d do if I courted you anyways.”

I couldn’t move, riveted to him as he looked at me with those pain-filled eyes that still seemed full of hope.

“He swore to Carrington he’d ruin your reputation, swore to me that he’d leave you fit only for work in a cloister.”

The late Lord Talon was a vicious man, cruel enough that the Ashwood estate was a sanctuary for Gavret. I had no doubt that the man would have followed through with his promise without a shred of remorse.

“Carrington saw how close you and I were and knew that if I felt the way I did, you felt the same.

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