59. Control

(ARES)

"Go," I motioned my warriors as I waited for Meli at the edge while Zien grumbled and complained about how I was being a stubborn asshole. I didn't know what I should do with this guy. The reason he might be Elyn's mate was enough for me to hate him, but he might come handy. He knew things I didn't.

"Stop complaining and do something useful," I said and he glared at me.

"I have already tried to tell you what you should do, and here you are wasting your time. I am going to leave. I already know where the next stone is. I solved the riddle. It is in the Dread woods."

"Dread woods of Delvitga? Are you for real? No sane man would willingly walk in there."

"But I have to, to save Elyn."

The way he looked, so serious, and so honest... my heart twisted. He didn't look like he was playing a game. He looked like he seriously cared about Elyn. I had no reason to doubt his sincerity since he was talking about the dread woods like it was a picnic or something. It was no picnic.

I too