“She was there. A Lysian, working for Clause.” For a moment, we all stood silent until Ariana asked, “But she can’t disappear and reappear like you?”
“No,” Iver shook his head, placing the feather on the desk. Though he answered her question, he looked distracted. As if his mind was elsewhere. “She can only use objects. I mimicked her conjuring and pushed myself to develop it into my ability to move through it myself.”
My gaze lingered on that feather, discarded on the desk. Something harmless, but what if it weren’t a feather? What if he held a blade? “I still don’t understand. All this time, you’ve been hiding such a unique ability. Such power. Why?”
Iver smiled, though it did not touch his eyes. “I don’t wish to be anyone’s puppet or attack dog. I also don’t want to be placed in a position where I am forced to fight you because of a fundamental disagreement.”
Disgust coiled in my stomach at the insinuation. “You thought I would force you to use your conjuring in ways you didn’t want to?”
“You have always had a bit of an aggressive streak. Yes, you have a heart and love those important to you. But you also do not hesitate to destroy what is in your way. Father sharpened your quick brutality on the Lysian rebels, ensuring you would always be swift to act and merciless.”
Anger surged through me as I twisted away, taking a few small steps before turning back. “I would never have forced you to do something like that.”
Iver shrugged. “Easy to say now.”
“Stop it.” Ariana stepped between us. She faced Iver. “What are you trying to prove? Why are you trying to push him?”
He snorted. “You haven’t learned a thing, have you? Still stepping between two Lysians when you shouldn’t.”
She let out a breath. “You are in my home. I asked for your help and am grateful for it, but please stop trying to get everyone riled up. Everything is stressful enough. I cannot handle more problems coming from my friends and allies.” Tension tightened around her, seeping through her and into the room.
Something shifted in Iver then. His brows furrowing. “What’s the matter?” His gaze then lifted to mine. “What do I not know?”
Ariana looked up at me over her shoulder. “He doesn’t know what’s going on?”
“Not completely.” The Lysians and my brothers knew nothing other than Ariana returned, and that we were discussing plans moving forward.
She turned back to Iver. “Clause killed Landin. He invited me to come to stay in the Sidhe lands for some time. If I refuse, then he said he would destroy us. In efforts of stalling and trying to give us more time to prepare for this war, I am going to go back there again.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Iver stated, brows knitted in concern.To his credit, it sounded as though he truly meant it.
“Thank you.”Ariana’s voice was soft, sadness clouding her eyes.
Iver shifted his attention to me. “Why did you not tell us? All we were told was that Ariana returned, that we were going to continue preparing for war, and that the Bavadrins will stand with us.”
“I needed time to figure things out.”
“Time to come up with a different plan?” He smirked, looking at Ariana. “Erik wants to stop you.”
“No one can stop me,” she said at once.
His lips curled. “From what I witnessed earlier, you using your mist to make him cough. It doesn’t look like you have much of a choice if Erik truly tried to.”
She took a step towards him, head tilting as if she wasn’t sure if she heard correctly. “I’m sorry. Were you not there at the end of this last practice?”
I could still practically feel her mist in my lungs, stealing the air. The sensation of it burned and lingered. None of it was comfortable.
“Oh, you think you were in control?” Iver shook his head with a laugh. “That was an illusion. My brother gave you control. He could have reclaimed that power at any moment and burned you to ash.”
A growl rumbled through my throat. “Ashes, Iver. Stop trying to rile up trouble. There’s enough of it already.”
Rolling his eyes, he turned towards me. “Oh, please, Erik. Don’t tell me you haven’t considered just tying her to a bed and going to war without more of a plan.”
Ariana’s heart skipped a beat.
Iver’s gray eyes fastened on her. A slow smile spread across his face. “Well, well, well. Perhaps she would enjoy being tied to a bed.”
“Iver,” I snapped.
