The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,11

a fork—at least humans knew about eating implements—and scooped a hunk of what he’d called scramble. “You took me out of that shithole.”

Ben’s hardness remained as he nonchalantly crumbled his toast. “That place literally was one. So how the hell did you get into that shithole? I can’t believe a plain old hoch alfar took down a Tuil Erdannan.”

Rhianne grimaced. “Well, he did.”

“Give me the whole, sad story, sweetheart. I need to know what we’re up against.”

He said we’re as though he were part of this fight.

Rhianne made herself take a mouthful of the eggs and paused in amazement. They were good, rich, and peppery, cooked to perfection. She revised her opinion of egg-scramble.

“I was taking a walk on a cliff path above the ocean,” she said after she swallowed. “I live in a village on the coast—I’m a scholar. I research the heavens and write papers and books about it, and I also teach children about it, not just the Tuil Erdannan aristocrats, but the servant-class children as well. Some of them are quite bright, and I help them study to go to university and become scholars too. I take that walk during the evening before I set up to stargaze. It’s beautiful. Soothing. I guess Walther knew I liked it too. He had his toadies surround me.”

“You didn’t see them coming?” Ben stared at her in amazement. “All that Tuil Erdannan magic couldn’t let you get past a circle of dumbass hoch alfar?”

“It should have.” Rhianne’s forehead grew tight as she remembered. “I didn’t realize my danger—I was ready to hurl them out of my way and continue my walk. Then one of them poked a tiny barb into my arm. It didn’t hurt, but suddenly, I couldn’t walk, and I fell unconscious. When I woke, I was in Walther’s keep.”

She’d been disoriented, afraid, confused. His men had searched her, pulling out and taking away all her weapons down to her hairpins. Walther had watched, and smiled.

“This is bad.” Ben’s face darkened as he stabbed at his eggs. “What kind of tranq can take out a Tuil Erdannan?”

“Exactly my thoughts. There must have been powerful magic in it.”

“If your dad’s involved, then there probably was. Why would Ivor What’shisname want Walther le Madhug to capture you?”

“And marry me.” Rhianne drew her fork across her plate. “Even if I did want to marry, Walther is not the one I’d choose.”

Ben reached to her, turning her hand over to reveal her burned wrist. “Did Walther do that?” His voice rumbled menacingly.

“No, I did.” Rhianne liked his touch, though she knew she should pull her hand away. “I used a spell to melt the chains, and it made the cuffs hot too. Do not worry—it will heal quickly.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t reach you sooner.” Ben lightly traced her wrist just outside the burn. A warmth that rivaled what the cuffs had done wound its way up her arm.

Rhianne held herself still. “It was soon enough. For which I thank you. You and your dokk alfar friend were very courageous.”

Ben’s eyes flickered and he suddenly withdrew his fingers, as though he hadn’t realized he’d touched her. “Yeah, well. When Lady Aisling says do this, you do it.”

“I owe you my life. You saved mine, at risk to yours. I do not hold that lightly.” Rhianne’s face warmed. “And it’s a little embarrassing.”

“It’s Cian you should be pleased with. He loves messing up a hoch alfar’s day. He’s one crazy dude.”

“But he’s very helpful.”

“Yep, very helpful.” Ben met her gaze again. His midnight dark eyes held so much—the pain of an ancient being, the faint flicker of hope deep down that Rhianne suspected never went away.

“I am trying to say thank you.” Rhianne gave him a shaky smile. “I’m not good at it.”

“You’re Tuil Erdannan. Everyone else is dust to you.”

“You are not.”

Ben’s lips parted at her statement. He started to answer but his words died, and he simply looked at her.

Rhianne’s heart thumped. Ben had beautiful eyes in a face that held her attention. She thought of his strong hands on hers, first pulling her to safety in the dungeon, then thrusting her fingers under the cold water when she’d burned them.

He helped people. That must be his purpose. Rhianne didn’t know much about goblins, because they’d died out or disappeared before she’d been born. Ben had obviously found a way to survive in the human world.

She knew she had no business feeling safe around him. Ben claimed that Lady Aisling had