How many more hours until we arrive in Vosca?" I asked, boredom heavy in my voice.
I lifted my gaze from the stack of documents on my lap, only to find the idiot beside me pretending to sleep. I clicked my tongue in distaste. We both knew he was nowhere near asleep.
For a fleeting moment, I considered granting his wish—rendering him immobile while leaving his mind painfully awake. But that would mean I'd have to deal with those irritating humans myself, and I wasn't in the mood. Nothing grated on my nerves more than their greedy smiles and the way they tried to persuade you into doing their bidding.
"Are you certain you want to do this?" he said lazily. "The last time we did something like this, you were consciously unconscious for three months. You only woke up two days ago."
That made him sit upright instantly.
"I was only dozing," he said quickly. "I didn't hear your question."
Such an idiot. He never even acknowledged that I had asked one.
"Oh?" I raised a brow. "So you were awake?"
Elias sighed in defeat and straightened, wearing the most serious expression he could manage.
"Then tell me why we're doing this," he said. "We are an independent kingdom—strong enough to overpower any other. Why accept requests from humans? Why bring more of them here when they cannot mind their own business? We've done just fine without them spying on us. I know you're planning something, and I know it's not good—and you haven't even asked for my counsel—"
"Shut your mouth."
I had endured enough of his lectures. His advice was always brutal and deadly—and unnecessary. The simplest way to deal with a nuisance was to remind it who held power.
"How many hours?" I asked again, refusing to extend my senses just to compensate for his incompetence.
"We'll arrive before noon, my king," he replied, emphasizing the last words as if I needed reminding.
I ignored him.
"What report did Dennis submit?" I asked, eyes still fixed on the documents.
"Everything is in order," Elias answered. "The servants are prepared to receive us. Though the marriage discussion is… unpleasant."
"As if your opinion was requested," I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Silence settled in the carriage.
"I am marrying the human girl," I said suddenly.
Elias's eyes nearly burst from their sockets.
"Why?" he demanded.
His shock deepened when realization dawned. His mouth opened, then closed.
"They were with the witches that night," he stammered. "They… they—"
He stopped, nodded slowly, then smiled.
"It seems you don't always need my advice to make the right decisions," he said proudly. "You're improving. I feel like a proud mother hen."
The smile was enough to ignite my temper.
Before he could finish basking in his self-satisfaction, the water pouch in the carriage flew toward his head. His reflexes were as sharp as ever—he caught it effortlessly, that infuriating grin still plastered across his face.
"I swear," I growled, "you will walk the rest of the way. Or worse—we let the horses rest, and you pull the carriage. Do not test me. I will seal your abilities."
That wiped the smile from his face instantly. He straightened, rubbing his hands together placatingly.
Of all people fate could have burdened me with, why did it have to be Elias?
He was one of the slaves I escaped with after countless years of captivity. I still had no memory of who I truly was—but I knew it had everything to do with the night I wiped out the entire witch coven.
I rubbed my face, exhaustion pressing heavily on me, and buried those memories as deeply as I could.
Some things were better left forgotten.