“I will come to your city before you are to leave, and I will stay there until you return from the Sidhe,” I informed her. There would be no budging from this.
Her gaze narrowed. “Why?”
“To know as soon as possible what this invitation means.” My hands curled into fists at my side.
“And to make sure you do not betray him,” Edda added.
Ariana waited for me to deny the Seer’s comment.
I didn’t. Not because I did not trust Ariana, but because this was how I was going to ensure that I got my way.
Ariana threw her horse’s reins down. Anger radiated from her. She stomped towards us until she stood nearly toe to toe with me. Though she had to look up to meet my eyes, the anger mixed with raw willfulness somehow made her seem taller. “After everything, you still do not trust me? I did not need to share any of this with you.” Her voice was a soft snarl, breath becoming uneven.
Jorn stepped towards us with open palms, as if that wouldplacate her. “Listen, it doesn’t have to be Erik to go. I will go in his place if you prefer. We realize that it is not exactly only my brother’s decision. It is yours as well. But if we are to work together moving forward, this is what we need. Good faith alone is not enough. My sister’s life hangs in the balance.We’ve never had this kind of an opportunity before.” He was trying to play to her kindness.
“But if you refuse, we will assume that you have sided with Clause. You will be an enemy,” Edmond stated, offering a different incentive.We were pressuring her.
I did not deny his words. Though I did not know how much I agreed with them. The one thing I did know was that I would be there when Ariana left her city and when she returned. One way or another.
“You cannot be serious.” She turned to me with wide eyes.
“I very much am.” My tone was final. Were she a Lysian, she would have agreed at once and perhaps even asked forgiveness for denying me my wishes. Instead, she stared right at me defiantly, fury swirling magnificently in those green eyes.
Landin joined the conversation for the first time. “You do not have the authority to tell her what to do.”
Iver answered his comment with a relaxed smile. “We are only offering options. Cause and effect. Allow for our involvement, and the bond between our nations can begin to form. Keep us at bay, and some will be left to assume the worst and prepare for that outcome as well.”
Ariana’s face was reddening. “Fine. Erik is welcome to come stay in the city for a short time.” Her gaze pinned me. “And one other Lysian of your choosing can accompany you, but that is it. Be aware that while inmyhome, you will have no say in anything. You will followmylead. Are these terms agreeable?”
I restrained a smile at the victory. “Yes.”
Her gaze narrowed as if doubting I could follow those terms. “Very well.” She mounted her horse, and the other Bavadrins did as well. “You know the way to the city,” she stated, letting me know we would not get an escort from the border, not that we needed one. Ariana did not wait for a response before they all took off.
A minute later, we began heading in the opposite direction.
43
ARIANA
Shay sensed Erik’s approach first. The wolf informed Willis, who told me in turn. Erik had chosen Kole to accompany him, and I hardly managed to refrain from going to greet them. I told the Lysian King they would not have a guide, and I certainly refused to trouble myself to act like one. So instead, I paced around the entrance to the Superior’s dwelling, the home I had grown up in, thanks to Fraser.
A tendril of nervousness wrapped around me, and no amount of pacing would loosen its grip. Erik was going to visit the city, genuinely visit, as a guest. And Kole was with him. I wasn’t sure which I was more anxious about.
“You are going to wear a hole in the floor,” Landin mused from where he leaned against the wall, arms folded across his broad chest.
I pivoted. “I can’t help it.”
“Too excited to see your…friend?” He raised a brow.
“If you cannot play nice, then you can leave.” I shot back, though the heat in my tone wasn’t quite sharp.
Landin snorted in amusement. “You play nice enough with him for all of us.”
I paused at that.
“What?” Landin laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve known you since we were little, Ariana. You’re my best friend—I can read you. And it’s painfully obvious you like him, in more than a diplomatic way.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I said stiffly.
