There’s something innocent about Jorah, and I choose my words carefully.
“I did it because I’m sorry.” I lower my voice. “I can’t tell you what happened with Tiberius Cotta, but I promise, one day I’ll explain why.”
His gaze drops to the ground, and he shifts on his feet. “I don’t forgive you. I can’t.”
My throat burns and I attempt to swallow. “I don’t expect you to.”
He gives me a somber nod. “I have to go now.”
I watch Jorah go. The rest of the novices have already cleared out, and the imperius must be training late today, because a group of them are walking in, Micah and Deitra deep in conversation.
I stroll toward them. Leaning up to my tiptoes, I press a kiss to Micah’s cheek. His stubble is rough beneath my lips and I can feel him grin. “You’re a good man.”
“Did you hear that, Primus?” he preens, his eyes dancing. “Looks like you’ve got some competition.”
Deitra shakes her head at us, but I’m relatively sure she’s hiding a grin.
Tiernon wraps a possessive arm around my shoulders, and I glance up at him with a raised brow. We usually keep touching to a minimum around others.
“Just marking my territory,” he rumbles, and I roll my eyes, wiggling free. He sweeps his gaze down me. “You look exhausted.”
“Nyrant wasn’t happy with me.”
Tiernon’s eyes cool, but I shake my head at him. Nyrant may be a member of the imperius, but gladian training ishis. I don’t need Tiernon getting involved and making things worse.
“I need a shower.”
Tiernon opens his mouth, but a guard walks through the door, his face blank. He leans close to Tiernon, whispering something I can’t catch. When Tiernon’s eyes meet mine, they’re dark with sorrow.
“Arvelle.”
I know that expression on his face.
Fear slams into me like a fist to the gut. “My brothers.”
He takes my elbow, leading me away from the imperius. “No,” he says. “It’s Leon.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Istare at Tiernon, and a thick fog settles over my brain.
“I don’t understand.”
He continues walking, practically dragging me from the training hall.
“Leon was found in his room. Someone cut into him, Arvelle.”
“That’s not possible. I was just … I just saw him earlier. He was fine. Grumpy and irritated andfine.”
Tiernon’s eyes are dark with sympathy and my heart thunders. “Is he alive?”
“Barely.” His jaw clenches. “They tried to go for his heart.”
“Just like the others. But … the murders stopped …” I pull my hands free. “I need to see him.”
“I’ll take you to the healers. But they’re trying to save his life. Velle … he’s the only person who has survived this kind of attack.”
“You don’t think he’s going to live.”
