“And because it’s different,” I said, “it has to be me.”
His finger stopped tapping. “Forget what I said about common sense.”
“Already did,” I retorted.
“Clearly.”
I looked away before I knocked him out of his chair.
Tawny raised her brows. “Your eyes are almost glowing,” she noted, head cocking as she studied me. “It’s pretty…and freaky.”
“It’s—” I jerked forward. “My eyes!”
“Your eyes?” Tawny repeated, glancing toward Kieran and Casteel like they knew why I’d shouted that. “Is there something wrong with them?”
“What do they look like to you?” I leaned in close to Tawny and then stood, bending toward Delano, who grinned at me. “What colors are they?”
“Uh, colors? They’re green and…” Curls fell back as Tawny straightened her head. “Silver.”
“Streaks of silver,” Delano added.
“That’s all you see?” I asked. Both of them nodded. I twisted toward Casteel and Kieran. “And you guys?”
Kieran frowned. “I see what I did before.”
“Same,” Casteel told me.
“Is there a reason you’re asking?” Delano asked.
Confusion rose. Why would they not see what Casteel and Kieran—? The answer suddenly came to me. “Uh, no…” I smiled. “I was just curious if you could still see the streaks of eather.”
That is not why you asked,Casteel’s voice reached me.
They can’t see the colors, I responded as Kieran watched Cas and me. Pausing, I brought him into the conversation.Only the Arae—the Ancients—the true Primal of Life, and the true Primal of Death can. AndDeminyenPrimals. The others don’t have enough essence in them to see them.
Casteel smiled.Well, aren’t we special?
I rolled the eyes we’d been talking about. “Anyway, back to what we were discussing. I should—”
“Poppy,” Naill said, drawing my gaze to him. “No one here is going to agree to you going to Pensdurth alone.”
“I second that,” Tawny tossed out, causing me to stare at her. She frowned. “Don’t look at me like I’m a traitor. I’m not going to agree to you shadowhopping—”
“Shadowstepping,” Reaver corrected.
“Whatever.” Tawny flung a hand up, silencing Reaver. The draken’s brows flew up, and he looked positively affronted by her gesture. “I’m not going to agree with you going to an area where a murderous Primal of Death might be hanging out,” she continued. “It’s reckless and dangerous, and for me to say something is reckless, you know it has to be.”
“It is dangerous,” Delano commented. I was surprised that he hadn’t disappeared under the table by now. “We don’t know what’s happening there.”
“And you are the very last person who should be anywhere near Pensdurth,” Casteel stated.
“I’d likely be the safest going anywhere near there,” I argued. “Neither of you”—I gave both Cas and Kieran a pointed look—“can go. For a multitude of reasons.”
Casteel clenched his jaw so hard I thought he might break a molar. Kieran just crossed his arms.
“She’s right,” Reaver stated.
My breath hitched as I looked at him.
