Somehow you took a heartfelt sentiment and turned it into a nice way of saying I’m selfish,I muse, trying to lighten the mood.
I would never say that. Only think it so you can reflect as you’re eavesdropping.I laugh unexpectedly, shaking so roughly Odeyssa jerks awake.
“What’s going on?” she asks frantically.
“We’re nearly there,” I tell her, feeling the weight press down on me again. Leaning down, I wrap my arms as far as they’ll go around his neck and rest my cheek against him, uncaring of the rough scales scratching against my cheek or how they make their mark, embedding themselves into my arms as I squeeze tighter.What if something goes wrong?A tear skates down my cheek, wetting his scales.
You can’t control the what-ifs. Just how you react to them when they arise.
When did you become so wise?
Always. You just never listen.
Are you calling me stubborn?
If the shoe fits…I chuckle, appreciating that he can be so lighthearted in the situation we’re in. I don’t know what I would do without him.
Sitting up, I’m disappointed to see we’re already descending. I was so caught up in our conversation I didn’t notice the shift. Once he touches down, Odeyssa slides off instantly, but I stay on because, for some reason, this feels a lot like goodbye.
Wiping away the fallen tears, I pull myself together and follow Odeyssa. The silence is deafening. Not even the wind breaks up the blanketing quiet, and it feels like a sign, just not one I can interpret.
“I need to see Donni,” I state.
Odeyssa looks confused, pulling her eyebrows close. “Despite how I’m feeling, I really think my dad can help.”
“Why are we still arguing about this? I’ve stated multiple times we don’t know if he can be trusted,” I point out, getting aggravated.
“How do we know we can trust Donni? Or anyone, for that matter?”
“If my options are between another king or a florist, I’m going with the latter.” How is this not clicking for her? I was certain after the news came to light, that would be the last thing she would want to do.
“But he can help!”
“He’s a liar!” That was a low blow. Even for me. She takes a step back, face slack like I’d struck her. I might as well have.
“Dessa, I’m sorry. My brain is all—”
“Don’t you think I know that, Kallie? I understand your apprehension—fuck,I’mapprehensive about it. He lies, he keeps secrets, but who doesn’t?” She has a point. “But he’s all I have left.” I can tell this is killing her, eating her up inside. She didn’t need me lighting a match to a house already on fire.
Treetops sway in the sudden gust of wind, offering a nicebreeze from the unrelenting heat. Voraxis’s body shifts, more rigid than he was a moment ago. I peer over in the direction of the dense forest, scanning the front but not seeing anything out of the ordinary.What is it?But then I remember telling Callum where we were going, and how I completely forgot to mention it to anyone else.
Oops.
“Hey, guys, It’s fine. I—” Voraxis ignores me, sending a growl in the direction of the trees, blowing smoke out of his nostrils. Before I can explain further, Callum appears through the brush. He walks at an even pace—steady like you would a leisurely walk—and I hate the flip my heart does at the sight of him. That despite everything, one conversation when he was himself was enough to crack the fortress I’ve built around myself.
Just as I’m about to tell them it’s okay, another figure steps out from behind Callum. And my heart…the one that just did a somersault? It freezes before falling out my ass. This doesn’t make any sense. He wouldn’t have told him where we were? Right?
I believed him, went against all my instincts and listened to this stupid organ in my chest, and the entire time, my head was telling me it was a bad idea, that he couldn’t be trusted. But that’s the caveat…I didn’t trust him.
I believed him.
Now I’m starting to think that might’ve been worse. Callum wears a devilish smile, the one you wear when you believe you’ve won. “Kallie, what a surprise,” he muses, eyes sparkling. Immediately, I command fire to my palms, ready to attack.
“You tricked me.” I meant it to come out harsh—lethal—but instead, it showed my hand at how hurt I am—choked up and holding back tears.
Odeyssa’s eyes burn a hole in the side of my skull. I turn my head and see the look of betrayal I wear like a second skin. “Youtold him?”
“It was so easy too,” Callum chimes in as his sidekick hangs back, watching this unfold. “Turns out it just takes a half-ass apology and a long, lingering gaze to have you eating out of my palm.” He thinks his words hurt, but all they do is leave dents in my armor.
