“Especially the people.”
He winked at me, and I managed to smile through my tears before I backed away.
Nikella climbed up next to Floren, who snapped the reins and rode away with Maz. Ruru headed back inside, his head hanging low. I wiped my cheeks dry as Aiden stepped closer to me, his hand brushing mine.
“You’re not going with him?” I asked, not brave enough to look into his eyes.
“I’ll see him soon.”
“Because you’ll be getting on the ship too?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he hooked my chin with his finger and turned my face until my gaze landed on his.
“My fate is not yet decided, little thief. But tonight is all ours, if we wish it.”
My heart turned to stone. I couldn’t be with him like this. I had to talk to him before I lost myself to the temptation that reached for me behind his intense eyes.
Gods, how easy it would be to run away. To hide in this new, vibrant, intoxicatingthingbetween us. But I had to stop running away and hiding. I had to face my demons.
“Can we talk?” I asked. “Once Ruru is asleep?”
Aiden’s brows lowered, but he nodded. He released me, and we joined Ruru in the apartment. Ruru had grabbed some potato soup from Sophie, and for dessert, we ate leftover chocolate-covered raspberries from Melaena.
I could barely eat, my nerves twisted into such tight knots I wanted to vomit.
My courage flagged every time I met Aiden’s warm green eyes. But then I remembered my promise to Maz. I remembered Melaena saying he wouldn’t stop for himself.
This is the only way. You have to tell the truth.
All too soon, Ruru rose and reverently placed Maz’s whistler on a shelf by the door. Then he traipsed off to bed.
“Maz passed on his love of weaponry, I think,” Aiden said, shaking his head with a small smile.
I nodded, drumming my fingers on the table and glancing out into the night. Gods damn it, I’d almost rather face down a pack of Wolves than the truth.
Aiden laid his hand over my dancing fingers. “What is it, Kiera? You can tell me anything.”
My eyes darted to Maz’s empty cot, then to the door behind which Ruru slept.
Do it. Make him understand your intention was good. That you simply wanted to protect your family. And now you want to protect your new one as well.
I met Aiden’s steady, earnest, caring gaze and broke.
“Don’t attack tomorrow night,” I whispered.
He stiffened. “What are you talking about? Why not?”
Gods, I couldn’t breathe. “J-just don’t. It’s not safe. He knows. Renwell knows you’re attacking tomorrow.”
Aiden leapt from his chair, letting it fall with a crash. I rose as well, stumbling back toward the door. In case I needed to flee.
“What in the deep, dark, wandering hell do you mean, Kiera?” he rasped.
My whole body shook. I slowly reached into my boot. “I’m not who I said I was,” I whispered, the words scratching past my tightened throat. I withdrew Mother’s knife from its sheath in my boot. “I was sent to?—”
He seized my wrist in a grip so hard I cried out. All the blood had drained from his face, horror flooding his eyes.
“Where did you get that knife?” he hissed.
