“Understood,” they replied in unison.
She then turned to Willis. “Make sure he stays out of trouble.”
“You know how trouble feels about me,” Landin said before Willis had a chance.
A slow smile found its way to Ariana’s lips, as if he had made a joke. “If you don’t behave in my absence, I will give you trouble when I return.”
Willis sighed. “I will do my best to keep him contained.”
“Thank you.” Ariana hugged them both once more.
We made our way back through the city. Ariana worked hard at avoiding the rest of us. Once her elderly Bavadrin friend joined, it appeared as though she, too, was not spared from the cold shoulder the future Leader Superior was giving.
18
ARIANA
Iwas still seething, days later, as we made way through the Lysian lands. Fury held me in its clawed grip, a relentless force fueled by the knowledge that I left my people vulnerable to death with every farming party that dared to venture out of the city walls.
Edda wisely gave me space, though she found entertainment during her time riding with Kole. It surprised me he had managed not to rip her head from her shoulders with how effective she was at making his blood boil.
Erik kept his words to a minimum for days until we approached his city. His horse further slowed its pace.
“I’m sorry that your trip home has left you in a dark mood,” he said finally, his voice low and gentle. It was the first genuine attempt at conversation since we began our journey back. I glanced briefly at Edda and Kole, who were pretending not to hear, though their bickering had abruptly ceased, a telltale sign that they were listening.
I considered not responding, but the words spilled out anyway. “It wasn’t the trip itself. It was the increased risk my people arenow facing because of Edda’swiseidea and your agreement with it. That’s what soured my mood.”
He exhaled heavily, his breath brushing against my cheek. “If there was a better way, then I would have taken it.”
There was a better way. His response only grated on my nerves. I clenched my jaw, gritting my teeth to avoid speaking without considering my words carefully.
“Do you think I’m working with the Sidhe?” I asked, my tone sharp.
Erik paused before saying, “I do not know.”
I stared at the horse’s ears in front of me, refusing to turn and look at Erik. “That is not what I asked. You very well may never truly know the answer, given your inclination to mistrust. I did not ask what you could prove, but what do youthink? What way do you lean?”
“No, I don’t think you are,” he admitted, the surprise evident in his tone.
“Then you have a better way,” I said bitterly.
“Ariana, I?—”
“I understand that I’m your prisoner here, with zero power,” I interrupted, frustration bubbling within me. “But if you have any shred of kindness in your heart, could you please just leave me alone? Before I lose what sliver of sanity I still cling to?”
Erik’s hands tightened around the reins, and the horse picked up the pace. He did not say another thing as we approached the stables.
Once we got there, Erik immediately dismounted and left without a word to any of us.
“Help me down,” Edda commanded, and Kole cringed, though he held out his hand to her. He unfastened his fingers from hers as soon as her feet touched the earth. It was as if he could hardly bear to touch her.
“You will stay in a room on the same hall as Ariana’s,” Koleinformed her as he began guiding us to our rooms while others took our horses.
“And where do you stay, Lysian?” Edda asked with an arched silver brow.
“Wherever I am needed,” he grumbled in response.
“Which is?” she probed.
