I’m half aware of Lyra edging closer.
The hocking sound that comes from Daewen’s throat gives him away. But I’m far, far faster than a bigoted soldier in a medical bed.
My hand slams down across his mouth, the slap ringing out. Daewen’s eyes widen as I lean over him, pressing down and covering his nose too for good measure. “Iknowthat you weren’t about to spit at one of my guests in my healing bay, Daewen. You wouldn’t dare. Would you?”
He garbles something beneath my hand. I don’t let up. Instead, I lean closer. “I’m discharging you, effective immediately. Get up, get your things, and get the fuck out of my sight. I’ll let Eldritch know you’re fit for duty.”
He would have been gone in a day or two anyway, healed from the fracture to his leg he sustained during his last patrol. Not in battle, but because he fell into one of our own fucking trap holes. Daewen’s skin flushes with anger beneath the cragged riftlines that have sunk into his skin with age. He gasps as I release him. “She’s a fucking Lightbringer. Andhetried to give us up to them—”
He just won’t fucking learn.
“He’s not responsible for his father’s decisions,” I snarl. My hand wraps around his neck. “And you’ll apologize to her.”
A golden hand appears over mine. “He’s entitled to his opinion on me.”
“Not in my fucking wing.” I squeeze harder before lessening the pressure against his windpipe. “Apologize.”
Daewen wheezes. “I’m—sorry. Fuck.”
I rip my hand away. I don’t want to actually kill him, no matter how much it might feel that way. But the darkness in Darian’s face won’t leave me. The defeat as he turned away. “You spread the word. Anyone I hear spreading lies about Darian Veyr—who is still a member of the Council, I would remind you—will be refused treatment from now on.”
He gapes at me. “You can’t do that.”
“Watch me.” I stand. “Now get the fuck out. I can’t treat ignorance.”
When I turn away, Lyra is staring at me. There’s a faint blush in her cheeks.
I swallow. “Are you alright?”
She nods silently.
“Good.” I turn to the other two, ignoring Daewen’s coughing as he climbs out of bed. “Anything you want to say?”
They both shake their heads.
“Keep it that way.”
Darian
There’s no guard outside the prison tonight, but I pick up the low thrum of voices as I descend the steps down toward Lyra’s cell.
Pausing at the beginning of the narrow passage that leads past the cells and curves ahead of me to lead around the corner, I tilt my head to listen.
The box in my hands is an excuse more than anything else. I’m finding myself increasingly curious about this Lightbringer. Especially after getting a glimpse inside her mind.
Empty, I had said to the Council.Empty-headed little Lightbringer.
But she and I both know that’s not quite true. And after yet another sleepless night, waking up over and over again, clawing at sweat-soaked sheets and attempting to stifle the sobbing sounds in my throat, here I am once more.
It’s not her nightmares that interest me most, but the gaps around them. I’ve never seen a mind like it. As if she’d carved off small pieces of her psyche to offer anyone who came looking while keeping the deepest parts of herself tucked away, far from my eyes. Most minds—particularly with knowledge of a dreamwalker creeping through them—are full of panic, veering wildly between random thought and offering glimpses of everything they’re trying to keep hidden. They can’t help but think about exactly what theyknowthey shouldn’t be thinking about.
But not her.
She gave me enough to validate parts of her story. Enough to tug at my conscience, to want to help her. Lyra offered only what she wanted to, and not a glimpse more.
And so here I am, to look again before I speak to Eres and Kaelen. If he’ll even speak to me. The tight band round my chest that grows tighter with each passing day presses a little deeper.
But I need her to be asleep first, and it seems that she isnot.
