“Did you know he sponsored me?” I murmur.
Tiernon gives me a sharp look. “He did?”
“The training parma I was using would have shattered when I fought Maximus. Tiberius’s parma saved my life. He gave me a new sword too.”
I fall quiet as we walk through the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, both of us heavily cloaked, Tiernon using his superior senses to ensure we don’t cross the paths of any city wardens.
Each time we pause to let the wardens pass, I breathe in the scent of greenery from the huge trees lining each street. I let my gaze take in the flowers, imagining the sight of them during the day. The statues of gods on each corner make it clear which neighborhoods are home to vampires, and which mostly contain sigilmarked.
“The Thorn must have been a shock to you after growing up amid such luxury,” I mutter when Tiernon gestures for me to continue walking. “Is that why you decided to sneak away in the first place? You wanted a look at how the poorest of us live? Or was it some form of rebellion against your father?”
He’d told me his father was a wealthy merchant—often busy, and rarely present in his son’s life. Occasionally, Tiernon would come to me, shoulders hunched, eyes dead. On those days, I knew his fatherhadtaken an interest and had found his son wanting.
Once, when I’d wept over my own fatherless state—and my mother’s inability to tell me who he was—Tiernon had gently wiped the tears from my cheeks, insisting that it was better to have no father at all than one who regretted your very existence. He’d taken solace in his brother, until even that relationship had turned bitter.
Tiernon stares straight ahead. “I’m not doing this with you.”
I let out a mocking laugh. “Of course you’re not. That would require honesty, and we both know you’re incapable of it.” We’re close to the city walls, but I can barely see them through my blurry eyes. I blink away the tears.
I’m just tired. Tired and relieved. I’m done here. I’m going to see my brothers. And I’ll never see Tiernon again.
The city walls are notoriously well-guarded, but I should’ve known he had a plan in place. He lets out a low whistle as we approach, and I pull the hood of my cloak higher over my head as one of the guards appears.
“For your silence,” Tiernon murmurs, handing him a coin purse.
The guard’s eyes flicker toward me, and Tiernon tenses. The man immediately removes his gaze.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” he says, weighing the coins with a flick of his wrist. “Name’s Rionan if you ever need anything else.”
Tiernon gives him a stiff nod. “Thank you.”
Surprise flickers through Rionan’s eyes. “You’re welcome.”
Rionan melts back into the shadows of the wall, and Tiernon hands me a sack of coins. I wish I could throw it in his face, but I’m not an idiot. I don’t know how long I’ll need to hide with my brothers before the emperor finally loses interest in a missing gladian.
“Head north,” he says. “If your brothers don’t manage to escape in the morning, I’ll send word when I find out where they are.”
“Thank you. One more thing—”
“Leon. I know. I’ll get him out too.”
My shoulders relax. Leon will tell Tiernon it was Bran who bonded me. And I know Tiernon will ensure Bran can’t contact Elva until after I’ve reunited with Evren and Gerith.
I wait expectantly. Slowly, realization trickles through my mind. He’s not going to apologize. Not going to offer any explanation. This is really it.
His eyes meet mine. They’re blank and cool.
With a final glance at the man who shattered my heart, I pick up what’s left of my tattered dignity and step outside the city walls.
Agony blazes across my neck and I fall to my knees with a howl.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Distantly, I’m aware that I’m screaming, writhing on the ground desperate for relief.
I must be dead. This must be the underworld. Oh gods, it hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts—
A cool hand covers my mouth and a strong arm wraps around my waist, hauling me backward.
