The Protector (Fire's Edge #4) - Abigail Owen Page 0,81

he looking for signs that they’d run into a carnivorous one of its kind? Most trolls were vegetarians, but a few got a taste for human blood and that was it for them. At least he didn’t see human bones scattered about the chamber.

“Are there other caverns we could use which wouldn’t disturb you?” Lyndi asked.

She still sounded as though this was just an everyday thing. Like she was chatting with Delaney or Cami in the kitchen.

Get back, he silently willed her. In his head, his dragon was posturing, spikes up, feet planted as though he’d charge the troll any second. Only the room was too small to shift.

Levi took a step in her direction, but the troll lifted its head with a grunt, and he stopped, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. He knew a warning when he saw one.

“No other caves in mountain,” the troll said, returning his focus to Lyndi.

She was silent a moment. With her back to him, Levi couldn’t see her expression, but he had no doubt she was thinking through her options.

“Is there something we could trade, or do for you, if you allowed us to stay here with you?”

She wanted to trust a cave troll? Had she ever come across one before? Levi hadn’t, but the rumors were enough to make him wary.

“Nothing.”

There. That sounded adamant enough. “We’ll just be on our way—”

Lyndi waved an irritated hand at him without turning away from the creature. “There has to be something you want. All alone here in such an isolated space. Food, maybe?”

The troll seemed to rotate its head to the side, the motion a jerking slide, skin sounding like the rustle of leather on leather.

“You stay. Is acceptable.”

As in Lyndi could stay? Fuck that. Levi took another step, and this time Lyndi did whip her head around, her glare daring him to make another move or sound, eyes glowing red in the dim, lighting her face with angry color. He glared back but stopped moving.

When she was sure Levi wouldn’t do anything, she turned back to the troll. “Stay with you how long?”

The creaking leather sounded again as its face changed shape, a gaping hole suddenly appearing. Was the thing…smiling?

“Haven’t talked to pretty girl in long time. Is all.”

“Can I come and go, helping my boys?”

She wasn’t seriously considering this?

The troll appeared to debate the question, then nodded slowly. “If promise talk.”

“Just talking?” Lyndi’s tone sounded like what was going on his head. It couldn’t be that simple.

“Just talk.”

Lyndi nodded. “I promise.”

A growl ripped from Levi that he didn’t even want to stop, completely on the same page with his dragon.

Again, the troll shifted his focus between them. “Mate?” he asked Lyndi.

“No.”

Stupid to want to argue with her right this moment, but damned if that one word didn’t have him gritting his teeth against a disagreement.

The troll didn’t move. “Lover?”

They hadn’t been overt in front of the boys, not that they’d been hiding anything, either. Levi crossed his arms, curious to see how she’d answer that one.

“Yes.”

Well, look at that. Progress? Or reluctantly offered truth? Part of him eased a fraction.

“He stay, too.”

Levi’s eyebrows shot up. That he hadn’t seen coming.

“Really?” Lyndi asked slowly.

“No get between mates.”

“I told you, we’re not—”

“Not stupid.”

Levi hid a grin behind the hand he swiped over his jaw at Lyndi’s frustrated humph. He also relaxed the rest of the way. This troll wasn’t going to do anything to them. Their kind had dwindled, or perhaps gone into hiding, especially in recent years as humans took over the globe like a plague of locusts. Apparently, they were smarter than most gave them credit for. Or, at least, this one was.

Lyndi must’ve thought the same, because she shot Levi an irritated glower over her shoulder. “I think I’ve been played.”

As long as he could be there, too, and they could all stay in these defensible caverns, Levi didn’t give a shit either way.

She turned back to the behemoth and held out a hand to shake. “I’m Lyndi Chandali.”

“Vilsinn.” The troll’s massive hand engulfed her arm up to her elbow. “Means beloved follower.”

“That’s lovely,” Lyndi said. Of course his mate would think so. “Are you a beloved follower?”

“Was.”

“Was?”

“Followed Seeress until she dead.”

Levi’s eyebrows might permanently remain in his hairline at this rate. A troll as a follower of a Seeress?

“I’m sorry.” Lyndi patted the hand that still gripped her arm with her other hand. “That must have been hard for you.”

“Yes.” Vilsinn released her and, without another word, rolled