His eyes narrowed slightly. “That likely wasn’t wise.”
“It probably wasn’t,” I admitted, then turned and started to walk away. We had a bit of distance to go. And, of course, it was mostly uphill. It had to be noon. Technically, we were here, soKolis would just have to deal with it…for the short period he had left to breathe.
“Hold up.” Attes stopped me. “I need you to understand something I didn’t get a chance to say yesterday.”
I bit down on the inside of my lip, unsure if I wanted to hear this because Casteel’s words immediately whispered through my mind.
Attes stepped in closer, lowering his voice. “I made Sera a promise that I would do everything in my power to not allow any harm to befall you.”
My breath caught. “Did she ask that of you?”
“She did, but she didn’t need to. I know how important you are to her and Nyktos.”
“They don’t know me,” I blurted, feeling my cheeks warm. “I mean, I know I’m important to them—to the realm—”
“Your importance to them has nothing to do with any of this,” he cut in, his eyes narrowing. “You’re of their blood. That is all that matters to them.”
A sudden tightness bloomed in my throat. I didn’t trust myself to speak, so I nodded.
Attes’s mouth opened and then closed as he eyed me. His stare was nearly as intense as Casteel’s. “Look, I don’t know much about your relationship with them, but since I know they just woke, there probably isn’t much of one.”
A choked-sounding laugh left me. “I barely know them.”
“Well, they would like to get to know you,” he said.
Seraphena had said pretty much the same, yet hearing it still surprised me. I wasn’t sure why since Seraphena seemed to care for me. Actually, that wasn’t true. “I know they did everything they could to prevent me from being born.”
“They did,” he said, not mincing words. “But that doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful you were.”
Looking toward the manor, I clenched my jaw to stop my lower lip from trembling. Hearing that filled my chest with warmth and what felt a lot like hope. No one would ever replace Leopold, Coralena, Ian, or Vikter, but I wanted a family—I wanted that connection.
“Can I tell you something?” Attes said quietly, and I nodded again. “Seraphena didn’t want you to be born because she didn’t wantthisfor you. I know that doesn’t change shit, but she never wanted you to be in this situation, and if she could, she would take your place. So would Nyktos. Neither wanted this for you.”
Something like this couldn’t be okay.
I sucked in a ragged breath and blinked rapidly against the dampness in my eyes.
“Fuck,” Attes grunted. “Now I’ve gone and upset you. That wasn’t my intention. I’m—”
“I know.” I cleared the hoarseness from my throat. “It’s okay.”
Attes looked like he didn’t believe me for one second. He exhaled heavily. A moment passed. “Either way, if things start to go south in there.” He jerked his chin toward the manor. “We get out. You don’t fight me. Understand?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. “I do.” I turned quickly. “We should probably get moving.”
Attes quickly caught up with me. “I’m serious about what I just said.”
“I know.” And I did.
But I also knew that if things went south—if I failed somehow—there would likely be no escape. And even if there was, it wasn’t in me to run. Especially not when running meant leading Kolis right back to those I would die to protect.
A breeze lifted a shorter strand of my hair, carrying another scent that turned my stomach as it joined the stale lilacs. “But it’s worth whatever favor I may need to repay.”
Attes was quiet for several moments as we walked. “For your sake, I hope it is.”
“It is,” I stated.
“And his,” he added.
