“Why would it do that?” she asked. “Do you really have so little faith in me?”
I kept my face turned away from them, but given our current acoustics, everyone could hear everything. I was sure Rokh would have preferred to have this conversation someplace private, but that wasn’t an option.
Rokh explained about the curse, about what would happen if he and Ahyana had sons. That they would be forced to transform and suffer each time they did it.
Xander tied the end of the rope to a rock and threw it in Dolion’s direction. It landed right next to his feet and he grabbed the rope, taking it off the rock. He then tied the rope around his waist so that he could cross next.
As he went onto the bridge, Rokh said miserably to Ahyana, “I didn’t think you would want to marry me when you found out.”
And while I didn’t want to intrude, I couldn’t help but turn and look at them. His pain was palpable, and my heart went out to him.
Then Ahyana drew back her hand and punched him in the face.
“Ow, Ahyana!” he exclaimed, his hand going to his jaw where she had hit him.
I was as shocked as Rokh. That was not the kind of thing that I would have expected Ahyana to do.
Maybe I was being a bad influence on her.
“Go to the other side,” she told him. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
He hesitated a moment, as if he needed to say more, but he cried out in pain and turned back into a raven.
And he stayed in that form.
After Dolion had crossed, Rokh brought the rope back and gave it to Io. I was concerned about her going on the bridge, but she had that determined look on her face that meant she would do this no matter what.
Suri walked with her to the bridge’s entrance and then watched as Io stepped out.
“All this time he was Kunguru,” Ahyana said, shaking her head. Zalira stood next to her sister, offering her silent support. “How long did you know, Lia?”
“Not very long. And it’s only because I caught him shifting. I told him that he had to tell you, that you would take it better coming from him than me. I honestly thought he would confess immediately. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything.”
“It wasn’t your place,” she said. “You were right, it should have come from him. He should have trusted me the way that I trusted him. I told him everything. I didn’t hold anything back. I told him about the magic before you told Xander because I didn’t want to keep things from Rokh. And he kept this monumental secret from me.”
Rokh brought the rope to Suri, and I knew he could hear every word.
“What if we only have daughters? Did he ever think about that? And even if we had sons, who knows what might happen? He obviously loves being a raven, considering how often he is one. Maybe our sons would feel the same! Or maybe we won’t be able to have children. Neither one of us knows what the future might hold!”
Sensing that she needed to unload her feelings, I stayed quiet and nodded.
“This is why he’s been holding back in our relationship,” she said. “Because he wasn’t being honest with me.”
I nodded again, as that was the conclusion I’d also come to.
“And this is why Kunguru didn’t check on you when you first went to the palace,” Ahyana said.
“To be fair, he was nice and helpful to me as Rokh,” I said but immediately fell silent when I saw the look of annoyance on her face.
Suri had made it across and Rokh returned the rope, bringing it to me. I handed it to Zalira.
As Zalira made her way across the bridge, Ahyana suddenly put her hands on her cheeks. “I can’t believe I hit him. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’ve tried to stab my husband multiple times, so you’ll get no judgment from me,” I told her.
At that Xander turned to smile at me, and I grinned back at him.
I wasn’t surprised that Ahyana was already feeling regretful. She had a temper that would flare up and burn brightly, but then it would dissipate just as quickly. I’d always admired her ability to let go of things so fast.
