My cheeks expanded with air before I blew it out, bringing my hand up to bite my knuckles momentarily. Her wicked mouth was making it incredibly hard to focus. Each moment with her only enticed me further.
Alarm bells blared in my head with the imposing force drawing near. While I could just hop through the portal to get away, what I really wanted was to go to the Rebellion. Ineededto be a part of something that would burn Alfemir to the fucking ground. The second I heard the words leave her lips, my entire plan had changed and now hinged on their cooperation. I’d never find the Rebellion otherwise.
Shaking my head at my current predicament, I relented to trying once more to be polite and do this the easy way. They knew my power now. Perhaps they wouldn’t attempt anything that forced my hand again. Flicking my finger, I sent the dagger back to her bag before zipping it shut.
“I was imprisoned at the age of thirteen, after I’d stumbled while hiking along the mountains dividing our forests. My magic lashed out to save me from plummeting to my death. It was the first time I felt my power, and it caused an avalanche. The authorities took me from my parents and charged me with the murder of my little brother, who died in the avalanche.”
The thought of him and that day used to send me to my knees, wailing in agony of what I’d done. I remembered the feeling, but as the days and the torture continued on, I struggled to connect to that part of me anymore. Now it felt as if I was simply regurgitating facts.
Snapping my fingers, I loosened my hold on her body, letting her free with the exception of holding her feet in place. I expected her to try and lash out, but she just stood there as her arms fell to her sides. She stared up at me, as if she was actually waiting to hear more of my story. Quite the change of demeanor in my pumpkin.
Obliging her, I continued, “Although what they omitted telling my parents is that they could have cared less about my brother’s death. They cared that the reports stated I didn’t need a spell or incantation to release such powerful magic. To top it off, I would be the youngest Caster in history to come into my powers. They cared about torturing me to figure out how to give this power toothers. To create an army of angels like me.”
Her eyes dropped to the ground as she muttered, “And here I’ve been, angry at myself for being a dud and not having any powers.”
I scoffed at that, confused as to why she’d try to pass it off to me like she has no powers. Perhaps she was trying to deceive me into letting my guard down. Whatever the reasoning, I wasn’t taking the bait.
“So, yes, Darling,” I finished my explanation, scuffing the ground with my heel, “I’d do anything to find the Rebellion and discover a way to have a fighting chance at getting revenge. Now, are you going to bring me with you or not? You have about ninety seconds to decide before the army arrives.”
Waving my hand at the ground, I released her feet while snapping at Ronan and his wyvern. I couldn’t help but crack a smile as he came out of his stupor a spitting, angry mess. The small wyvern darted our way, landing on Kieran’s shoulder. As he opened his mouth, I smelled the sulfur and acid from his belly and sighed at the incoming danger.
I was truly trying to not use my magic on them, but here the little beast was, forcing my hand.
Before I had to freeze him again, Kieran reached up and put her hand in front of his mouth sternly. “Niz, no. We aren’t going to hurt him. It sounds like he’s been hurt enough for a lifetime.”
It sounds like he’s been hurt enough for a lifetime.
For the first time, I was speechless. I watched her give me her back and walk toward her bag and Ronan as he approached her.
Those words would stick with me. It wasn’t because of the truth in them, but because it was the first time I could recall someone acknowledging my pain and not wanting to add to it. I hadn’t known an ounce of kindness in far too long.
I watched her reassure Ronan that she was fine, and as he grabbed her hand, my chest squeezed. They were going to leave without me. I’d planned on living the rest of my life in solitude, but after meeting Kieran, the deep-seated need to follow her to the ends of the earth consumed me.
He glanced over his shoulder at me, his words gruff as he asked, “If we leave you here, are you going to tell the guards about us and where we went, or are you going to force us into bringing you along with us?”
I didn’t need to mull his question over, my answer was instant and venomous at his nasty implication. “No. I’d never send them after you, or anyone for that matter. I’m not an animal, despite what you seem to think.” I took a deep breath before answering the second question, my tone shifting slightly more soft as I glanced toward her. “And no, I’m not going to force myself into your plans. I humbly request you consider taking me with you. Otherwise, I will take out as many of those bastards as I can while you go through.”
It hit me then, I didn’t want to go somewhere I wasn’t wanted. I didn’t want to be resented. If I wanted those things, I’d just go to my parents’ house. No, I wanted a new life with new opportunities. A place where I was more than the boy who couldn’t control his wild magic, resulting in his brother’s death.
Fifteen seconds.
I also simply wantedher. In what capacity, I’d yet to figure out.
The clanking of the sentries’ armor and weapons could be heard echoing through the hallway extending to this room.
Kieran let out a heavy sigh as she shook her head and muttered, “I can’t believe I’m going to do this.” Before I could question her, she glanced at me and held her hand out. “Let’s go. We’re leaving now. Don’t let go of my hand or you’ll get dropped somewhere else with the humans.”
She didn’t have to tell me twice, despite my utter shock at her decision. I teleported myself to her instantly, sliding my hand into hers as her mouth popped open in shock at my sudden appearance. I wasn’t giving her a second longer than necessary to reconsider her decision.
Smirking down at her, I urged, “Lead the way, Beautiful.”
“You have a bleeding heart, Kieran,” Ronan rumbled from her other side as we took a step toward the portal before locking eyes with me over her head. “And don’t call her that.”
Oh, is that what he called her? If so, it sounded like a winner to me. She clearly accepted it,andit would rile him up. I shot a wink his way. I needed a way to have fun on top of working with the Rebellion, and it was all too clear that he was an easy target for that. I needed to find a way to wedge myself between them, after all.
“Yeah, yeah, Ronan. I know,” she replied with a sigh before her hand tightened imperceptibly on my own. “Let’s do this.”
She tugged us into the shimmering portal just as shouts rang out behind us.
